She is the author of “for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf.”
FIERCE FACTOR: Her choreopoem has a power and relevance that transcend time, race and gender.
Williams is an actress and a singer.
FIERCE FACTOR: She conquered Broadway, the music charts, and the big and small screens.
Ringgold is a visual artist and writer.
FAB FACTOR: People soar in her stirring, vibrant masterpieces.
Erica (left) is one-half of chart-topping gospel duo, Mary Mary.
FAB FACTOR: The Campbell sisters spread The Word with conviction and flair.
Tina (right) is part of the talented gospel duo, Mary Mary.
FAB FACTOR: The Campbell sisters spread The Word with conviction and flair.
Angelou is an author, poet, activist, actress, dancer and singer.
FIERCE FACTOR: The Presidential Medal of Arts winner became the voice of a nation.
Jamison is the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
FAB FACTOR: She showed Black girls they belonged at center stage — and in the corner office.
Mrs. Obama is the First Lady of the United States. She wrote a personal letter to ESSENCE readers for this special occasion. Pick up a copy of the September issue to read her special message!
Oprah is a media mogul and philanthropist.
FIERCE FACTOR: She built a billion-dollar media empire, then put her considerable mojo on the line by stepping up to launch her OWN cable network.
Johnson-Sirleaf is the President of the Republic of Liberia.
FIERCE FACTOR: The first African female to rule an African nation is bringing peace to her country through economic recovery.
Williams is a much celebrated tennis champion.
FIERCE FACTOR: She’s the current No. 1 singles player and No. 1 doubles player (along with big sis Venus) in the world.
Parker is a WNBA forward for the Los Angeles Sparks.
FAB FACTOR: She made competitive basketball cool for women.
Iman is a supermodel and founder of Iman Cosmetics.
FAB FACTOR: For more than 35 years, she has reflected our beauty.
She is a supermodel and founder of the Fashion for Relief.
FIERCE FACTOR: She’s clocked 25 years in fashion, with the meanest catwalk of them all.
Kebede is a supermodel and a maternal health ambassador.
FAB FACTOR: She dreams a world in which giving birth won’t endanger a woman’s life.
Chanel is one of the youngest supermodels to walk for Victoria’s Secret.
FAB FACTOR: She’s taken her beauty global to become fashion’s next big thing.
Mary is a singer, actress and philanthropist.
FIERCE FACTOR: For almost two decades, she’s given voice to our vulnerability and our strength.
Beyoncé is singer, actress and designer for the House of Dereon.
FAB FACTOR: The top-earning female artist took home a record six Grammy Awards in one night.
Queen Latifah is an actress, singer, spokesmodel as well as film producer.
FIERCE FACTOR: She infiltrated Hollywood to become a force to be reckoned with.
Mo’Nique is an actress, comedienne and talk show host.
FIERCE FACTOR: She won an Oscar while refusing to play politics.
Davis is an actress. She has appeared in “Doubt” and most recently won a Tony award for her role in the Broadway play “Fences.”
FAB FACTOR: Her riveting portrayals captivate audiences.
Williams is a talk show host and author.
FAB FACTOR: By embracing her outsize persona, this rising star has made daytime TV prime time.
Ward is the President of Community Relations and Target Foundation for Target Corporation.
FAB FACTOR: She leads the team responsible for donating more than $3 million a week to the communities Target serves.
She is the VP and general manager of Global Cosmetics for P&G Beauty & Grooming.
FIERCE FACTOR: She diversified P&G’s top-branded spokesmodels to reflect the range of women’s beauty.
Hobson is the President of Ariel Investments.
FAB FACTOR: She helped guide the nation’s largest Black-owned mutual fund company through financial crisis and came out on top.
Dr. Simmons is the President of Brown University.
FIERCE FACTOR: She helped to raise more than $1.5 billion to enhance academic programs.
Tatum is the President of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
FAB FACTOR: She’s at the helm of the country’s oldest HBCU for women.
Jarrett is President Obama’s senior advisor and assistant to Intergovernmental Relations and Public Engagement.
FIERCE FACTOR: She has the ear of the most powerful man on the planet, and is helping to launch a more inclusive era of political engagement.
Barnes is the domestic policy advisor and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the White House.
FAB FACTOR: She coordinates the President’s domestic policy process.
Jackson is an Environmental Protection Agency administrator.
FAB FACTOR: She links environmentalism to real-life concerns.
Rice is the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
FIERCE FACTOR: As America’s face to the world, she tackles issues from terrorism to Haiti’s recovery.
Beverly is a DJ and founder of Black Girls Rock!
FAB FACTOR: She created a platform for talented young sisters, giving them role models to guide the way.
Dr. Olopade is a medical oncologist.
FIERCE FACTOR: She identifies and treats forms of cancer that disproportionately affect Black people.
Taylor is an author, motivational speaker and former editor-in-chief of ESSENCE.
FIERCE FACTOR: She empowered millions of Black women by affirming our beauty and worth.
Brock is the Chairman of the board of the NAACP.
FAB FACTOR: She’s leading the fight for civil rights into the 21st century.
Keys is a singer and an actress.
FIERCE FACTOR: She has raised $25 million for HIV/AIDS care for African children and families.
Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr is an infectious disease specialist.
FIERCE FACTOR: She revolutionized the way we fight HIV.
Ralph is an actress and HIV activist.
FAB FACTOR: She increased awareness of HIV through powerful performances.
Wilson is a NASA astronaut.
FAB FACTOR: She traveled 6.2 million miles on her most recent mission.
Tyson is a legendary actress.
FAB FACTOR: One of the first Black actresses to secure a prime-time TV role, she’s now inspiring a new generation.
