In 1981, Diana Ross was still The Boss and still burning up the charts. She was also a sex symbol, setting screens on fire with videos like the exercise-themed "Work That Body." The clip found the Motown legend strutting her stuff in the most form-fitting swimsuits of the day as her hair billowed about her and her face looked beat for the gawds.
Fast forward 34 years later, and the now septuagenarian is still electrifying audiences on stage and inspiring generations, including her now-famous daughter, comedienne and actress Tracee Ellis Ross. As a tribute to her dear mother, Tracee decided to recreate her mother's video shot for shot, swimsuit for swimsuit and move for move. Dubbing it #WorkThatBody2015, it's a faithful re-creation of the video, down to the hazy blur that most videos of the day were shot in in the early '80s. But not only is the video a loving tribute to Diana, it's also a message to women to embrace and love the bodies they are in.
Of it, she says:
"I have spoken before about encouraging women to shift our gaze from how we are seen to how we are seeing and, more important, feeling. And I saw a woman feeling joyful in herself as a whole being; she didn’t seem to be presenting her ass or saying look at all the ways I can make myself look appealing to YOU. She seems to be saying, 'this is ME feeling good and I am strong and sexy and joyful in ME'!"
At video's end, she offers thanks to her mom and says, "Whaddaya think? I think you're so much hotter than me!" While that is certainly up to taste, what is clear is that this is a cute and fun way for Tracee to pay homage to Diana.