Janet Jackson poses topless for Rolling Stone

Janet Jackson appears shirtless on the cover of Rolling Stone on September 16, 1993. Her arms are in the air, with her boobs supported by a pair of hands that belong to her husband, Rene Elizondo.

Jackson got the idea for the pose while she was working on the film Poetic Justice, where she wore long braids. When she saw herself in the mirror with the braids covering her chest, inspiration struck.

Photographer Patrick Demarchelier took the famous photo, which becomes a sensation – and fodder for many comedy bits (“Can you imagine being offered that gig? Yes, your job is to stand behind Janet and hold up her boobs…”).

For Jackson, the photo is a stylistic shift away from her Rhythm Nation look of big, military-type outfits. She didn’t put all that much thought into it. “I just thought it was a cool shot,” she said