9 Black Women Who Had The Best 2018

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Black women have always been phenomenal, game-changing, culture-shifting people. Every year we find a way to level up, in the words of Ciara. This past year has been one of particular achievement and inspiration from some of our favorite Black women in the limelight. Check out the Black women who had an extraordinary year.

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Women of Black Panther

Many of us might have gone to see Black Panther thinking it was going to be for and about the boys. And while the men certainly had their roles, much of the action was progressed by the women in the film. From Okoye’s leadership, to Shuri’s innovation, and Nakia’s strategy for keeping Wakanda alive and thriving it was a testament to the role Black women play in less fantastical environments. After the film, we saw quite a bit more from Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright and Lupita Nyong’o. Wright went on to star in The Commuter, Ready Player One and Avengers: Infinity War, causing Fandango to dub her the Queen of the Box Office.

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Michelle Obama

We had long admired Michelle Obama. Whether it was the priority she placed on raising strong and confident daughters in the White House, her career at the University of Chicago, and the dignity, intellect and sophistication she brought to her role as the First Lady, Auntie Chelle has been it. But then she upped the anti by writing the year’s best-selling book Becoming. The candor with which she wrote it caused her to be voted the most admired woman in America.

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Cardi B.

Despite a few personal challenges, Cardi B. continued to show the world that she was more than just a one hit wonder. In fact, she broke records as the first female rapper to have three top Billboard singles. This year, we learned Cardi would be coming to reality television, and perhaps most important in her book was the fact she welcomed a beautiful and healthy daughter. And true to her word, it didn’t slow down the trajectory of her career.

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Tiffany Haddish

This year, it seems we couldn’t turn the corner without hearing Tiffany Haddish’s name. If you thought her star was going to flutter and then fizzle out, you were wrong. After the success of Girls Trip and her autobiography, Haddish kept her name in the news with a fascinating story about Beyoncé, appearances in this year’s hottest music videos, and a slew of film roles including Night School, Uncle Drew, The Oath and Nobody’s Fool. Haddish also won an Emmy for hosting “Saturday Night Live.” And since she’s comedy’s “it girl,” we know that she won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

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Taraji P. Henson

This year, Taraji P. Henson continued her reign as one of the most consistently working actresses in Hollywood. She continued her iconic role as Cookie Lyon on “Empire,” she was the lead in two movies including Acrimony and Proud Mary. Then she also collected a Disney check voicing the character of Yess in Ralph Breaks the Internet. Personally, Henson established a foundation to address issues of mental health in the Black community and she also got engaged to long-time boyfriend Kelvin Hayden.

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Regina King

If you ask me, Regina King is one of the most unappreciated actresses in the industry. Not underrated. Anyone who has seen her work, knows that she is a force to be reckoned with. Thankfully, this year she’s being rewarded for her artistry. This year, she was awarded an Emmy for her portrayal in the Netflix series “Seven Seconds.” She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the role. After the release of If Beale Street Could Talk, King could join an elite club of actresses who’ve been awarded two Golden Globes in one night.

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Kenya Moore

While we may have seen less of Kenya Moore this year since she was ousted from the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast, personally it was likely one of the happiest years of her life. This year, after what has been a long wait, the 47-year-old announced that she was carrying a baby.  Moore went on to deliver a healthy baby girl she named Brooklyn Daly. And according to rumor, there’s a good chance that Moore will be able to protect her family and come back to RHOA.

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Naomi Osaka

If you’re like me, you’d never heard of Naomi Osaka until this year, when she defeated our beloved Serena Williams at the US Open, a title that won her $3.8 million. Since then, Osaka has appeared on “The Ellen Show,” flirted with Michael B. Jordan and traveled the world, as a media darling, which has allowed her to experience all types of new things.

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Jada Pinkett Smith

For years, we’ve seen Jada Pinkett Smith as an actress, an advocate, a wife and mother. But now, with her new show on Facebook Watch, The Red Table Talk, Pinkett Smith has become the facilitator of some of the most necessary conversations we need to have as a community and nation, including everything from race, divorce, addiction and the realities of marriage. The show is dynamic and allowed Pinkett-Smith to introduce herself to fans and new followers in a unique way.