The singer has dropped more than 70 pounds (31.7 kg)

Oct 18, 2014 06:55 GMT  ·  By

Rapper Missy Elliot, who has been rocking the charts with hits such as “Lose Control” and “Get Ur Freak On,” is known for her relatively large size. In previous interviews she admitted that she had to get accustomed to the idea that she would always be a “big girl.”

That might not be the case anymore since the singer has recently stepped out for a public appearance after a long time away from the spotlight and she shocked people with her weight loss. This was the first public appearance Missy did in a year and it was to perform her hit songs for an Alexander Wang H7M Collection launch in New York City on Thursday night.

Missy showed off her new look in a photograph on Twitter

Clearly proud of her new look, Missy also shared a photograph of herself after the concert on Twitter and she left many open-mouthed, as she was almost unrecognizable. She captioned the photo “Just got off stage thanks @ALEXANDERWANGNY and @hmusa for having me perform I enjoyed.”

She was wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie, with a cap on which it was written “You Can't Workout with Us.”

Though ill, the actress claims the weight loss is due to regular training

Back in 2011, the singer revealed that she was battling with Graves’ Disease (autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid), an affliction that caused her the loss of some motor skills, mood swings, as well as some hair loss. However, the recent weight loss can't be attributed to that illness, as she claims that she's slimmed down thanks to a regular workout routine.

Over the time she's been away from the public eye, the singer has reportedly lost around 70 pounds (1.7 kg). But this hasn't come over night. Back in 2011, when she opened up about her Graves’ Disease, she said that “I’m 30 pounds lighter because I’ve been exercising. Under my doctor’s supervision, I’ve been off medication for about a year and I’m completely managing the condition through diet and exercise.”

So, at least half of her weight she lost by the end of 2011, and the rest in the following three years. One can't help but admire her dedication to the cause, especially since she was overweight for so many years. It turns out it was because of a poorly functioning thyroid, but with proper medication and with doctor supervision she managed to overcome her health problems and also look amazing in the process.