45 Famous Black Women Who Are Leaving Their Mark on History

Claim to fame: Writer, producer, transgender rights activist

Why she’s extraordinary: Mock, who received 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 is also a New York Times bestselling author and signed a three-year, multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix in 2019.

Claim to fame: Singer, songwriter, rapper, activist

Why she’s extraordinary: Lizzo has won three Grammy Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and a BET Award. But aside from her incredibly popular music, Lizzo is known for her advocacy and her dedication to practicing body positivity and self-love. Most recently, Lizzo accepted the People's Champion Award at the 2022 People's Choice Awards, showing us all what celebrity activism looks like by bringing over 15 activists onstage and using her speech to introduce them.

Claim to fame: Actress, singer

Why she’s extraordinary: Sheryl Lee Ralph has been making waves this awards season, winning the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy at the age of 66, along with being nominated for a Critics Choice Award. While she plays the wise Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary, the actress mirrors her role, with awards speeches going viral for their uplifting and inspiring messages.

Claim to fame: Viral immunologist

Why she’s extraordinary: Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD, was notably one of the leading scientists developing the Covid-19 vaccine in 2020. Working at the National Institutes of Health, Corbett was a key player of the team that developed the Moderna vaccine that was later proven to be 94.1 percent effective against the virus. Anthony Fauci, MD, described her involvement “right at the forefront of the development of the vaccine” as “a sign of hope” for other young scientists. Corbett is now also an assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Claim to fame: Actress, producer

Why she’s extraordinary: In 2015, Davis made history by becoming the first Black 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 is also an Academy Award winner and has been in a countless number of our favorite films. Most recently, Viola produced and starred in her own movie, The Woman King, which sold $94,333,330 in worldwide box offices.

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 became 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. She was Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2017.

Claim to fame: Actress, singer, talk show host

Why she’s extraordinary: While Smith has been in the spotlight for decades, 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. The show has become a go-to apology stop for A-listers following scandal, from Jordyn Woods to Olivia Jade, and even Smith herself.

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.

Claim to fame: Duchess of Sussex, former actress

Why she’s extraordinary: Though Markle—along with her husband, Prince Harry—made the unprecedented move to step back as a senior member of the royal family in 2019, since she joined the world of the British monarchy in 2018, the former actress has established herself as an advocate for a variety of causes, including gender equality and climate change. She and her husband have also founded Archewell, an organization that acts as a production and audio company, and a charitable foundation.

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 her 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 a number of underrepresented communities.

Claim to fame: Journalist, news anchor

Why she’s extraordinary: Longtime Oprah fans know that Gayle has been at the top of her game for years now (she has three Emmys to prove it). In 2018, King was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, and following her headline-making interview with the disgraced R. Kelly, Gayle was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2019.

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.

Claim to fame: Singer, actress, talk show host

Why she’s extraordinary: From her heartfelt 2006 portrayal of Effie in Dreamgirls to her dynamic performance as Aretha Franklin in the 2021 biopic Respect, the Academy Award and Grammy winning Jennifer Hudson has always wowed us. She now takes on a different live audience with her daytime talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, which debuted in 2022. Hudson earned EGOT status, and is currently the youngest female EGOT winner in history, as of January 2023.

Claim to fame: Politician

Why she’s extraordinary: Following the November 2020 election and January 2021 inauguration ceremony, Sen. Kamala Harris of California made history, becoming the first woman and first Black and Asian American to hold the title of vice president. She’s also the first woman and person of color to to be district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California.

Claim to fame: Actress, director

Why she’s extraordinary: King has been absolutely killing it in a career that spans decades. In 2019, she won a Golden Globe and a supporting actress Oscar for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk. And her critically acclaimed HBO dystopian drama Watchmen riveted audiences and earned her a fourth Emmy.

Claim to fame: Actress, author, comedian, talk show host

Why she’s extraordinary: Emmy Award–winning talk show host Sherri Shepherd has been making waves with her daytime talk show, Sherri. Formerly a host on The View, Shepherd has taken on hosting her own show with ease, and she's hilarious. Shepherd has expressed that hosting her own show was lifelong dream, and she is using her show to spread joy and laughter, with her clips consistently going viral on TikTok.

Claim to fame: Author, lawyer, and the first Black FLOTUS of the United States

Why she's extraordinary: Mrs. Obama captivated many with her show of warmth, strength, and positivity as the country's First Lady from 2009 to 2017. In her role, she fought against childhood obesity and championed education for young girls. And in the face of dark political times, during her speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, she delivered a line that still resonates with many today: "When they go low, we go high." She's also the bestselling author of Becoming and a podcaster. Check out her new memoir, The Light We Carry, as she tackles "change, challenges, and power."

Claim to fame: Actress, social advocate, entrepreneur

Why she’s extraordinary: The daughter of singer Diana Ross, Tracee Ellis Ross is a shining light in Hollywood. From her role as the ambitious Joan in the early 2000s show Girlfriends to her groundbreaking gig as Dr. Rainbow Johnson on the hit sitcom Black-ish, the actress is guaranteed to put a smile on your face with her fashion, goofy Instagram antics, and passion for movements like #TimesUp and #BlackLivesMatter. And in 2019 she launched her very own haircare line, Pattern Beauty.

Claim to fame: Director, producer, screenwriter

Why she’s extraordinary: With films like 13th, Selma, and A Wrinkle in Time (starring our very own Oprah), DuVernay has made it a point to put representation at the forefront of her critically acclaimed work. She has also racked up countless firsts: the first Black woman to win the Best Directing Award at Sundance in 2012; the first Black woman to get a Best Director Golden Globe nomination; the first woman of color to direct an Oscar-nominated Best Picture film; and the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million domestically.