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Bella Donna
Bella Donna: Nina Simone
Nina Simone's first-remembered act of moral resistance occurred at one of her concerts when she was 12. Her proud parents, who were seated in the front row, were told to move to the back so that white attendees could have their seats. Nina, incensed, refused to continue playing until they were given back their rightful place.
Bella Donna: Rita Moreno
Winning one award is an accomplishment in itself, but only 10 people have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony — and one of them is Rita Moreno. Best known for her turns in West Side Story and The Electric Company, the triple threat is a legend in film, on stage, and on the small screen.
Like many other Latinas in Hollywood, Moreno initially struggled to find roles that didn't fall into "exotic" cliches and sexpot stereotypes.
Bella Donna: Florence Griffith-Joyner
Florence Griffith-Joyner, or Flo Jo, as most people know her, still holds the world record for the 100 and 200 meter dash 20 years after she last competed and 10 years after her untimely death at age 38. Although rumors of steroid use began to swirl after her stunning 1988 Olympic victories, and she retired only a year before steroid testing was to be implemented, the claims against her were never substantiated, and her records remain untarnished.
Besides being one of the fastest people ever to live, she was also a true beauty icon, an African-American woman with an athletic body and those signature long, perfect nails in a time when the first supermodels were emerging and the "right" look excluded most women of color and anyone who wasn't shaped like a very slender hourglass.
Bella Donna: Jacqueline Bisset
British-born actress Jacqueline Bisset first became well-known in the late 1960s for her parts in films such as Bullitt, Casino Royale, and Two For the Road, in which she starred with Audrey Hepburn. The wavy-haired actress, now 65, was initially often cast for her stunning good looks, aka "window dressing" roles. In fact, in the late 1970s, Newsweek named her "the most beautiful film actress of all time," and I'm guessing that Andrew McCarthy's character in Class would have to agree.
Bella Donna: Eartha Kitt
There's no mistaking Eartha Kitt's voice for anyone else's; it's the one that makes "Santa Baby" the world's sexiest Christmas song, and her trademark purr left an indelible mark on Broadway and lounge music alike. But it was her iconically sexy turn as Catwoman in the original television version of Batman that made her a household name. In becoming the ultimate comic book temptress, Eartha became a living (gorgeous) rebuttal to the bigotry and marginalization people of color were faced with in Hollywood and American culture in general.
Bella Donna: Cicely Tyson
A native of Harlem, NY, Cicely Tyson got her start in showbiz after being discovered by an Ebony photographer. Soon, she became a noted fashion model, her high cheekbones and piercing eyes lending a distinctive, alluring look. After appearing in her first film in 1957, she eventually garnered an Academy Award nomination in 1973.
Bella Donna: Beverly Johnson
If you need an example of an overachiever, look no further than Beverly Johnson. After a childhood of excelling at sports and in academics, she earned a full scholarship to study criminal justice at Northeastern University. But on the insistence of friends, she decided to try modeling.
Bella Donna: Lana Turner
Her sex appeal may have garnered lots of attention, but Lana Turner, née Julia Jean Mildred Francis Turner, was more than just a pin-up girl with a femme fatale image. The well-coiffed actress, who was discovered sipping Coke at a cafe during her high school years, was often referred to as the "Sweater Girl" for her tight-fitting top in They Won't Forget, a film made early in her career.
While Lana was quite an accomplished actress and Academy Award winner, her personal life was tumultuous, to say the least.
Bella Donna: Cyndi Lauper
You name the color, and at some point or another, pop sensation Cyndi Lauper has probably worn it. She's so unusual, after all. At 56, the multitalented star has released multiple albums throughout the years, performed on Broadway, and acted in both movies and TV.
Bella Donna: Sade
My friend Frank, who's behind the excellent Rappers I Know, has impeccable taste. So when I asked him if he had a celebrity crush, without hesitation, he namechecked Sade. No wonder: at the age of 50, she continues to have one of the silkiest voices and most beautiful faces in music.
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