After months of whirlwind fame and accolades, Misty Copeland finds herself at the top of one of the most sought after ballet hierarchies: A principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater (ABT), a first for a black woman.

I had moments of doubting myself, and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this level,” Ms. Copeland said at a news conference at the Metropolitan Opera House on Tuesday afternoon. “At the same time, it made me so hungry to push through, to carry the next generation. So it’s not me up here — and I’m constantly saying that — it’s everyone that came before me that got me to this position.

To think that just last year, Copeland, currently 32-years-old penned an open memoir, which appeared on the NY Times website, sharing her aspirations of being named the first African-American principal dancer of the ABT in its 75-year history.

Her 2014 ad with Under Armour all but fated this day: “I WILL WHAT I WANT.”

Congratulations Ms. Misty Copeland! You are truly an inspiration to all young black girls aspiring to be ballerinas when they get older.

photos/instagram via @henryleutwyler