The director and Adam Levine spent five months writing personal letters to a carefully curated group of women asking them to appear in a video full of unwavering love, spirit and respect.

The cultural icons who appeared are: recording artist/songwriter Camila Cabello; comedian/actress/writer Phoebe Robinson; gymnast/2-time Olympian Aly Raisman; comedian/actress Sarah Silverman; actress Gal Godot; YouTube personality/vlogger/author/actress Lily Singh; author/media entrepreneur Amani Al-Khatahtbeh; actress/producer/activist Trace Lysette; comedian/actress Tiffany Haddish; activist/writer Angy Rivera; comedian/activist/TV & YouTube personality Franchesca Ramsey; actress Millie Bobbie Brown; comedian/actress/writer/producer/activist Ellen DeGeneres; recording artist/producer Cardi B; recording artist/songwriter/actress/dancer/producer Jennifer Lopez; snowboarder/Olympian Chloe Kim; soccer player/Olympian/FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Alex Morgan; recording artist/songwriter/record producer/actress Mary J. Blige; actress Beanie Feldstein; activist Jackie Fielder; race car driver Danica Patrick; politician/activist Ilhan Omar; actress/director/producer Elizabeth Banks; model Ashley Graham; recording artist/actress Rita Ora; model Behati Prinsloo.

Lead singer Adam Levine and the director set out to enhance the song’s meaning to uplift in a cultural climate dominated by serious issues. The crux of the idea - everyone’s in it together and needs to have each other’s backs. To convey the warm, colorful, connected and emotional vibe in an innovative way, the video depicts Levine performing the song in the center of the room – the band enveloping him - before the camera pans around to reveal a who's who of female empowerment making moves and lip-syncing around him, including Cardi B. Green screen and VFX bring them all together.

The women chose their wardrobe: e.g., Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman wears a T that says "Always Speak Your Truth," and activist Angy Rivera wears a T that says "Undocumented Unafraid Unapologetic."

Adam Levine told Cardi B before she wrote her verse: "I want you to put something down that shows your fierceness as a woman and say it however you want." Levine wrote personal letters to all the women involved to get them on board and even called some directly. They were curated to represent many different races, religions, backgrounds and orientations. Ellen DeGeneres was the first person to sign up and support the video. J Lo was the first person filmed. Because all the women involved had incredibly busy schedules, the clip relied on green screen and VFX to achieve its seamless final cut.

• Implementation

Working with the director, Adam Levine wrote personal letters to all the women involved to get them on board. They were curated to represent many different races, religions, backgrounds and orientations.

• Timeline

It took 5 months to make. Ellen DeGeneres was the first one asked. Cardi B agreed and flew out to L.A. before her team had even approved. It was a 5-day shoot in Los Angeles.

• Placement

The single was released on May, 30th, 2018, also when the clip dropped on Vevo.

• Reach

Maroon 5 was the most-viewed artist globally in 2018 with 1.6 billion views worldwide.

• Engagement

From May 30 – November 30, the video had 1.3 billion views on the platform.

• Impact

Vevo’s most-watched music video in 2018. It was unanimously praised - from Mashable, Billboard, Glamour, EW and CNN to Rolling Stone, HuffPost, Slate, MSN and Refinery29, among others - for assembling a powerhouse of women/creative force of female empowerment in one video, and for its catchy pop hook.