Lupita Nyong'o, Misty Copeland Flex Their Power for Variety

Seeing the Kardashians, Love & Hip Hop and other ratchet nonsense float to the top of trending topics day after day can be depressing. Don’t get us wrong, we love the mess just as much as the next person, but once in a while it’s nice to hear from celebs who have something meaningful to say.

Cue Lupita Nyong’o and Misty Copeland, who are restoring our faith in Hollywood and celebrity culture with a pair of beautiful, bold covers for Variety. The Oscar-winning actress and history-making ballerina not only look amazing, they show off their beautiful minds and hearts for their Power of Women cover stories, too.

The two women were asked to speak on things they’re passionate about. For Lupita, that’s women’s health in areas of conflict. “It’s a tragedy that women’s bodies are used as tools of war. When that happens, the trauma of war affects birthing,” she says. “Mortality rates of children are so high and mothers die at such a high rate in these areas. It’s so important to change that.”

For Misty, it’s being a role model for Black girls who have been shut out for too long. “I was the only African-American woman at ABT for a decade,” she says. “And so much of what I do now is mentoring young minority dancers and trying to be a support system for them.”

Preach, ladies! We can’t wait to read the rest of their respective stories when the issues drop. In the meantime, watch Danai Gurira talk about taking over Broadway with her girl Lupita in our exclusive interview below:

(Photos: Variety Magazine)