Here’s some news that’s hot like fire: There is an unexpected new release inspired by the “princess of R&B,” Aaliyah, coming this June.
MAC announced in August that it would be debuting a 2018 collection inspired by the late icon and has finally revealed the launch dates—June 20 online and June 21 in stores—in response to an eager fan.
No word yet on what the line will include, but in life, Aaliyah always had the lock on tomboy-infused glamour, perfecting the “athleisure” look long before we’d even given it a name. Her iconic tied bandannas, midriff-baring tops and low-slung baggy pants were just evolving into a more grown-up glam when the 22-year-old and several members of her team were tragically killed in a 2001 plane crash while returning from the video shoot for her last hit single, “Rock the Boat.”
But in the 17 years since, Aaliyah’s influence has remained strong; to date, she has sold an estimated 24-32 million albums worldwide, including several posthumous releases. Her style has also continued to inspire contemporary celebs—from Keke Palmer to Kim Kardashian West.
Obviously, MAC is well aware of this; in fact, this collection is the result of a fan-led petition, which was officially supported by Rashad Haughton (Aaliyah’s brother), Missy Elliott, Aaliyah’s glam squad, BET, Allure, Dazed, the Source, the Fader, MTV and Jet, among others. The petition stated, in part:
We want MAC to be the first brand to reintroduce Aaliyah’s legacy to the world in a format that it has never been given before. Aaliyah’s brother Rashad Haughton says that Aaliyah was a big fan of MAC. He also goes on to say that he approves of the idea for a Limited Edition collection by MAC for her. Her favorite MAC products were: Chelsea Lipstick, Cherish Lipstick, Chestnut Lipliner, espresso eyeshadow, and biscuit eyeshadow.
To promote its upcoming collection inspired by her legacy, MAC is collaborating with i-D magazine to produce a short tribute film titled the “A-Z of Aaliyah.” In an Instagram post, the brand asks the star’s “super fans” to post a video or photo showing how Aaliyah inspired them, using the hashtags #AtoZofAaliyah and #AaliyahforMAC.
Obviously, we’d much rather still be hearing new releases from a star who no doubt would’ve kept rising. And while a cosmetics collection may seem a mere nod to her legacy, it’s nice to know that Aaliyah—while lost—has never been forgotten.
Editor’s note: This article has been amended to include the fact that this collection is the result of a fan-led campaign.