“The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean anything to me, until I was older and could look back on it.” LooksMeanWeightThrownReally MeanProdigies Author:Misty Copeland
“When you see the body outside of a costume and see the strength that it takes, people would look at dance a different way and see how athletic it is. You're not just born like that.” PeopleWayLooksDifferentBodyBornDifferent WaysCostumesAthletic Author:Misty Copeland
“I think most people don't really understand all that it takes to stand on your toes, and to be able to jump and land without any noise, or for a male dancer to be able to lift a girl. All of these things look so effortless, but there's an attention to detail and years of training, as well as being able to transform into a character and being able to meld all of those things together.” PeopleThinkingYearsWellsLooksCharacterAbleTogetherGirlAttentionLandTrainingMalesDetailsNoiseLiftsDancerToesEffortlessAttention To Detail Author:Misty Copeland
“Some people even think that I'm still just not right for it [ballet]. And I think it's shocking because they hear those words from critics saying I'm too bulky, I'm too busty. And then they meet me in person and they're like, you look like a ballerina. And I think it's just something maybe that I will never escape from, those people who are narrow-minded. But my mission, my voice, my story, my message, is not for them. And I think it's more important to think of the people that I am influencing and helping to see a broader picture of what beauty is.” PeopleThinkingLooksPersonsStillsImportantHelpingStoriesVoiceInfluenceLike YouMessagesCriticsMissionsBalletShockingBallerinaNarrow-minded Author:Misty Copeland
“You can dream big and it doesn't matter what you look like, where you come from.” LooksMatterDreamBigsWhere You Come Author:Misty Copeland
“Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ballerina. But maybe I'm not seeing what other people are seeing.” PeopleThinkingWayFeelsLooksDifferentCausesAudienceSeeingDifferent WaysBallerina Author:Misty Copeland
“When people meet me in person, they're usually surprised at how petite I am because there's just [an] idea that because I'm black I just look a certain way.” PeopleWayLooksPersonsIdeasCertainBlackPetite Author:Misty Copeland
