Paula Abdul's new video has the usual bouncy beat, great choreography and is a little bit racy looking — until you hear the message it's trying to convey. And then all those hands-on gestures make sense.

 

The former American Idol judge has partnered with the Avon Foundation for Women as it launches a new campaign called #CheckYourself.

 

Abdul's video includes a song and dance based on the simple steps a person would take to check themselves for breast cancer. The moves include some hand gestures that approximate how to do a self-exam.

 

"Singing and dancing are my passions. I am thrilled and inspired to have had the opportunity to apply these passions to create a new music video in support of the breast cancer awareness cause, and the new global #CheckYourself for Breast Cancer campaign is very personal for me," said Abdul in a news release. "My sister Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. As a breast cancer survivor and champion for the cause, she inspires me every day. My hope is that this new video will inspire women and men to take charge of their own breast health through screening, detection, and treatment."

 

Oct. 1 starts Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the new call to action is launching in the United States and 25 countries around the world.

 

A #CheckYourself web portal has been launched to help people better navigate complicated breast health information and simplify the steps necessary for optimum outcomes in breast cancer screening, detection and treatment, said the release.

 

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women with nearly 1.7 million new cases globally this year – and 232,670 new cases in the United States alone.

 

 

Paula Abdul on set with sister and breast cancer survivor Wendy Emkin at Quixote Studios on Sept. 5, 2014, in Los Angeles to launch the Avon Foundation's #CheckYourself for Breast Cancer campaign. [Avon Foundation for Women]