All hail the Queen: She turns 49 today! Queen Latifah has always been a standoutsince 1989. This Jersey girl is one of the most influential figures in hip-hop culture. Besides being a legendary female MC, she’s a successful actress and an entrepreneur. In honor of Queen Latifah’s birthday, let’s share some facts you probably didn’t know about this icon.
Happy 49th Birthday to Queen Latifah!

Getty
Queen Latifah’s given name is Dana Elaine Owens.

Getty
When Dana Elaine Owens was a child, she wanted to be a marine biologist and a truck driver!

Photofest
Queen Latifah’s first apartment of her own was in the Bronx.

Photofest
This recording artist, released her first hip hop album, “All Hail the Queen”, at just 19 years old!

Getty
This Queen has three butterfly tattoos. Two of them are located behind her ear and the other is on her left hand.

Getty
The first album Latifah ever bought was Prince's Purple Rain.

Getty
She won a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994 and was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 for her role in “Chicago”

Getty
Queen Latifah got a 2-inch scar on her forehead by tripping during a childhood game of tag with her brother and banged her head on the bathroom wall.

Getty
This MC came up with the name “Queen Latifah” because of her mother. Her mother raised her to believe that all women are queens and “Latifah” because it means delicate, sensitive, kind and nice.

Getty
Just when we thought Queen Latifah has done it all, she has a hidden talent none of us knew. The talented Queen loves playing the drums. In fact, she gets a new drum set for every movie she works on.