Ballet dancer Misty Copeland made history when she became the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. One of the world’s best-loved dancers, she was an ABT soloist from 2007 until 2015. Copeland is also a celebrity spokesperson, stage performer and public speaker and the New York Times bestselling author of Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. Her highly anticipated children’s book Bunheads is due for release in September 2020. Copeland has also collaborated with several top brands including Under Armour, Seiko, Dr Pepper and T-Mobile.

Born in Kansas City, Copeland didn’t begin ballet until she was 13 but was considered a prodigy as soon as she began to dance, dancing en pointe within three months of her first lesson. In 1998 Copeland was at the centre of a custody battle between her mother and her ballet teachers who served as her custodial guardians, whilst beginning to receive professional dance offers. After both sides dropped their legal proceedings she left home and began to study under a former ABT teacher. After two summer workshops with ABT, she became a member of the corps de ballet in 2001. Six years later she became only the second female African American soloist, and in 2005 she became the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer in ABT’s history.

Copeland has appeared on numerous television programs including The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes. Copeland is credited with diversifying the art form of classical ballet, and in 2014 she was awarded with an honorary doctorate from the University of Hartford.