Queen Latifah Inducted as Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta

Dana Elaine Owens, known globally as Queen Latifah, has been inducted as an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., joining a historic sisterhood of trailblazers. The announcement came during the Sorority’s 57th National Convention, where Latifah was honored alongside seven other powerhouse women whose careers have shaped culture, industry, and public life.

A multi-hyphenate talent, Queen Latifah has long been a force in music, film, television, and advocacy. She made her mark in hip hop at just 19 with her debut album All Hail the Queen, and became the first female rapper to earn gold certification with her groundbreaking album Black Reign. Her Grammy-winning single “U.N.I.T.Y.” remains a cultural touchstone, tackling issues of gender-based violence and Black womanhood with bold authenticity.

Latifah’s success carried over to the screen with roles in films like Set It Off, Chicago (earning her an Academy Award nomination), and Girls Trip. She also starred in the long-running sitcom Living Single, executive produced HBO’s Bessie(earning an Emmy), and most recently led the CBS drama The Equalizer. In 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Her body of work exemplifies Delta’s commitment to cultural excellence and social impact, key components of the Sorority’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust and its foundational principles of Sisterhood, Scholarship, and Service.

“This year’s class of Honorary Members represents a powerhouse group of barrier-breaking women across politics, entertainment, business, sports, and social impact,” said Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. International President Elsie Cooke-Holmes. “Each one a force in her field and a reflection of Delta’s enduring mission.”

Queen Latifah now shares this honor with a line of influential women: political strategist Donna Brazile, actress Danielle Brooks, Olympic icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee, business executive Janice Bryant Howroyd, tech CEO Toni Townes-Whitley, sports executive Swin Cash, and entrepreneur Fawn Weaver.