Misty Copeland is on point(e), literally.
The 32-year-old renowned ballet dancer has landed the ultimate gig as the new principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre, also becoming the first black woman to be promoted to that position in its 75-year history. The wins are adding up for her and there’s no stopping her shine. Copeland can now add cover girl to her impressive resumé, as she graces Essence Magazine’s September 2015 issue serving a serious dose of all things style and grace. In the cover shot, she rocks a long flowing, bohemian frock complete with her flesh-tone pointe shoes.
READ: Poetry In Motion: Ballerina Misty Copeland On Standing Out
From becoming the first black woman to perform the lead in Swan Lake for the American Ballet Theatre to her promotion to principal ballerina at ABT to a landmark contract with Under Armour to her recent engagement, Misty tells all.
“I never knew it was going to get to this level. There are a lot of times when I wish it wasn’t so much. But I wanted this type of exposure for the dance community. I wanted it to be an opportunity for me to educate people and get them to become ballet fans and to educate them on what it means to be a Black dancer—a Black ballet dancer,” she said.
The September issue of Essence hits newsstands on Aug. 14.