Misty Copeland Shares the Powerful Effect Prince Had on Her Career
Misty Copeland's latest interview only proves what we already knew: she is an endless well of inspiration. The principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre — and the company's first black, female principal dancer — recently spoke to Cosmopolitan about her success, self-motivational tactics, and the effect Prince had on her career. She also posed for a magnificent series of photographs, also to be included in the magazine's upcoming August issue.
Ahead, we've rounded up some of the dancer's outstanding quotes from the interview.
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On staying motivated: "Even when you think you've arrived, you have to keep working. Not everyone is going to like you or think you're the right fit. But hearing no makes you stronger."
On Prince: "I had times when, as an African-American woman, I felt that I didn't belong in the ballet world." On being cast in Prince's music video for "Crimson and Clover" in 2009, Copeland said, "I began to understand my full potential. Having someone say, 'I trust you and your talent,' was all it took to start feeling like I could be in control of my career and make things happen on my own."
On having support: "There's no wrong way to create your own path, but you have to find support. On those days when you want to give up, you have to have people in your life who are going to keep you striving."