Texas teen receives personalized photo from ballerina Misty Copeland

LONGVIEW, Texas (STORYFUL) - Texas teenager Chelsea Laury was brought to tears when she received an autographed photo from her role model, ballerina Misty Copeland.

Chelsea turned to classical ballet to cope with her younger sister’s death. Chelsea’s mother, Angela, said dancing “drowns out the pain of grief” for Chelsea.

Copeland has been an inspiration for Chelsea. “She now knows that an African-American woman can be a success in ballet,” said Angela.

Chelsea hopes to one day meet Copeland and dreams of attending the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School for dancing.