![The Millennium Tour - Detroit, MI](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341350058357.jpg?w=1024&strip=all&quality=80)
Source: Scott Legato / Getty
For longtime R&B fans, Ashanti‘s worldwide debut in the early 2000s was a sight to behold: Backed by Ja Rule and the Murder Inc. imprint, she was the original sis who could not miss. Song after song, feature after feature, she was a radio darling and a 106 & Park mainstay. Between her and Lil Bow Wow, it was hard to pick whose videos remained on the countdown more.
We rocked with her during the high-profile relationship with Nelly. Stood in silent support as 50 Cent and the G-Unit movement humbly ended her crew’s seemingly unstoppable musical run. And cheered her on as she re-emerged better – and badder – than ever.
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Listen.. Ashanti was always pretty, but in recent years, she’s somehow managed to surpass her younger self. 20 years after becoming a household name, she looks better than ever.
Happy 41st birthday, Ashanti. Wishing you nothing but the best for the future as we take a trip down memory lane: Fondly looking back at your jaw-dropping glow up over the past twenty years.
Peep the gallery below.
1. American Music Awards 2001
Source:Getty
2. Teen People’s What’s Next 2002
Source:Getty
3. Ja Rule Party in the Park
Source:Getty
4. Ashanti at Virgin Megastore
Source:Getty
5. 2002 Billboard Music Awards
Source:Getty
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6. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2002
Source:Getty
7. Party In The Park 2002
Source:Getty
8. Ashanti Donates Memorabilia To Planet Hollywood NYC
Source:Getty
9. Spring 2006 Fashion Show at The Tent at Bryant Park
Source:Getty
10. W Magazine Launch New York 2005
Source:Getty
11. Post Grammy Soiree at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse 2009
Source:Getty
12. HENNESSY Artistry 2009 Series
Source:Getty
13. ‘Good Hair’ 2009 Screening
Source:Getty
14. Hip Hop Honors 2009
Source:Getty
15. Watch What Happens Live 2010
Source:Getty
16. Christmas in Rockefeller Center
Source:Getty
17. Watch What Happens Live 2013
Source:Getty
18. White House Kitchen Garden Final Fall Harvest
Source:Getty
19. “The Hamilton Mixtape” Live Performance 2016
Source:Getty
20. “The Hamilton Mixtape” Live Performance
Source:Getty
21. The Smoked Out Roast Of Snoop Dogg – 2016
Source:Getty
22. Fusion’s All Def Roast: The Smoked Out Roast Of Snoop Dogg
Source:Getty
23. Ja Rule & Ashanti In Concert 2016
Source:Getty
24. “Natural Born Hitters” Tour 2016
Source:Getty
25. Daily Pop – Season 2019
Source:Getty
26. Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen – 2019
Source:Getty
27. ABC’s “To Tell The Truth” – Season Five
Source:Getty
28. Ashanti Visits “Extra” 2019
Source:Getty
29. 2021 MTV Video Music Awards – Show
Source:Getty
30. 2021 MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet
Source:Getty
31. VERZUZ: Fat Joe Vs Ja Rule 2021
Source:Getty
SEE: Ashanti Shows Off Her Chiseled Abs In A Teeny Tiny Blue Bikini
SEE: Gary’s Tea: TikTok Video Goes Viral Alleging That Ashanti Had Surgery Done On Her Body [WATCH]
Happy Birthday Ashanti: Look Back At The Best Pics From Her 20-Year Glow Up was originally published on ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc
1. American Music Awards 2001
![American Music Awards 2001](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/1634135239764.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
2. Teen People’s What’s Next 2002
![Teen People's What's Next 2002](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341352629024.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
3. Ja Rule Party in the Park
![Ja Rule Party in the Park](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341353083116.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
4. Ashanti at Virgin Megastore
![Ashanti at Virgin Megastore](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/1634135322004.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
5. 2002 Billboard Music Awards
![2002 Billboard Music Awards](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341353405395.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
6. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2002
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2002](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341353560068.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
7. Party In The Park 2002
![Party In The Park 2002](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341353842815.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
8. Ashanti Donates Memorabilia To Planet Hollywood NYC
![Ashanti Donates Memorabilia To Planet Hollywood NYC](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341354434727.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
9. Spring 2006 Fashion Show at The Tent at Bryant Park
![Spring 2006 Fashion Show at The Tent at Bryant Park](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341354593659.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
10. W Magazine Launch New York 2005
![W Magazine Launch New York 2005](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341354702325.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
11. Post Grammy Soiree at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse 2009
![Post Grammy Soiree at Wolfgang's Steakhouse 2009](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341354945102.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
12. HENNESSY Artistry 2009 Series
![HENNESSY Artistry 2009 Series](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341355023289.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
13. ‘Good Hair’ 2009 Screening
!['Good Hair' 2009 Screening](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341355137964.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
14. Hip Hop Honors 2009
![Hip Hop Honors 2009](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341355225106.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
15. Watch What Happens Live 2010
![Watch What Happens Live 2010](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358106105.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
16. Christmas in Rockefeller Center
![Christmas in Rockefeller Center](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/1634135815007.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
17. Watch What Happens Live 2013
![Watch What Happens Live 2013](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358229105.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
18. White House Kitchen Garden Final Fall Harvest
![White House Kitchen Garden Final Fall Harvest](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358537201.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
19. “The Hamilton Mixtape” Live Performance 2016
!["The Hamilton Mixtape" Live Performance 2016](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358683052.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
20. “The Hamilton Mixtape” Live Performance
!["The Hamilton Mixtape" Live Performance](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358742744.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
21. The Smoked Out Roast Of Snoop Dogg – 2016
![The Smoked Out Roast Of Snoop Dogg - 2016](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358904247.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
22. Fusion’s All Def Roast: The Smoked Out Roast Of Snoop Dogg
![Fusion's All Def Roast: The Smoked Out Roast Of Snoop Dogg](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341358984608.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
23. Ja Rule & Ashanti In Concert 2016
![Ja Rule & Ashanti In Concert 2016](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341359054851.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
24. “Natural Born Hitters” Tour 2016
!["Natural Born Hitters" Tour 2016](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341359256119.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
25. Daily Pop – Season 2019
![Daily Pop - Season 2019](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341360313922.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
26. Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen – 2019
![Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen - 2019](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341360371595.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
27. ABC’s “To Tell The Truth” – Season Five
![ABC's "To Tell The Truth" - Season Five](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341360611536.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
28. Ashanti Visits “Extra” 2019
![Ashanti Visits "Extra" 2019](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/1634136073887.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
29. 2021 MTV Video Music Awards – Show
![2021 MTV Video Music Awards - Show](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341360911892.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
30. 2021 MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet
![2021 MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341360987707.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
31. VERZUZ: Fat Joe Vs Ja Rule 2021
![VERZUZ: Fat Joe Vs Ja Rule 2021](https://ronewzakcleveland.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/10/16341361105089.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)