{"id":1908,"date":"2025-07-06T15:24:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T15:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/?p=1908"},"modified":"2025-07-07T16:54:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T16:54:10","slug":"queen-latifah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/queen-latifah\/","title":{"rendered":"Queen Latifah Profile, Biography, Lists"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"363\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah.png\" alt=\"Queen Latifah\" class=\"wp-image-1909\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:330px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah.png 363w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-250x358.png 250w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-150x215.png 150w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-50x72.png 50w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-100x143.png 100w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-200x287.png 200w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-300x430.png 300w, https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Queen-Latifah-350x501.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Queen Latifah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lists:<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/votters.com\/list-135-most-stylish-big-beautiful-women-in-the-world\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/votters.com\/list-135-most-stylish-big-beautiful-women-in-the-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Most Stylish Big Beautiful Women<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Early Years &amp; Musical Rise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Born<\/strong> March\u202f18,\u202f1970 (some reports list 1970 vs. Britannica\u2019s 1970), in Newark\/East\u202fOrange, New Jersey; daughter of a teacher and a police officer, grew up alongside a brother who became an NYPD officer. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Raised in a supportive environment, including a church-going family and early jobs (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bk.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.bk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Burger King<\/a>), before embracing hip-hop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Began rapping in her teens with Ladies Fresh and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_45_King\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_45_King\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DJ Mark the 45 King<\/a>, dropping her debut single <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discogs.com\/release\/325123-Latifah-Wrath-Of-My-Madness?srsltid=AfmBOorojmHVxzS2GHQiux9wqwYG0sCghrNDGxa4_77Df0UBlZljGbvh\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.discogs.com\/release\/325123-Latifah-Wrath-Of-My-Madness?srsltid=AfmBOorojmHVxzS2GHQiux9wqwYG0sCghrNDGxa4_77Df0UBlZljGbvh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cWrath of My Madness\u201d in 1988<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music &amp; <em>All Hail the Queen<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Debut album <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/6Agl4DVuihiDPuxuN1L8Jv\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/6Agl4DVuihiDPuxuN1L8Jv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>All Hail the Queen<\/strong> (1989)<\/a> blended hip\u2011hop, jazz, reggae, and soul\u2014earning critical acclaim and introducing feminist tracks like \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.N.I.T.Y.<\/a>\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The album, later recognized for its cultural impact, was added to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/programs\/national-recording-preservation-board\/recording-registry\/complete-national-recording-registry-listing\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/programs\/national-recording-preservation-board\/recording-registry\/complete-national-recording-registry-listing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Library of Congress\u2019s National Recording Registry<\/a> in 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continued success with albums like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uBARNGAhllY\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uBARNGAhllY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Nature of a Sista&#8217;<\/em> (1991)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/7fSY44jcjgt6jGzSQdZZjJ\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/7fSY44jcjgt6jGzSQdZZjJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Black Reign<\/em> (1993)<\/a>, which included her Grammy-winning single \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.N.I.T.Y.<\/a>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Acting &amp; Television Fame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Film debut:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0102175\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0102175\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Jungle Fever<\/em> (1991)<\/a>, followed by standout roles in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0117603\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0117603\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Set It Off<\/em> (1996)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0299658\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0299658\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Chicago<\/em> (2002)<\/a>, and <em>Hairspray<\/em> (2007). Earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0299658\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0299658\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago<\/a><\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>TV roles:<\/strong> Khadijah James in <em>Living Single<\/em> (1993\u20131998); starred in <em>Star<\/em> (2016\u201319); lead in <em>The Equalizer<\/em> reboot (2021\u20132025), winning praise as an executive producer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Awards &amp; Honors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Grammy Awards<\/strong>, <strong>Golden Globe<\/strong>, <strong>Primetime Emmy<\/strong>, nominations for <strong>Academy Award<\/strong>, <strong>BAFTA<\/strong>, <strong>SAG<\/strong>, <strong>Critics&#8217; Choice<\/strong>, and <strong>NAACP Image Awards<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Historic achievements: first female hip-hop artist to receive an Oscar nomination; first rapper with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star; inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame and awarded BET Lifetime Achievement (2021); Kennedy Center Honoree (2023).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Voice &amp; Advocacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Took the name \u201cQueen Latifah\u201d from Arabic meaning \u201cdelicate, sensitive, kind.\u201d Her music, especially \u201cU.N.I.T.Y.\u201d, became a feminist anthem addressing respect for women.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Culturally influential in style and body positivity\u2014recognized by <em>Vogue<\/em> as a trailblazer for inclusivity and confident fashion expression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Became an honored public speaker; authored <em>Ladies First<\/em> memoir (1999), launched scholarships, and supported outreach for marginalized youth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Production, Projects &amp; Philanthropy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Founded <strong>Flavor Unit Entertainment<\/strong> with Shakim Compere, producing film, TV, and stage work\u2014including upcoming Will\u202fSmith-backed biopic about her life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hosted <em>The Queen Latifah Show<\/em> (1999\u20132001, 2013\u20132015), earning a Daytime Emmy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engaged in philanthropy: scholarships in her brother\u2019s memory, breast cancer and youth advocacy, recognized with the Marian Anderson Award and National Medal of Arts (2024).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recent Highlights &amp; Legacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Series conclusion: <em>The Equalizer<\/em> wrapped after five seasons in May\u202f2025; Latifah received praise and reflected fondly on the series.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Currently working on a career-spanning biopic\u2014produced by Will\u202fSmith via Westbrook Studios.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continues to inspire as \u201chip-hop\u2019s First Lady,\u201d actress, producer, activist, and cultural icon shaping conversations on representation, empowerment, and creative versatility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Facts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Attribute<\/th><th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name<\/strong><\/td><td>Dana Elaine \u201cQueen Latifah\u201d Owens<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Born<\/strong><\/td><td>March\u202f18,\u202f1970 in Newark\/East\u202fOrange, NJ<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Breakthrough Album<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/6Agl4DVuihiDPuxuN1L8Jv\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/6Agl4DVuihiDPuxuN1L8Jv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>All Hail the Queen<\/strong> (1989)<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Notable Films<\/strong><\/td><td><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0299658\/\">Chicago<\/a><\/em>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0117603\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0117603\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Set It Off<\/em> (1996)<\/a><\/em>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt3564472\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt3564472\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Girls Trip<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Key TV<\/strong><\/td><td><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Living_Single\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Living_Single\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Living Single<\/a><\/em>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0455944\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0455944\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Equalizer<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Production Company<\/strong><\/td><td>Flavor Unit Entertainment<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Major Honors<\/strong><\/td><td>Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy; Oscar nomination; Walk of Fame; BET Lifetime; Kennedy Center Honoree<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Philanthropy<\/strong><\/td><td>Scholarships, youth &amp; arts outreach, breast cancer support<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Queen Latifah\u2019s journey from streetwise rapper to silver-screen queen and production powerhouse defines what it means to break ceilings. She fused art with activism, challenged stereotypes with elegance, and continues to build her legacy through storytelling, philanthropy, and empowerment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lists:Most Stylish Big Beautiful Women Early Years &amp; Musical Rise Music &amp; All Hail the Queen Acting &amp; Television Fame Awards &amp; Honors Cultural Voice &amp; Advocacy Production, Projects &amp; Philanthropy Recent Highlights &amp; Legacy Quick Facts Attribute Detail Name Dana Elaine \u201cQueen Latifah\u201d Owens Born March\u202f18,\u202f1970 in Newark\/East\u202fOrange, NJ Breakthrough Album All Hail the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actors-actresses","category-singers-musicians"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1908"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2031,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions\/2031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}