Trivia: With her memorably statuesque figure and alluring countenance, African-American model-turned-actress Tracee Ellis Ross (the daughter of chanteuse Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein) plunged headfirst into print and fashion work with such enthusiasm and vigor that she became a frequent presence on the covers of such magazines as Essence, Jet, and Vibe Vixen, posing for such legends as Herb Ritts and Francesco Scavullo. Within this arena, Ross commandeered attention to rival any of her runway contemporaries. Ross segued into acting in the mid- to late '90s, with contributions such efforts as the low-key, ensemble-oriented psychological drama Far Harbor (1996, her cinematic debut) and Jim Yukich's romantic comedy A Fare to Remember (1999), and hosted the Lifetime talk program The Dish, before making her biggest splash as thirtysomething attorney-turned-restaurant proprietor Joan Clayton on the blockbuster UPN sitcom Girlfriends -- which enjoyed a lengthy run, maintained exemplary ratings, and netted more than a few industry awards for Ross. In 2007, the actress teamed up with writer/director Tyler Perry and actress Gabrielle Union for the big-screen romantic comedy Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls. A recurring role on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation followed in 2011, and that same year Ross starred opposite Cosby Show alumni Malcolm-Jamal Warner in the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines, which followed a psychiatrist and a professor as they struggled to balance their careers with their roles as parents to three multi-racial children.

Trivia: The lithe and alluring African-American actress Golden Brooks began life in San Francisco in late 1970, and grew up in both the Bay Area and the City of Angels. As a young woman, she attended the University of California at Berkeley as a sociology major, later earning her master's degree from Sarah Lawrence College. Brooks first broke into films in the mid-'90s, with a small role in Spike Lee's phone sex-themed comedy drama Girl 6 (1996); the 2000 series Girlfriends, however, brought Brooks her first recognition in the American press. This rabidly popular sitcom -- which reeled in critical kudos and maintained a broad fan base -- constituted the pet project of Frasier star Kelsey Grammer and producer Mara Brock Akil. It told of four African-American female friends in the Los Angeles -- all white-collar women -- struggling to balance personal and professional demands. Brooks played an assistant at a legal firm and the only woman in the ensemble with a happy marriage and a growing family. After scattered roles in acclaimed features through the first several years of the new millennium, Brooks made the pivotal decision to join the cast of the Queen Latifah-starrer Beauty Shop, about the colorful proprietors and denizens of an Atlanta-based hair salon. The following year, she also starred in Sanaa Hamri's acclaimed dramedy Something New.

Trivia: Texas-born African-American actress and print model Jill Marie Jones (not to be confused with the musician/singer/songwriter Jill Jones, of Prince fame) first landed in the national spotlight for her regular role on the prime-time comedy drama Girlfriends, as Toni Childs, a slightly narcissistic and vociferous mother. Jones also starred in the 2007 black comedy Redrum, as a young woman who learns that she can pep up her flaccid marriage by committing cold-blooded murder. In terms of modeling, Jones maintained her highest profile gracing billboards and print ads for the Bailey's Irish Cream "Serve Chilled" campaign.

Trivia: As the daughter of one of the most famous boxers in history, Laila Ali already had a lot to live up to in terms of general success -- let alone success as a boxer. Nonetheless, the child of World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali and his wife Veronica Porsche Ali entered the world of professional women's boxing in 1999 at the age of 21, knocking out opponent April Fowler in the first round. The impressive debut was no fluke: Ali went on to win eight more fights in a row, beat Jackie Frazier-Lyde (daughter of boxing champ Joe Frazier) in 2001 in the first-ever all women's Pay Per View main event, win the IBA title, and win the WIBA and IWBF titles in a single fight, as they were both held by Valerie Mahfood, whom Ali beat in a knockout after eight rounds.The second-generation boxing champion hadn't always intended to follow in her father's footsteps. On the contrary, Ali had a degree in business management from Santa Monica College and was the owner and operator of an upscale nail salon in Southern California when she saw a boxing match on TV and instantly felt drawn to the sport. The risk she took in selling her business to train for such a drastic career change turned out to be well worth it, but even as Ali found more success in the ring she continued to pursue new projects. She appeared in the 2006 sports drama All You've Got, and in 2007 she made what many didn't realize was a natural transition onto the dance floor, joining the ranks of Dancing with the Stars. The delicate foot coordination that a boxer uses to shift and maintain balance made her a strong contender, and audiences loved her, voting to keep she and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy on the show for many weeks; they ended up coming in third place. Ali would continue to appear on screen in the coming years, most notably as the host of the series Everyday Health.

Trivia: Talented British actor Adrian Lester first became known to American audiences with his role as an idealistic presidential campaign worker in Mike Nichols' Primary Colors (1998). Lester, who was born in Birmingham, England, in 1970, got his start on the stage, winning an Olivier Award in 1996 for his performance in Company. He made his film debut in 1991, acting in a number of British productions, and got his first Hollywood break with Primary Colors. In 2000, he could be seen interpreting the Bard as Dumaine, one of the noblemen in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Love's Labour's Lost who finds that the demands of the body are liable to undermine the noble pursuits of the mind.

Trivia: Is an only child. Started her career as part of the female rap trio Sequence alongside Gwendolyn Chisolm and Cheryl Cook. Developed sarcoidosis, a disease affecting the upper respiratory system, but continued her singing career. Cowrote and coproduced former boyfriend D'Angelo's 1995 album Brown Sugar. Named her debut album Black Diamond after her daughter. It won the Billboard Magazine Album of the Year Award in 2000. Sang the theme song for the UPN sitcom Girlfriends. Was a contestant on the fourth season of Celebrity Fit Club in 2006. Toured with Sisters in the Spirit, a gospel-like group, in 2007. Is a diabetic; became involved with the F.A.C.E. Diabetes Foundation and began working with them on a diabetes awareness campaign in 2008. Titled her 2010 album Unexpected following her father's sudden death while she was recording the album.