Misty Copeland was told she wasn't the ideal ballerina. While most girls put on their first tutu at age three, Copeland did so at age 13. She discovered dance at a Boys & Girls Club in California during a period when her family was struggling and facing various hardships. She was told she didn't have the right body type for a dancer. In addition, there are few minority dancers who make it to the top of the ballet food chain. Against all odds, she worked her way up and on Tuesday, June 30, she was named the first female African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater.

Copeland has become world-famous not only as a dancer, but as a writer, athlete and activist. She has become a representative for Under Armour, proving that dancers can be strong and powerful as well as graceful. She has defied the stereotype of the ballet body, showing young girls that having muscle is a good thing and you don't have to be stick-thin to be a dancer.

Copeland's book "Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina" about the difficulties of making it in the ballet world became an instant New York Times bestseller. Her children's book "Firebird" also serves as an inspiration to young girls everywhere who are following their dreams. She was featured in a spread in Vogue and on an episode of "60 Minutes." She is revered among dancers and among leaders in other fields. In 2014, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.Copeland has also been featured on the cover of Time magazine in April as one of the "100 Most Influential People."

American Ballet Theater has only had one other African-American principal dancer, Desmond Richardson, but Copeland is the first female. Few ballet companies in the United States have African-American principal dancers and even fewer are women. She is one of the most famous dancers and individuals of our time and has brought dance to the forefront of America's mind.

She once said, "The path to your success is not as fixed and un-flexible as you think it is." The positivity that radiates from Copeland is what has made her such a success in her own life and an inspiration to others. Copeland is an inspiration for a variety of different people. For young people, she is motivation to follow their dreams no matter how big they are or what the circumstances may be. She is an inspiration for dancers who don't have the ideal body type. Copeland teaches dancers to love themselves and their bodies. She is an advocate for a healthy lifestyle and fitness and has changed the way people think about dancers. She shows that dancers are just as much athletes as they are artists. But most importantly she is a advocate for equality, showing America that race and gender do not determine the level of success in any career. She has proven that anyone can achieve greatness in their field, no matter their race or gender. Keep inspiring, Misty!