Misty Copeland, the first black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, was among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2015 and has written a bestselling memoir and a children's book.
Speaking in front of thousands of fans in Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, Copeland detailed how she overcame racial inequality in the ballet world. She received a standing ovation as she tells her story on how she became the first black female ABT principal dancer, according to the CBS Baltimore.
Aside from being with ABT for about 14 years, Copeland also appeared as a guest judge on the show "So You Think You Can Dance," starred in an Under Armor Ad and was with the "Prince on Tour."
In addition, Copeland starred as a soloist on stage playing the characters of Juliet in the "Romeo and Juliet", princess Florine in "The Sleeping Beauty" and Odette - Odile in "Swan Lake" in 2007. She suffered an injury as she played the role of Stravinsky's Firebird in 2012.
Copeland is the subject of a documentary entitled "A Ballerina's Tale," which is about the trials she faced on her journey to success and was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, according to the Guardian.
Aside from being a successful dancer, Copeland also writes books. On Aug. 1, she hosted a book signing in Baltimore to celebrate the life changing day in her career. She also has written her memoir "Life in Motion: Unlikely Ballerina" and a children's book entitled "Firebird."
Currently, Copeland works as Barack Obama's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. She was raised in San Pedro, Calif., where she started dancing at the age of 13. She joined the theater in 2000 and in less than a year, she was a member of the corps de ballet.