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Home • Beauty

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse' 

The ballerina tells ESSENCE why being a part of the global beauty brand is "unbelievably surreal."
Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Gabriel Olsen
By Samantha Callender · Updated October 26, 2020

Global beauty brand Estée Lauder just unveiled the new spokesperson for its “Modern Muse” fragrance: Misty Copeland! Starting this August, the American Ballet Theatre’s first Black principal dancer will front the campaign’s digital, television and social media ads, giving us a glimpse into her beauty routine before hitting the stage. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe)

With a passion for helping others, the 34-year-old sees as an opportunity to give back to her community. “I am so honored to represent Estée Lauder Modern Muse,” the dancer said in an official press release.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe)

“My two passions are dance and giving back, and I love passing on knowledge to the next generation. I also have a strong connection to the scents I wear when I perform. The Modern Muse campaign is the perfect way to see another side of my story.”

Defining beauty as “uniqueness,” Copeland says some of her first memories involve Estée Lauder, specifically her mother’s signature vanilla scent and red lip. 

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A post shared by Estée Lauder (@esteelauder)

The boundary-breaking ballerina also tells ESSENCE exclusively that “it is unbelievably surreal to be a part of such a powerful, positive and glamorous history that is Estée Lauder!,” while also acknowledging the Black women who paved the way for her to garner such a prestigious opportunity. 

“Fragrance is a big part of my everyday life and I’m living a dream as a Modern Muse girl. But most of all, the idea of being an inspiration really resonated with me,”she told ESSENCE. “I’m inspired everyday by Black women, past and present, who have paved the way for me. With everything that I do, I hope that I’m doing the same for young brown girls.”

We can’t wait to learn more about Misty’s most precious beauty memories! Until then, check out some of her fiercest red carpet makeup and hair moments below! 

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01
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments
In May 2017, the boundary-breaking ballerina looked picture perfect at the American Ballet Theatre Spring 2017 Gala.
Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Andrew Toth
02
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

Misty slayed in classic red lipstick at New York City’s Lincoln Center in 2015. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Taylor Hill
03
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

Last year, Copeland pumped up the hair volume for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection fashion show. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Astrid Stawiarz
04
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

In 2015, Copeland let her hair down while starring in a Broadway production of On The Town. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Bruce Glikas
05
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

Copeland upped the glamour for the ‘Manus x Machina-‘ themed Met Gala in 2016. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Rabbani and Solimene Photography
06
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

Beaming in her signature bun at the 2016 American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Gary Gershoff
07
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

Copeland pulled off a cute and casual ponytail atop the Empire State Building in 2015. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Noam Galai
08
Misty Copeland’s Best Beauty Moments

A major curl moment from the ballerina at Glamour’s 25th Anniversary Women Of The Year Awards in 2015. 

Misty Copeland Hopes To Inspire Young Brown Girls As the Face of Estée Lauder's 'Modern Muse'
Gilbert Carrasquillo
TOPICS:  Misty Copeland News