: Mayte Garcia’s 2017 memoir, The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince , clarifies that while she was the initial muse, the song was intended for every woman who hears it.

For years, the song was notoriously difficult to find on streaming services due to a long-running legal battle.

: To find participants for the video and single artwork, Prince placed "Eligible Bachelor" ads in international newspapers, receiving over 50,000 responses. 💿 The Battle for Independence

: The music video, directed by Prince and Antoine Fuqua, features a collage of women of all ages, races, and body types, celebrating inner beauty that "comes from inside".

: The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

The song’s release was a tactical victory in Prince’s legendary dispute with Warner Bros..

While often associated with his soon-to-be wife, Mayte Garcia, the song evolved into a broader celebration.

: To prove he didn't need a major label's marketing to have a hit, Prince secured permission to release the single independently through his own NPG Records.