Misty Copeland made history as the first Black female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. But along her incredible journey to the front of the stage, Copeland was told she had the wrong body for ballet. That she was too curvy, too short, too old, that her skin colour ruined the “aesthetic.”
Category Archives: WRTIY post S3
Rejecting Rocky Bleier, Part 2
In Part Two of Rejecting Rocky Bleier, Bleier visits his old coach at Notre Dame who gives him some upsetting news. The Steelers have a changing of the guard. And the team that drafted Bleier for his heart, gets to see it in action.
Rejecting Hinge
The global online dating market is expected to reach $11B USD by 2028. With websites like Match.com and eHarmony and apps like Tinder and Hinge, today’s singles have the world at their fingertips. But back when Hinge was in its infancy, founder Justin McLeod was rejected by investors. Then users. Then the Apple app store. Then Vanity Fair magazine. Before becoming one of the leading dating apps in North America and the most-mentioned dating app in the New York Times wedding section.
Rejecting Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper has sold over 50 million records worldwide. She’s a singer, songwriter and activist whose first album ’She’s So Unusual’ landed her on the list of top female debut artists of all time. But before landing a record deal, Lauper was ridiculed for her eclectic look and fired from bands time after time. Then came the WWE. (Yes, you read that right.)
Rejecting Leslie Jones
Chris Rock once described Leslie Jones as “about as funny as a human being can be.” She was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live for six years, she’s a Ghostbuster and a three-time Emmy nominee. But before her big break Jones was a struggling comedian. By the time she turned 45, she had yet to make a steady paycheck in comedy and considered quitting altogether. Then Lorne Michaels called.
Rejecting The Rubik’s Cube
450 million Rubik’s Cubes have sold worldwide. Meaning, a Rubik’s Cube has been handled by 1 in 7 humans on planet earth. The colourful toy has inspired people in the arts, in mathematics, in engineering and pop culture. But when inventor Ernő Rubik first started showcasing his creation at toy fairs, he was rejected – by toy companies, distributors and investors. Told it was “too niche.” Then, once it finally made its way into stores and millions of homes across the globe, the New York Times declared the Rubik’s Cube dead. It’s a story full of twists and turns.
Rejecting Ty Burrell
Realtor-slash-amateur magician, Phil Dunphy, is one of the funniest dads on one of the highest-rated sitcoms. Modern Family aired for 11 seasons, bringing in millions of viewers and 22 Emmys. But before landing the role of Phil, actor Ty Burrell was rejected by Hollywood for 20 straight years. Told his features were too big, he was too off-beat and too old. By his 40th birthday, he was ready to give up acting altogether. Then the phone rang.
We’re Back for Season Three.
We Regret To Inform You we’re back Tuesday, March 29th, for our third season. And we’ve got some inspiring stories to share with you this year. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store.