DALLAS — Four-time Grammy award-winning Dallas native R&B legend, dubbed “queen of neo-soul,” has been announced as the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s (CFDA) 2024 Fashion Icon.
Erykah Badu – an alumna of Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas – will receive the honor at the annual CFDA Fashion Awards on Oct. 28.
Past recipients of the Fashion Icon Award include Serena Williams (2023), Lenny Kravitz (2022), Zendaya (2021) Naomi Campbell (2018), Beyoncé (2016) and more high-profile names.
“This honor is amazing, and I do not take it for granted,” Badu said in a statement. “I’ve always had a love for taking bits and pieces of the things I am attracted to, and creating something far more grand than the sum of those parts. From the music I make, to the looks I put on, to the technology I’m developing, I’m always looking for innovative, exciting ways to be more expressive and connect with people – to be closer to nature.”
This has been a busy year for Badu, from partnering with DART on the Badu Bus to starring in a Netflix adaptation of the iconic American play "The Piano Lesson."
It's been 27 years since her debut Baduizm LP dropped – still widely regarded as one of the greatest R&B neo-soul albums of all time.
"[Badu] has been a major influence on pop culture in a multitude of ways, including her distinctive, fearless approach to fashion, from signature headwraps to bold colors, patterns, and a unique mix of new and vintage pieces that celebrate individuality," CFDA said in a news release.
“Erykah Badu and fashion are synonymous in many ways," Chairman of the CFDA Thom Browne said. "Erykah effortlessly exudes herself, her unique point of view, through the clothing she chooses to wear – and each look she dreams up is so individual and true to herself."
The CFDA Fashion Awards will take place on Oct. 28 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
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