Alicia Keys

By the age of 12, Alicia Keys was a musician composing original songs. By 15, she signed onto Columbia Records and the rest of her career flourished: she has 15 Grammy Awards, recognition from the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and 17 NAACP Image Awards, which recognize her talent within the black community. Alicia has been featured on several “Greatest Artists of All Time” lists and is a best-selling author, activist, mother, and icon in the music industry.

Kerry Washington

Since starring in the popular series Scandal in 2012, Kerry Washington has become a household name as an actress and producer. However, she’s been active in her career since 1994, acting in movie roles, from Fantastic Four to Django Unchained, as well as several independent films. In 2018, it was reported by Forbes that Kerry Washington was the eighth highest-paid actress in television, a well-deserved accolade.

Winnie Harlow

Winne Harlow is immediately recognizable, as a beautiful black woman with a rare skin condition called vitiligo, which depigments sections of the skin. Winnie’s rise to fame as a contestant on America’s Next Top Model has also brought awareness to women who defy traditional beauty standards; she’s become an international inspiration, vitiligo spokesperson, and successful model.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Though Jada Pinkett Smith is married to Will Smith and mom to Jaden and Willow, her fame is all her own. This beautiful powerhouse gained fame throughout a career spanning over 20 films and launched a music career in the early 2000s. She’s also the owner of a production company, a children’s book author, and the host of the Facebook talk-show Red Table Talk.

Chanel Iman

American model Chanel Iman is a gorgeous powerhouse within the beauty industry. She’s recognized as her work with Victoria’s Secret, posing for major covers along the lines of Vogue and Vanity Fair, and her runway shows for top fashion brands, from Gucci to Michael Kors.