Prima ballerina Misty Copeland's rise to iconic status was never a given. She grew up poor in Los Angeles as one of six siblings. At what she calls her lowest point, the family lived in a single motel room. Dance became a respite from a difficult childhood.
"I have to pinch myself all the time with every opportunity I have that I'm living this dream," said Copeland, who in 2015 became the first African-American female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theater.
Reaching the pinnacle of success as a dancer was only the beginning. Copeland's achievements go well beyond the world of ballet to include best-selling books, endorsements and even a dancewear line.
So, what keeps her on her toes? "Hard work keeps me grounded," she said.