Although Misty Copeland was considered the current most famous ballerina in the United States, there was something missing. She was not a principal dancer, until now.

Misty Copeland's name was trending as she became American Ballet Theater's first black principal dancer. The ballerina already made her way on the cover of Time magazine and was even profiled by "60 Minutes." But her grandest role became a reality when she finally became a principal dancer.

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According to a report by New York Times, Copeland is the first ever African-American to become a principal in all of American Ballet Theater's 75-years of history.

CNN reported that apart from Copeland, 19-year-old Stella Abrera was also promoted from soloist to principal dancer. Misty joined the ballet company back in April 2001 and was later appointed soloist six years after in Aug. 2007. The ballerina has spoken before about her desire to be the first black woman to be named a principal dancer.

"My fears are that it could be another two decades before another black woman is in the position that I hold with an elite ballet company. That if I don't rise to principal, people will feel I have failed them," she wrote in "Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina," which served as her memoir.

The newly appointed principal dancer was born in Kansas City, Missouri but was raised in San Pedro, California. Copeland discovered her passion for ballet at age 13, which is considered a late start for those who want to pursue ballet more professionally.

Nadia Comaneci, an Olympic gold medal gymnast, described Copeland as someone who "followed her dreams and refused to give up."

"In that way, she is a model for all young girls. It doesn't matter where you're from. If you have the passion like Misty, you can be the best at what you do," said Comaneci.

The Atlantic described Copeland's appointment and her fame as something that goes beyond the sport. Apart from her dancing career, she wrote and published her 2014 memoir "Life in Motion" as well as a children's book titled "Firebird." Copeland was also the subject of a documentary "A Ballerina's Tale" which premiered in Tribeca this year.

TagsMisty Copeland, American Ballet Theater