Misty Copeland
As one of the most prominent and influential ballerinas to date, Misty Copeland broke boundaries that seemed impossible to any ballet dancer in the 21st century. Despite her late start in dance, her unlikely body type, and the her skin, Copeland managed to be one of the few African American ballerinas to be appointed as a soloist. In June 2015, Copeland became the first African-American female principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history.