According to social media, there’s a new Beyoncé, and her name is Normani.
Now before the Beyhive comes for us, just know that we’re not the ones saying that – everyone else is. To us, Normani is much more the ‘new Aaliyah‘ than the new Beyoncé, in fact. For the uninitiated, she was once one-fifth of Fifth Harmony, which disbanded only to see Camila Cabello become the breakout star. But now, it’s Normani’s turn.
In the music video for her new single “Motivation”, the young R&B singer blew minds worldwide with a singularly stunning move: she double pirouettes, bounces a basketball off her knee, and then booty-pops that basketball right offscreen – all in one single take, according to her choreographer.
Not only her new single fire – and that move jaw-dropping – but it also inspired a #motivationchallenge that swept the internet, inspiring others to attempt the physics-defying dance combination.
.@KekePalmer attempts the #MotivationChallenge at the #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/QcdUvUlgFM
— Normani Updates (@NormaniUpdate) August 27, 2019
did it in one take💅🏽 #motivationchallenge @normani pic.twitter.com/hNgHxaCdjh
— motivated queen puff (@cccyydneyyy) August 17, 2019
I know it is hard to tell the difference from the original, but this is actually just me attempting @Normani’s #Motivationchallenge pic.twitter.com/5u5bZl3MB5
— Kevin Kickham (@ktkickham) August 16, 2019
Clearly, the #motivationchallenge is even harder than it looks. Twitter also melted down after Normani performed at 2019 VMAs, reminiscent of late 90s and early aughts R&B stars such as Lil’ Kim and Ciara. And considering the incredible gymnastics that featured throughout her performance, it’s no wonder she has become the most tweeted-about figure from the entire event and being dubbed the “new Beyoncé” – and this is just the beginning.
normani DEFINITELY SERVED tonight at #vmas pic.twitter.com/eao2mraYbJ
— 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 (@remscIouds) August 27, 2019
NORMANI WAS THE BEST PERFORMER TONIGHT. PERIOD. #vmas pic.twitter.com/RqdSfKSAqp
— 𝐡 (@hsainxo) August 27, 2019
THIS WAS THE NORMANI MUSIC AWARDS PERIODT #VMAs pic.twitter.com/nE1JvQ5xiM
— 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙢 (@adamximperiale) August 27, 2019
Sophie abandoning Joe Jones in order to sing Motivation by Normani with the girls is a mood. I would do the same too. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/45hSan0Mdm
— 🛡TV Fanatic🕊 (@Khaleesi_Hodan) August 27, 2019
The new runs, the choreo, the stunts, HER BREATH CONTROL Normani showed up and showed out ! pic.twitter.com/Pibwtpu8LL
— 𝖕𝖔𝖈𝖆𝖍𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖘🍃 (@dopePocahontas) August 27, 2019
