John Legend backs women empowerment campaign

Los Angeles, July 12 (IANS) Singer John Legend has roped in a number of women to feature in his new music video. It's his way of adding weight to a female empowerment campaign.

The promo of the Grammy winner's latest single "You and I" features several women staring into the camera through a one-way mirror. The women include celebrities like Legend's model wife Chrissy Teigen, actress Laverne Cox, and comedienne-cancer survivor Tig Notaro.

There is a topless pregnant woman cradling her baby bump, a young girl with Down's Syndrome, and an older woman who breaks down in tears as she shows the disfiguration left by a mastectomy, reports contactmusic.com.

The music video was made in conjunction with a campaign called #OperationGirl, which is being led by organisations focusing on empowering, educating and protecting the rights of women and girls.

"We live in a world where egregious injustices occur regularly against girls and women. We have a responsibility to take action and disrupt the conditions that allow for such tragedies to occur.

"Through #OperationGirl we hope to amplify the voices and impact of the many organizations doing great work on behalf of girls and women," Legend said in a statement.

Along with the music video, a documentary titled "When I Look In The Mirror" will also be released. It features the women from Legend's video telling their own personal stories of heartbreak and triumph.