The Nelas Academy

QUEEN LATIFAH

United States | Hip-Hop • Music • Film • Television • Production

Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, is one of the most influential women to emerge from the golden era of hip-hop. Beginning her career as a rapper and songwriter, she challenged the male-dominated conventions of early hip-hop with music that addressed women, identity, social issues and self-respect.

Her career expanded far beyond music. She became an award-winning actress, producer, television personality, entrepreneur and author. Her screen credits include Set It Off, Chicago, Bringing Down the House, Beauty Shop, Bessie, Girls Trip and The Equalizer. The National Endowment for the Arts recognizes her as a Grammy- and Emmy-winning musician, actress, producer, author and entrepreneur.

In 2026, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted Queen Latifah in its Musical Influence category, recognizing her pioneering impact as a female hip-hop superstar.

The Nelas Research Focus: Hip-Hop • Women’s Empowerment • Film • Television • Entrepreneurship

THE NELAS 100 GREAT WOMEN OF COLOR 1975–2025
HALL OF FAME EDITION
(50-Year Retrospective Research Project)

The Nelas 100 Great Women of Color is a curated research and documentation selection, not a definitive ranking of all Black and African women who have contributed to global entertainment.

The Nelas 100 Great Women of Color 1975–2025 is a research and documentation project of The Nelas Academy which is an emerging international media, arts and cultural research institution created to celebrate and preserve the contributions of Black and African women in creative arts, entertainment, music, film, modelling, poetry, fashion, pageantry and cultural presentation.

© Published by the Media & Research Department of
The Nelas Academy of Arts, Media and Television.