Missy Elliott

The unique partnership between hip hop icon Missy Elliott and adidas Originals continues with the worldwide launch of the Respect M.E. talent competition starting in March 2008 exclusively on the www.adidas.com/Missy micro site. With Stand up. Be seen the line presents an outstanding force for social good aiming to recruit 10 female ambassadors for Missy and the urban streetwear brand all embraced by the values of respect. Selected finalists announced in June will celebrate their originality while appearing in the Fall/Winter 2008 campaign of the Respect M.E. collection including its characteristic Bass Line and Rhythm Line. In September, Missy will select out of those 10 urban girls only five to be the exclusive ongoing faces of the Respect M.E. range starting with the Spring/Summer 2009 season.

With Respect M.E., adidas Originals and Missy Elliott have successfully provided a positive message to the urban sports- and streetwear market since April 2004. Empowerment is the soul of the Respect M.E. collection, which is a platform for positivity, style, skills, friendship and, above all, respect. With Stand up. Be Seen the brand underlines its message of giving respect to get respect within the urban community. Entering for interested female candidates starts with the creation of mEgos, widget identities, on the Missy micro site and the answering of questions about individual talents and reasons why they deserve to represent Respect M.E. Stand Up is about the core values that young urban-minded women believe in. Further, it is about their individuality, things that make them truly their very own original. Be seen presents the girls’ platform to clearly express their own statements through creative looks and feels.

The Stand Up. Be Seen competition will launch first in 15 key markets: the USA and Argentina, as well as the Asian Pacific Region with China, Japan, Korea and Europe with Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland.