Misty Copeland

Copeland in 2015, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Misty Danielle Copeland

Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

Date of Birth: September 10, 1982

Ethnicity:
*father – African-American, German
*mother – African-American, Italian

Misty Copeland is an American ballet dancer and actress. In 2015, she became the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history.

Misty is the daughter of Sylvia and Doug Copeland. She is married to attorney Olu Evans, with whom she has one child. Olu is a cousin of actor Taye Diggs.

She has stated:

I was aware of my race from a very young age. Not in a negative way. Coming from an interracial background, I think it is important to understand who you are. I know so many people of mixed race that have identity issues. My mother spoke of every side of my background with us kids. She also made it clear that even if you are half black, society is going to view you as black, period. My mother is half-black and half-Italian, my father is half-black and half-German. I grew up in California, which is very diverse.

Her mother was adopted by African-American parents.