This is a tribute to these beautiful ladies who have made their mark in history, opened doors, brokedown barriers and made us proud to be a woman.
Let’s Hear It for the Girls!: Famous Female Firsts Pt. 2 was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Keke Palmer
2014: Keke Palmer made history when she became the youngest talk show host, ever.
2. Quvenzhane Wallis
2013: Quvenzhane Wallis is the youngest person EVER nominated for an Oscar. (Photo: AP)
3. Gabrielle Douglas
2012: Gabby Douglas is the first African-American gymnast in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion. (Photo: AP)
4. Claressa Shields
2012: Claressa Shields became the first American female boxer to win gold at the Olympic games in 2012. (Photo: AP)
5. Sojourner Truth bust
2009: Sojourner Truth became the first black woman to be honored with a bust in the United States Capital. (Photo: AP)
6. First Lady Michelle Obama
2008: Michelle Obama became the first African American First Lady in the history of the United States. In 2013, she became the first ‘First Lady’ to announce the winner of Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards Show.
7. First Lady Michelle Obama
2008: Michelle Obama became the first African American First Lady in the history of the United States. In 2013, she became the first ‘First Lady’ to announce the winner of Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards Show.
8. Beyonce Knowles
2007: Beyonce Knowles became the first singer and the first non-model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. (Photo: AP)
9. Beyonce Knowles
2007: Beyonce Knowles became the first singer and the first non-model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. (Photo: AP)
10. Queen Latifah
2006: Queen Latifah became the first hip-hop artist with a star on the Walk of Fame. (Photo: AP)
11. Queen Latifah
2006: Queen Latifah became the first hip-hop artist with a star on the Walk of Fame. (Photo: AP)
12. Condoleezza Rice
2005: Condoleezza Rice was the first African-American female Secretary of State. (Photo: AP)
13. Oprah Winfrey
2003: Forbes Magazine revealed Oprah Winfrey to be the first African-American woman to become a billionaire.
1986: Oprah Winfrey became the first black woman television host on her daytime show “The Oprah Winfrey Show. (Photo: Tumblr)
14. Vonetta Flowers
2002: Vonetta Flowers was the first African American to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympics for bobsledding. (Photo: AP)
15. Halle Berry
2001: Halle Berry was the first African American woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress. (Photo: AP)
16. Tyra Banks
1996: Tyra Banks broke barriers when she became the first African American model to cover Sports Illustrated Magazine. (Photo: AP)
17. Whoopi Goldberg
1994: Comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg was the first African-American woman (and woman in general) to host the Oscars without a co-host, doing so four times between 1994 and 2002. (Photo: AP)
18. Toni Morrison
1993: Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature. (Photo: AP)
19. Carol Moseley-Braun
1992: Carol Moseley-Braun, of Illinois, was the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. (Photo: AP)
20. Mae Carol Jemison
1992: Mae Carol Jemison is a physician and NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. (Photo: Tumblr)
21. Debi Thomas
1988: Figure Skater, Debi Thomas, was the first African American to win an Olympic medal at the winter games. (Tumblr)
22. Patricia Harris
1977: Patricia Harris was the first black African-American to serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet (Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development). (Photo: AP)
23. Beverly Johnson
1975: Beverly Johnson was the first African American supermodel to grace the cover of Elle Magazine. (Photo: AP)
24. Tina Turner
1969: Tina Turner was the first female to ever appear on the cover of the Rolling Stone Magazine. (Photo: AP)
25. 1969-shirleychisholmfamousfemale1st
1969: Shirley Chisholm of New York was the first African American woman in congress. ‘Unbought & unbossed’ was her motto. She served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years. (Photo: AP)
26. Dorothy Dandridge
1954: Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman to be nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress for her performance in ‘Carmen.’ (Photo: Tumblr)
27. Alice Coachman
1948: Alice Coachman took home a gold medal for the high jump. She was the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal and the only American woman to win a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics in London. (Photo: AP)
28. 1921-bessiecolemanfirstfamousfemale
1921: Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to earn the coveted international pilot’s license, issued in Paris. (Photo: Pinterest)
