Misty Copeland opens up ahead of Australian performance 

She’s the American ballerina who is fiercely outspoken about racism and the criticism she receives on a day-to-day basis for her looks.

But Misty Copeland, who is the first African-American woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, has recently been named as the face of the Modern Muse fragrance by global beauty giant Estée Lauder.

Speaking to FEMAIL in Australia before her lead performance in The Sleeping Beauty production, Copeland, 35, says she is honoured to be changing the face of beauty around the world.

 

Prima ballerina Misty Copeland, 35, has been named the new face for Estée Lauder’s Modern Muse fragrance

Misty Copeland stars in the new Estee Lauder campaign for the fragrance

Misty Copeland stars in the new Estee Lauder campaign for the fragrance

‘To have little girls look at this beautiful ad of me, a ballerina, and being surrounded by other young dancers and for them to think “wow that’s what beauty is”,’ she says.

‘For them to be able to relate to someone that’s not a model or an actress. It’s so empowering for girls to know that beauty comes in all shapes and colours and professions – that’s something that I always have stood for,’ she explains.

Copeland began dancing as a 13-year-old but her path to professional ballerina wasn’t an easy one.

She grew up in a motel as one of six children, while her single mother worked to support the family. 

'To have little girls look at this beautiful ad of me, a ballerina, and being surrounded by other young dancers and for them to think "wow that’s what beauty is",' Copeland says

‘To have little girls look at this beautiful ad of me, a ballerina, and being surrounded by other young dancers and for them to think “wow that’s what beauty is”,’ Copeland says

‘It definitely has made me resilient. Just watching the way my mother was with all of us kids. Raising six children on your own – not always having a support system or enough money – but she never gave up,’ Copeland tells FEMAIL.

‘It has been instilled in me since I was little just to keeping going, to keep working and to never give up.

‘Material things were never important in my childhood. We were happy with what we had and where we were living because we had each other.’

'It has been instilled in me since I was little just to keeping going, to keep working and to never give up,' Copeland tells FEMAIL

‘It has been instilled in me since I was little just to keeping going, to keep working and to never give up,’ Copeland tells FEMAIL

The 35-year-old is also launching her new range athletic apparel brand Under Armour

The 35-year-old is also launching her new range athletic apparel brand Under Armour

Copeland, who graced the cover Time Magazine in 2015 as one of the publication’s ‘100 most influential people’, says she is grateful to have been given a public platform to speak her mind.

However, the ballerina says she often faces a barrage of criticism online, mostly for her appearance.

‘People comment all the time about my hairy arms, or that my nose is too wide, or that I’m too black or not black enough,’ she says.

The ballerina is performing in The Sleeping Beauty production in Australia

The ballerina is performing in The Sleeping Beauty production in Australia

‘We aren’t robots. We have feelings and some days aren’t so good and it’s important and necessary to have mentors and have people in your life that are going to guide you,’ she adds.

‘It’s about being confident and comfortable with who you are.’

The 35-year-old has also signed on with athletic apparel brand Under Armour to create a new collection.

‘Fashion to me is so much more than what you wear on your body. Similarly to dance, it’s a way of expressing your unique individuality and creativity. I’m looking forward to seeing how Australian women choose to style and incorporate these UA Inspired by Misty Copeland collection pieces into their wardrobe,’ she says.

Despite the pressure to look a certain way on stage, Copeland is against dieting to maintain a ballerina’s figure.

‘I don’t believe in dieting and never have – it’s more of a lifestyle,’ she says.

‘I think that a lot of women don’t take into consideration how much diet plays. Eating is half the battle.’ 

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