Along with her iconic voice, Selena was known for her fun and flashy outfits on stage. Many of the designs she performed in were her own, and you don't have to look far to see their current influence on today's style. It's virtually impossible to avoid the crop tops and embellished bustiers that were a signature of the pop star, who often paired them with high-waisted pants.

"Flo-Jo's athletic speed was surpassed by her flashy, personal style -- one-legged track suits and talon-length nails with outrageous designs," says Bernard. Griffith-Joyner's fearless approach to fashion in sports paved the way for future athletes like Serena Williams to break boundaries with fun, out-of-the-box designs in athletics. Her insane manicures had the world focusing on nail art long before #ManiMondays.

Sudanese model Alek Wek broke barriers in the high fashion industry by becoming one of the first African models to experience mainstream success, even though she didn't conform to traditional Caucasian aesthetics. In a speech at the Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon earlier this year, actress Lupita Nyong'o spoke of the positive influence Wek had on her self-esteem. "When I saw Alek, I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny," said Nyong'o. "Now, I had a spring in my step, because I felt more seen, more appreciated by the far-away gatekeepers of beauty."

As someone who openly spoke out about being oneself, it's no surprise the singer-songwriter/rapper is known for her unique sense of style -- often expressed through her hair, like the iconic China bumps she wore in the '90s. The style made a cameo this year at the iHeartRadio awards in Los Angeles, where Rihanna paired a couture Givenchy gown with green lipstick and Hill's knots.

Pixie fever comes and goes in the celebrity hair circuit, but few have worn it better (or as consistently) as Halle Berry. With her signature cropped cut, Berry became iconic in her scene as a Bond Girl bursting from the surf in an orange bikini. She broke down barriers by becoming the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for a leading role in "Monster's Ball."