Written by: Pascaline Opeodu
Before you can achieve anything in life, you have to know what you want. You have to decide that whatever you’re doing is important to you, that it’s worth it. And if it isn’t, it’s time to set new, more meaningful goals.
The first step to reaching your goals is through planning.
Say to yourself, “I am not willing to accept anything less than what I deserve! I am smart! I am Beautiful! I am a good woman and I deserve to be happy!”
It all starts with you.
Here are some women who have inspired us in their life’s journey, maybe reading their story will give you a sprinkle of black girl magic!
Janet Mock
Claim to fame: Writer, producer, transgender rights activist.
Why she’s extraordinary: Mock, who will be awarded with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 2020 GLAAD Media Awards, is one of the leading voices for transgender rights in the 21st century. With her work on Pose, she became the first transgender woman of color to write and direct a TV episode. She’s also a New York Times bestselling author and signed a three year multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix in 2019.
Viola Davis
Claim to fame: Actress, producer.
Why she’s extraordinary: In 2015, Davis made history by becoming the first African American woman to win an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her work in ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder. She’s also an Academy Award winner and has been in a countless amount of our favorite films.
Tarana Burke
Claim to fame: Activist.
Why she’s extraordinary: In the wake of Harvey Weinstein being revealed as a serial sexual abuser in 2017, Burke’s activist group “Me Too” became #MeToo. The hashtag has become a movement of its own, acting as a way for those in the social media age to stand in solidarity with their shared experiences of sexual assault.
Jada Pinkett Smith
Claim to fame: Actress, singer, talk show host.
Why she’s extraordinary: While Smith has been in the spotlight since the ’90s, her star power gained renewed momentum in 2018 with the premiere of her hit Facebook Watch talk show, Red Table Talk, which she hosts alongside her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris and daughter Willow.
Allyson Felix
Claim to fame: Athlete, track, and field star.
Why she’s extraordinary: In 2019, track star Allyson Felix broke Usain Bolt’s record for the most-ever gold medals won at the world championships. (She has 13).
Rihanna
Claim to fame: Singer, designer, businesswoman.
Why she’s extraordinary: Her fans are not-so-patiently awaiting news of her ninth studio album, but it’s safe to say Rihanna couldn’t be bothered. In 2019, the mogul officially became the world’s richest female musician and is valued at a whopping $600 million. Much of that is due to her extremely successful brand Fenty Beauty, which launched in 2017 at Sephora.
Tamron Hall
Claim to fame: Broadcast journalist, talk show host.
Why she’s extraordinary: Despite her sudden departure from the Today Show in 2017, Hall bounced back and now hosts her own self-titled syndicated talk show.
Meghan Markle
Claim to fame: Duchess of Sussex, former actress.
Why she’s extraordinary: Though Markle—along with her husband, Prince Harry—has made an unprecedented move to step back as a senior member of the royal family, since she joined the world of the monarchy in 2016, the former actress has established herself as an advocate for a variety of causes including gender equality and climate change.
Gabrielle Union
Claim to fame: Actress, activist.
Why she’s extraordinary: Though we’ve seen Union on the big and small screen since the ’90s, in recent years the star has become open about everything from fertility struggles to racial and gender equality in Hollywood and raising her children with love no matter what. Her outspoken voice has set her apart in the acting world as an advocate and ally for several underrepresented communities.
Ayle King
Claim to fame: Journalist, news anchor.
Why she’s extraordinary: Long-time Oprah fans know that Gayle has been at the top of her game for years now (she has three Emmys to prove it). And following her headline-making interview with the disgraced R. Kelly, Gayle was named one of Time‘s 100 Most Influential people in 2019.
Ruth E. Carter
Claim to fame: Costume designer.
Why she’s extraordinary: Though you can trace Carter’s costume design career back to 1988’s School Daze, in 2019 she became the first African American woman to win the Oscar for Costume Design for her work in Marvel’s Black Panther.
