While Riccardo Tisci has long elevated casting to an art, that Erykah Badu is the new face of Givenchy is especially inspired. The spring campaign — shot by Mert & Marcus and also starring Maria Borges, Riley, and Asia Chow — shows the regal neo-soul singer donned in the futuristic tribal look Tisci has been working the last few seasons.

In a season where several houses have been severely criticized for their lack of racial diversity, Givenchy has managed to stay out of the fray. In fact, Tisci is often credited with discovering Joan Smalls and Maria Borges, among other darker-skinned girls.

“Erykah, she’s an icon — come on!” Tisci told Style.com. “What I want to do with my advertising campaign is spread the love. Already now it’s been three seasons that I’ve been using people that express something — they are great artists, or beautiful women, or stylish women, or models that I really believe in. It’s kind of a family portfolio.”