Missy Copeland is the first black woman to take part in the American Ballet Theater and she started her ballet career at the age of 13. even though ballerinas typically start taking ballet at the age of four Misty starisy at the first place prize from the Music Center Spotlight awards at just the age of 15. Misty was born in Kansas City Missouri but was instead raised in San Pedro California because of how many divorces her mom had it's because of this that explains why growing up as Mystique wasn't easy she would have to stay in a room with her five siblings while going through much discrimination growing up but none of that has stopped her from succeeding a friend of Misty's mom Cynthia Bradley helped teach Copeland everything she knows and does to this day and went on to perform at the American Ballet Theater to pursue her career in September of 2000. after 15 years of doing this at ABT she was finally promoted to principal dancer which makes her the first African-American woman to be promoted to such position in apt's 75-year history Missy Copeland's Story shows that no matter what you go through in life always keep your head up and try your best and you'll be successful