Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland didn't begin ballet until age 13 — remarkably late by professional standards. Raised by a single mother, she lived in motels and struggled with poverty before a teacher at the Boys and Girls Club recognized her extraordinary natural talent.

Within months, she was en pointe. Within a year, she was winning competitions. She joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company at 17 and the corps de ballet at 19. In 2015, she was promoted to principal dancer — the first African American woman in the company's 75-year history.

Beyond the stage, Copeland has become a cultural icon and advocate for diversity in ballet and the arts. Her memoir, Life in Motion, became a bestseller, and she has used her platform to mentor young dancers of color around the world.