Paige5

=**21**=

A STRONG BLACK WOMEN
 * __QUEEN LATIFA__**


 * Dana Elaine Owens** born march18, 1970 better known by the stage name **Queen Latifah**, is an American, singer and actress. Latifah's work in music, film and television has earned her aGolden Globe award, Grammy Award five additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy Award nomination and an Academy Award nomination.

Everyone in this day and age most likely knows or has heard of the name Queen Latifa at some point in time. From the begining she stunned everyone with her electrifying stage presence. Latifa grasped fame at a very young age. Latifa started her career mostly with rap and r&b music, she blew fans away with her strong lyrics about bling jewerly and fancy cars. Thats not what drew the crowd into her performances and concerts, it was that every song seemed to have a meaning that almost everyone could connect with. Her lyrics seemed to capture the listening ear from near and far captivating everyone that listened. Music critiques said when listening to the Queens music it was like reading a book about yourself. black,white, yellow or blue everyone could connect to atleast with one of her songs no matter what kind of mood or day you have had.

An expiriance that made Queen Latifa important was by building a a record label so young in her life and at the beggining of her career. by having the record label she quickly became known even more than she was for her rap music. Even before she had the record label or the rap career she made herself known.....not by the public but by every person in her hometown. At a delicate age of eight years old she took part in a popular African American milestone when they shed there " slave names." Queen Latifa is not the name she was born with, her original name was Dana Owens but at the age of eight her grandmother, Rita, intriduced her to the african heritage of choosing the muslim name that she wanted to be called. Dana searched through many muslim names untill she found the name Latifa. At first it wasn't her first choice but it was the meaning of the name that popped out at her. "kind" Sensitive" and "delicate" it was settled, Latifa was going to be her legal name. At sixteen her name was legally changed to Queen Latifa, the same year she her rap career sky rocketed.

Everybody knows that Queen Latifa has always supported he way women look at themselves. From a young age Queen Latifa struggled with her weight but also at a young age she decided she wasn't going to let it bother her either. in the beggining of her rap career peoples comments sounded something like "She sounded great but she could slim down for stage presence." Many of these comments hurt her strong feelings but she never let it get to her like other stars of her time. One of her biggest defense mecognisms was to never let anyone bring her down, no matter how big the situation she always stood strong. Her life long dream was to be a role model for all girls. Then in 2005 she became a cover girl which she says was the biggest step in her career (so far).

Queen Latifa made a big contribution to a foundation that helped girls and women of all age that had been sexually abused. Due to her own childhood expiriances she stated that her heart will always be open to the oppurtunity to help a girl that has been through what she had endured. In January 2007 she starred in the Dove "Everybody is beautiful in there own skin" compain to enhance self esteem and natural beauty in women. Her next big contribution was to Jenny Craig as part of her new years resolution. Queen Latifa wanted to show that just because she loves her body didn't mean she coudn' t improve for the sake of her health.

Latifah is a spokesman for cover girl cosmetics, she is also a spokesman for PizzaHut and Jenny Craig.She has developed her own line of cosmetics for women of color called the Covergirl Queen Line and has starred in several commercials for the line, as well as a commercial with fellow spokeswoman and singer Faith Hill. She had her own talk show, //THE QUEEN LATIFA SHOW//, from 1999 to 2001.Latifah is one of two hip-hop artists to receive an Academy Award nomination in an acting category (Best Supporting Actress, Chicago 2002). if thats not a reason or reasons to admire her i dont know what is! thankyou~!!!