J.Lo's iconic green Grammy dress is the reason we have Google Image Search

(Image credit: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

published 8 April 2015

Step aside, Taylor Swift: There was an influential bellybutton long before yours.

Back in 2000, one Jennifer Lopez wore what is arguably the world's most inefficient bathing suit cover-up to the Grammy Awards. The green gown took "v-neck" to drastic new depths, dipping to just below her navel before it was cinched with a dazzling brooch — which then gave way to quite a high-cut slit in the front center of the skirt. Understandably, people wanted to see this dress in action, and they took to their computers to do so. Enter Google. From the company's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt:

"After all, people wanted more than just text. This first became apparent after the 2000 Grammy Awards, where Jennifer Lopez wore a green dress that, well, caught the world's attention. At the time, it was the most popular search query we had ever seen. But we had no surefire way of getting users exactly what they wanted: JLo wearing that dress. Google Image Search was born." [Project Syndicate]

It's possible that users were searching for "world's most ill-fitting light gray suit," in which case J.Lo's then-boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs could provide an example also from that night. Either way, we have J.Lo and the 2000 Grammys to thank for Google Image Search.