Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, is an iconic American rapper, singer, and actress who has defied the odds and established herself as a trailblazer in hip hop and Hollywood. Her star began to rise when she released her debut album "All Hail the Queen" in 1989, featuring the hit single "Ladies First". With her second album, "Nature of a Sista'" (1991), and third album, "Black Reign" (1993), she continued to gain prominence.

Notably, "Black Reign" became the first album by a solo female rapper to earn a gold certification. Among its hits was the empowering anthem "U.N.I.T.Y.," which won a Grammy Award and raised awareness on issues like violence against women.

Queen Latifah seamlessly transitioned into acting, starring as Khadijah James on the comedy series "Living Single" from 1993 to 1998. Her film career took off with a starring role in "Set It Off" (1996) and earned her an Academy Award nomination for her role as Matron "Mama" Morton in "Chicago" (2002).

She has since appeared in a variety of movies, including "Bringing Down the House" (2003), "Hairspray" (2007), and "Girls Trip" (2017), and lent her voice to the "Ice Age" film series. On television, she starred in the musical drama series "Star" and currently leads the action drama "The Equalizer". She also created and hosted "The Queen Latifah Show," a daytime talk show that had two successful runs from 1999 to 2001 and from 2013 to 2015.

She has been recognized with numerous awards. In 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Over her career, she has garnered a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Her outstanding contributions to the industry were honored with the BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

In her personal life, she was raised in East Orange, New Jersey, by her mother, Rita Owens, who was a teacher, and her father, Lancelot Owens, a police officer. She has faced tragedy, most notably with the loss of her brother in a motorcycle accident in 1992.

She has been in a long-term relationship with choreographer Eboni Nichols, and they share a young son.