Janet Jackson is set to host a "cathartic" auction of more than 1,000 personal items that span her four-decade career.
The star has partnered with celebrity auctioneer Julien’s for the three-day sale, which will take place in Beverly Hills from May 14.
The auction coincides with her birthday on May 16, when the Nasty singer turns 55.
Click though the gallery above to see some of the items up for auction.
“Janet has never done anything like this before. We’ve approached her so many times, and it has always been very hard to find anything at auction from her because she kept and archived everything,” said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions.
The auction is titled Iconic Treasures From The Legendary Career And Life of Janet Jackson. Ahead of the sale, pieces are going on show for fans to see. They will be displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in London from Tuesday, April 19 for five days. The collection will then be moved to New York and onwards to Los Angeles.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the charity Compassion International, an organisation that works with churches around the world to relieve child poverty.
Nolan told The Observer: "Jackson has had this stuff in storage for years, and in her homes in Los Angeles, New York and London. She's been incredibly hands-on with sending personal notes on each piece, remembering what she wore and when, which we've included in the catalogue. She now feels it's time to let go."
The auction includes a number of big-ticket, and very recognisable, items. They include the Helen Storey-designed floor-length metallic silver coat worn by Jackson in the 1995 Scream music video with her brother Michael Jackson. At the time, it was valued at $7 million. Also in the auction is a Richard Tyler black coat with velvet lapels, worn by Jackson on her 1990 Rhythm Nation World Tour; and the 17th century-style ensemble worn while performing If on her 1993-1995 Janet World Tour.
Included in the collection of personal items is Jackson’s wedding dress, which she wore for her secret marriage to dancer Rene Elizondo Jr in 1991. Dresses that she has worn to the Met Gala, NAACP Image Awards and Oscars also feature.
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
