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An inside look the historic career of 'unlikely ballerina' Misty Copeland, who went from 'pretty much homeless' to dance superstar

Rachel SugarJul 2, 2015, 23:30 IST

Mary Altaffer/APMisty Copeland was named principle dancer at the American Ballet Theatre on June 30, 2015.

Misty Copeland was already arguably the most famous ballet dancer in the United States. But this week, the 32-year-old made history: she became the first African American woman to be named principle dancer with the legendary American Ballet Theatre.

For Copeland, who just starred in the company's production of "Swan Lake" at the Met, it represents the culmination of a longtime dream - one she's repeated "like a mantra," but wasn't sure she'd ever achieve.

The dancer describes herself as an "unlikely ballerina" (it's the subtitle of her 2014 memoir), and it's true: whatever your ballet stereotypes, it's likely Copeland doesn't fit them. Here's how she went from "pretty much homeless" to dance superstar.