Angie Stone

The pop-culture icon and diabetes advocate Angie Stone paved the way for other female rap artists as a member of the first all-female group to release a rap record. Today as an African-American woman with Type 2 diabetes, she is helping deliver diabetes information to the African-American community as one of the “faces” of F.A.C.E., which stands for Fearless African Americans Connected and Empowered.
Born in 1961, she is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer and actress. In the 1980s she was a member of the hip-hop group The Sequence. In the 1990s she was part of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. As a solo artist she has topped the U.S. Billboard R&B and Dance charts.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1999. The diagnosis took her by surprise despite the fact it runs in her family and African-American women are at high risk. She took up the challenge to become healthier and learn to manage the disease.
Two years ago, she became a spokesperson for F.A.C.E., a grassroots movement aimed at empowering and educating African Americans with diabetes to overcome barriers to successfully live with diabetes. The campaign is supported by Eli Lily and also features the “face” of actor, comedian and writer Anthony Anderson. The campaign was launched to inspire behavioral changes in African Americans, who are disproportionately affected by diabetes. “The main reason most people aren’t getting tested is fear,” she said. “Fear of the unknown keeps people from taking care of their health.”