Aaliyah: The Most Exalted One

Portraits of the beautiful R&B songstress.

Baby Girl\r - Vibe magazine paid homage to Aaliyah on their October 2001 cover with a simple yet elegantly beautiful black-and-white photo of the young singer. (Photo: Vibe Magazine)

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Baby Girl\r - Vibe magazine paid homage to Aaliyah on their October 2001 cover with a simple yet elegantly beautiful black-and-white photo of the young singer. (Photo: Vibe Magazine)

Photo By Photo: Vibe Magazine

Beloved\r - The cover of Aaliyah's posthumous compilation album, the title track, "I Care 4 U," inspired a video which featured many of Aaliyah's celebrity friends, including DMX, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Fatima and more. (Photo: Blackground/Virgin Records)

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Beloved\r - The cover of Aaliyah's posthumous compilation album, the title track, "I Care 4 U," inspired a video which featured many of Aaliyah's celebrity friends, including DMX, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Fatima and more. (Photo: Blackground/Virgin Records)

True Classic\r - The album art for Aaliyah's third and final album, the self-titled Aaliyah. She was just coming into her womanhood at 22 years old.\r(Photo: Blackground/Virgin Records)

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True Classic\r - The album art for Aaliyah's third and final album, the self-titled Aaliyah. She was just coming into her womanhood at 22 years old.\r(Photo: Blackground/Virgin Records)

Stars Don't Die\r - The avant-garde music magazine Fader used these rare photos of the late star for their memorial issue. (Photo: Fader Magazine)

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Stars Don't Die\r - The avant-garde music magazine Fader used these rare photos of the late star for their memorial issue. (Photo: Fader Magazine)

Photo By Photo: Fader Magazine

Animal Magnetism - Always a fashion innovator, Aaliyah in her classic bikini top and low-waist pants in a promo pic for her label. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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Animal Magnetism - Always a fashion innovator, Aaliyah in her classic bikini top and low-waist pants in a promo pic for her label. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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Crazy, Sexy, Cool - Even in her tomboy gear, Aaliyah had a confident allure. Rather than disappearing in the oversized jersey, shades and baggy jeans, there was mystery that drew fans in and made you want to know more. (GLOBE PHOTOS, INC)

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Crazy, Sexy, Cool - Even in her tomboy gear, Aaliyah had a confident allure. Rather than disappearing in the oversized jersey, shades and baggy jeans, there was mystery that drew fans in and made you want to know more. (GLOBE PHOTOS, INC)

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Hot Like Fire\r\r\r - Aaliyah in her signature look, mid-riff baring top and hair covering her eye. Here, she poses backstage at a taping of Showtime at the Apollo in Harlem, New York City. (Photo: Walik Goshorn/Retna)

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Cool Girl\r - Aaliyah is all smiles as usual at the 2000 Teen Choice Awards at the Barker hangar in Santa Monica, CA, in August 2000. She always looked like she was having a good time. \r(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Shooting Star\r - A 16-year-old Aaliyah sans makeup rocking with fans at the Virgin Megastore. (Photo: MARK ALLAN-ALPHA/GLOBE PHOTOS, INC.)

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Shooting Star\r - A 16-year-old Aaliyah sans makeup rocking with fans at the Virgin Megastore. (Photo: MARK ALLAN-ALPHA/GLOBE PHOTOS, INC.)

Aaliyah - Before she became "That Somebody," Aaliyah was another child contestant showing the Star Search audience what she was capabale of. RIP Aaliyah. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Dedicated\r - A consumate professional, Aaliyah was known for her focus, determination and hard work. Here, cameras catch her at work on her performance for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno at the NBC Studios in Burbank, CA. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Award Winning\r - One of the rare occassions we see the stunning songstress in a gown. She turned heads in this Roberto Cavalli number as she poses with her MTV VMAs, won for Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film, at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. (Photo: Laura Cavanaugh/UPI/Landov)

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Award Winning\r - One of the rare occassions we see the stunning songstress in a gown. She turned heads in this Roberto Cavalli number as she poses with her MTV VMAs, won for Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film, at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. (Photo: Laura Cavanaugh/UPI/Landov)

Simply Irresistible - The beautiful Aaliyah is casual cool as she arrives at the world premiere of Planet of the Apes at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City a month before her passing. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images)

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Simply Irresistible - The beautiful Aaliyah is casual cool as she arrives at the world premiere of Planet of the Apes at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City a month before her passing. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images)

Flawless - Beautiful, fun-loving, cool, what more could one ask for? Well, Aaliyah, also had washboard abs and talent to boot, and she was forever warm and humble. Here's one of the last photos taken of the promising star. (Photo: REUTERS/Brad Rickerby/Landov)

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Flawless - Beautiful, fun-loving, cool, what more could one ask for? Well, Aaliyah, also had washboard abs and talent to boot, and she was forever warm and humble. Here's one of the last photos taken of the promising star. (Photo: REUTERS/Brad Rickerby/Landov)