GIRLS WHO GET IT-QUEEN LATIFAH

A child divorced parents, Latifah experienced additional hardships growing up when her older brother was killed in a motorcycle accident. The loss, amplified by the fact that the motorcycle was a recent gift from her, triggered a bout of depression and drug abuse. A resilient woman, Latifah eventually overcame these obstacles and discussed her hardships in her 1999 autobiography, Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman.

One of the few women in an industry dominated by men, Latifah broke into world of hip hop by showing off her beatboxing skills in 1988. One year later, she dropped her first album All Hail the Queen, putting female rappers on the map when she was just 19 years old. Though her success as a rapper was climbing steadily, Latifah changed her tune after her fourth album and began dabbling in soul and jazz music.

Her powerful voice would eventually take her to the big screen, where she would star in the Hollywood hits Chicago, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress as “Mama” and the film version of the Broadway hit Hairspray, where she won audiences over with her portrayal of “‘Motormouth’ Maybelle”. Before her mainstream success, however, Latifah was cast in the 90s sitcom Living Single, a popular show amongst black audiences for which she wrote and performed the theme song.

Now a spokesperson for CoverGirl, Latifah also has her own line of cosmetics within the brand called the “CoverGirl Queen Collection” and has launched a line of perfume called “Queen”. She also represents Pizza Hut, Curvation ladies underwear and Jenny Craig, a program she used to trim her figure. A former high school basketball player, Latifah now kickboxes to stay in shape.

A multi-talented star who has been a role model to women since the 80s, Queen Latifah is a Girl Who Gets It.