Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah may not have been the first female rapper, but she was the first to become a bona fide star. Growing up in the New Jersey projects, Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, displayed a determination that helped he muscle her way to the top. Her resilience was tested with the painful divorce of her parents and the accidental death of her beloved brother. In 1993, her album Black Reign became the first rap record by a female artist to go gold. Soon, she expanded her considerable talents to acting, hosting a talk show, and serving as a spokesmodel for the classic American makeup brand CoverGirl.