#SHINESTRONG: Breaking Barriers

These women are changing the world, one day at a time.

Oprah Winfrey - They continue to break barriers for the next generation of Black women, inspiring us to make our own mark on the world. Oprah, Robin Roberts, Bevy Smith and more #SHINESTRONG as trailblazers in the worlds of business, the arts and entertainment. By Britt Middleton A celebrated television mogul, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey has touched millions of lives through ABC’s The Oprah Winfrey Show, O Magazine and OWN. Winfrey is the world’s first Black female billionaire and has donated millions to worthy causes, including opening the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

1 / 7

Oprah Winfrey - They continue to break barriers for the next generation of Black women, inspiring us to make our own mark on the world. Oprah, Robin Roberts, Bevy Smith and more #SHINESTRONG as trailblazers in the worlds of business, the arts and entertainment. By Britt Middleton A celebrated television mogul, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey has touched millions of lives through ABC’s The Oprah Winfrey Show, O Magazine and OWN. Winfrey is the world’s first Black female billionaire and has donated millions to worthy causes, including opening the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Robin Roberts - By deciding to share her struggle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with the world, the Good Morning America host inspired nearly 50,000 people to register their bone marrow to a national registry. Countless lives have been saved thanks to the awareness Roberts brought. (Photo: AP Photo/ABC, Heidi Gutman)

2 / 7

Robin Roberts - Known for her work with ESPN and Good Morning America, TV journalist Robin Roberts captured our hearts as she publicly battled breast cancer and then myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare bone marrow disease. Documenting her battle with MDS on Good Morning America, Roberts was awarded the prestigious Peabody Award and ESPN's Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2013 ESPYs, and today continues to raise awareness about women's health. (Photo: AP Photo/ABC, Heidi Gutman)

Bevy Smith - International hostess with the mostess. Style Guru. No matter how you know Bevy Smith, one thing is for sure: the Harlem-based entrepreneur built her empire by knowing how to work a room. Starting her career in advertising and fashion journalism, she soon became one of New York’s top event planners through her company, Dinner With Bevy, gaining a rolodex that reads like a “who’s who” from the worlds of fashion, music, arts and entertainment. When she’s not rubbing elbows with celebrity pals, she’s spilling the tea with friends as co-host of Bravo’s Fashion Queens. (Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for BET)

3 / 7

Bevy Smith - International hostess with the mostess. Style Guru. No matter how you know Bevy Smith, one thing is for sure: the Harlem-based entrepreneur built her empire by knowing how to work a room. Starting her career in advertising and fashion journalism, she soon became one of New York’s top event planners through her company, Dinner With Bevy, gaining a rolodex that reads like a “who’s who” from the worlds of fashion, music, arts and entertainment. When she’s not rubbing elbows with celebrity pals, she’s spilling the tea with friends as co-host of Bravo’s Fashion Queens. (Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for BET)

Queen Latifah - With rhymes focusing on female empowerment, Queen Latifah (born Dana Owens) is a pioneer for female MCs in hip hop. She next conquered Hollywood, notably starring in the '90s sitcom Living Single and the film adaptation of Chicago, which earned her a Golden Globe, BET Award and an Oscar nod. Currently hosting her eponymous talk show, the entrepreneur also heads her production company, Flavor Unit, and is a longtime spokeswoman for CoverGirl. (Photo: Chris Haston/NBC via Getty Images)

4 / 7

Queen Latifah - With rhymes focusing on female empowerment, Queen Latifah (born Dana Owens) is a pioneer for female MCs in hip hop. She next conquered Hollywood, notably starring in the '90s sitcom Living Single and the film adaptation of Chicago, which earned her a Golden Globe, BET Award and an Oscar nod. Currently hosting her eponymous talk show, the entrepreneur also heads her production company, Flavor Unit, and is a longtime spokeswoman for CoverGirl. (Photo: Chris Haston/NBC via Getty Images)

Shola Lynch - Gaining early acclaim as a teen track star in New York in the 1980s, filmmaker Shola Lynch is best known today for her provocative documentaries. Most notably, Free Angela and All Political Prisoners (2012) chronicles the infamous Angela Davis case, while her 2004 debut, Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed, won a Peabody Award for the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and her presidential run in 1972.  (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

5 / 7

Shola Lynch - Gaining early acclaim as a teen track star in New York in the 1980s, filmmaker Shola Lynch is best known today for her provocative documentaries. Most notably, Free Angela and All Political Prisoners (2012) chronicles the infamous Angela Davis case, while her 2004 debut, Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed, won a Peabody Award for the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and her presidential run in 1972.  (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
MC Lyte - The first Black female rapper to release a full album, MC Lyte (born Lana Michele Moorer) blazed a path as one of hip hop’s earliest feminists. Lyte soon took her talents to Hollywood, appearing in TV shows like In Living Color and films such as Playa's Ball. Today, she’s the president and CEO of Sunni Gyrl, Inc., an entertainment and production firm, and founder of Hip Hop Sisters, which provides scholarships to college students. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

6 / 7

MC Lyte - The first Black female rapper to release a full album, MC Lyte (born Lana Michele Moorer) blazed a path as one of hip hop’s earliest feminists. Lyte soon took her talents to Hollywood, appearing in TV shows like In Living Color and films such as Playa's Ball. Today, she’s the president and CEO of Sunni Gyrl, Inc., an entertainment and production firm, and founder of Hip Hop Sisters, which provides scholarships to college students. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

Dr. Maya Angelou - Award-winning poet, author and activist Dr. Maya Angelou paved the way for Black women in literature, celebrating our uniqueness, resilience and strength with poems such as “Phenomenal Woman” and her autobiographical series, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The world continues to mourn the loss of Dr. Angelou, who passed away at age 86 on May 28. Her positivity, grace and enduring spirit live on. (Photo: Steve Exum/Getty Images)

7 / 7

Dr. Maya Angelou - Award-winning poet, author and activist Dr. Maya Angelou paved the way for Black women in literature, celebrating our uniqueness, resilience and strength with poems such as “Phenomenal Woman” and her autobiographical series, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The world continues to mourn the loss of Dr. Angelou, who passed away at age 86 on May 28. Her positivity, grace and enduring spirit live on. (Photo: Steve Exum/Getty Images)