Every major city has its own list of influential women, and Brooklyn is no exception. It was here that many prominent women were born and raised. Learn more about them at brooklynka.
Barbra Streisand
She was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 1942. Her childhood was difficult as her father died shortly after her birth, and her mother worked as an accountant in a low-paying firm. Growing up, Barbra felt like an outcast. Her mother was an excellent vocalist, so at the age of 13, the girl recorded many songs together with her mother. In Brooklyn, Barbra studied at the Jewish Orthodox Yeshiva, then attended Public School 89. She aspired to become famous and relocate from Brooklyn, which she has accomplished.
The woman rose to prominence as a singer and songwriter, actress, film producer, director and writer. Her career began in the early 1960s when she started performing in nightclubs and Broadway theaters. Her first studio album was “The Barbra Streisand Album”.
Following the successful start of her musical career, Barbra decided to try her hand at acting. In 1968, she received critical recognition for her role in “Funny Girl”, and her next well-known picture was “Hello, Dolly!” in 1969.
Her awards include two Academy Awards, eight Grammys, five Emmys and a special Tony Award.
Joan Rivers
The woman was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933. Her real name was Joan Alexandra Molinsky. She spent her early years in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights.
She had a fairly successful career as an actress, producer, writer, comedian and television presenter. Joan Rivers was a pioneer for women in comedy, opening doors for many other female comedians. She went down in history as a brave and funny person.
Viewers remember her from such TV shows:
- “The Tonight Show”
- “The Late Show”
- “Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?”
- “The Joan Rivers Show”. For this show, the TV presenter from Brooklyn received a Daytime Emmy. This was her own talk show that aired for two seasons. It contributed to the television industry.
- “Fashion Police” was another well-known work of the Brooklyn’s celebrity. Joan, along with other fashion gurus, made comments and critiqued other women’s outfits. Thanks to her witty, sometimes harsh comments, the TV show was a hit.
Joan Rivers won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album for “What Becomes A Semi-Legend Most?”
Joan Rivers was well-known for her straightforward yet frequently controversial comedic persona. She was sharp, particularly when it came to remarks about celebrities and politicians. She had a distinctive New York accent.
Rosanna Scotto
The renowned American television journalist and news anchor was born in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, in 1958. Rosanna was born into a family of mobsters. She attended a Catholic elementary school, Visitation Academy in Bay Ridge, and in 1976 graduated from Brooklyn’s Packer Collegiate Institute. After that, she attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Her television career began in Atlanta, where she worked as a reporter on two local programs and an assistant producer on the station’s evening newscast. Following that, she returned to New York.
She is well-known to the audience for co-hosting the program “Good Day New York” with Greg Kelly. According to many reviews, Rosanna Scotto has established herself as a leading news anchor since 1990.
Rosanna Scotto tried her hand at acting, appearing in one of the episodes of the police drama “New York Undercover”. She then starred in several more pictures as a news anchor, including “Lisa Picard Is Famous” (2000), “Ghostbusters” (2016), “Impractical Jokers” (2023) and other films.
Rosie Perez
The woman was born in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick in 1964. Rosie Perez was born into a large family at Greenpoint Hospital (now closed). Her mother gave birth to her while she was incarcerated, therefore she stayed with her aunt for a while. Subsequently, she, like her siblings, went on to live in group homes and foster families. The children were frequently separated. By the age of eight, Rosie had been placed in foster care in New York and Peekskill. She was diagnosed with a speech impediment in third grade, but it didn’t stop her from gaining fame and recognition. Rosie Perez received a strict Catholic upbringing, as a child she was influenced by nuns.
Rosie Perez began her career at the age of 19. It was in the early 1980s that the girl first appeared as a dancer on Soul Train, an American musical pop TV show. At the time, she was attending Los Angeles City College and intended to study biochemistry, but in the evenings she went to nightclubs. She got into the TV show through a talent contest. Although Rosie was not a professional dancer, she had a passion for it since she was a child.
The woman rose to prominence as an actress (her first role was in “Do the Right Thing”), dancer, choreographer, director and writer. This breakthrough occurred when she was 24 years old.
Rosie Perez has choreographed music videos for well-known artists such as Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Bobby Brown and many more.
In addition, Rosie Perez is noted for her active social position. She strongly advocates for the rights of Puerto Ricans. There is also some information on the star’s personal life. In 1998, she married director and playwright Seth Zvi Rosenfeld, and the couple lived together for ten years. In 2013, Rosie Perez married artist Eric Haze. The spouses reside in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
She was born in Brooklyn in 1933. She graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca with a bachelor’s degree in public administration. Ruth then enrolled in Harvard Law School, where she was one of nine female students. It should be noted that the course was taken by 500 students in total.
After that, Ruth Bader Ginsburg transferred to Columbia Law School, where she became the first woman to be on two major law reviews (Harvard Law Review and Columbia Law Review).
It is also known that Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, named the Brooklyn native as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Judy
The woman was born in Brooklyn in 1942. She went on to become a lawyer, judge, television presenter and writer.
It is known that Mayor Ed Koch chose her candidacy as a judge in 1982 (first in the Criminal Court and later in the Family Court of Manhattan in 1986).
Interestingly, according to 2013 data, Judge Judy became one of the highest-paid television performers. According to the same data, she earned 47 million dollars a year from acting in court series.
Stephanie Mills
Let’s complete the list of Brooklyn’s influential women with an R&B, soul, gospel singer and Broadway star. Stephanie Mills was born in Queens in 1957 but grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. The woman rose to prominence after playing Dorothy in the African-American adaptation of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Around this time, she dated a fellow singer, the legendary Michael Jackson.
Stephanie Mills was recognized for her contributions to the music industry, namely with the Grammy Award, as well as the American Music Award.
That being said, here is a list of some of Brooklyn’s most influential women, and you are welcome to add more to it. These are only seven well-known figures, but in fact there are many more of them.
