Halle Berry is much more than a sex symbol; she is a fighter who lives with disability.
The best dressed actress is an advocate for ending violence against women, an advocate for individuals with disabilities, and has been fighting for virtually her whole life.
The Cleveland, Ohio native was raised by a single mother along with her sister after her abusive father abandoned the family.
“When I was a girl and my mother had the s–t kicked out of her, her self-esteem moved onto me,” said Berry.
Berry’s career began as a model. In 1985 she won first runner up in Miss USA and became the first African American Miss World entrant.
Just four years later, Berry was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, meaning that her body does not produce insulin. “I fell ill – dramatically – when I was on the TV show, Living Dolls, in 1989. I felt I needed energy but I didn’t even have a minute to pop out and get a chocolate bar,” she said. “I didn’t really know what was wrong.”