In this TedTalk Michaela DePrince (born Mabinty Bangura) talks about her time before and while in an orphanage in Siera Leone.
She was often hungry in the orphanage because she’d receive the smallest portion of food as she was #27, the last one in.
It was also while Michaela was in the orphanage that she was inspired – by a photo in a magazine – to be a ballerina.
Michaela was 4 when she was adopted by an American family – with her friend #26 – and her adoptive mother encouraged her to dance.
Michaela DePrince is currently performing with the Boston Ballet.