Misty Copeland

Ballet dancer

Misty Copeland is one of the most iconic professional ballet dancers of our time. She began dancing at 13 and joined the American Ballet Theatre in 2000, making her the first African-American female soloist in the company. Since that time, Copeland has become a champion of dance and a leader in promoting its power as an inclusive art form. Her career has included a variety of extraordinary accomplishments, including becoming the first African-American female principal dancer in the renowned American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history in 2015. Misty Copeland has served as a strong advocate for diversity in the ballet world. As a child, she experienced peer rejection and a lack of exposure to the ballet world due to her race. She was invited to dance on a professional stage for the first time when she was 13, and was eventually mentored by Cynthia Gregory and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her commitment to her work, her ability to overcome adversity, and her quest to make ballet accessible to everyone led the National Women's History Museum to honor her as a "Living Legend" in 2017. In addition to her rigorous dance career, Misty Copeland has become an outspoken advocate for healthy living and fitness, launching her own lifestyle brand in 2017. She has also broken into the literary world, producing three bestselling books featuring her unique story and insights in the ballet world. In 2018, she executive produced a documentary titled “A Ballerina's Tale,” which follows her career from adversity to success. The breadth of Misty Copeland's influence is unrivaled. She has made a lasting impact on ballet, promoted healthy living, and encouraged social integration for all dancers. In 2017, Time magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her courage, hard work, and diligence have placed her firmly as one of the greatest ballet dancers of our time.