"You are only as beautiful as the many beautiful things you do for others without expectation."

• Born Dec. 1, 1985, in Kansas City, Kan.

• Janelle Monaé's debut album, The ArchAndroid, peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200. It spawned the single "Tightrope," her first hit song.

• Monaé earned her first GRAMMY nomination for 2008 for Best R&B Performance for "Many Moons" from her 2008 EP, Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase. Monaé performed a medley with Bruno Mars and B.o.B. at the 53rd GRAMMY Awards in 2011, her GRAMMY stage debut. 

• In 2014 Monaé appeared on "Sesame Street" as a way to thank her mother for raising her.

• Monaé performed at the AltaMed Power Up Gala in 2016 to raise money for healthcare for women and girls. She also performed at the #JusticeForFlint event, which raised $156,000 for Flint, Mich., after its water was found to be contaminated.