Lupita Nyong'o Covers Glamour Magazine’s December 2014 'Women of the Year' Issue

Just two years ago, 31-year-old Lupita Nyong'o was a relative unknown actress. The Yale grad sprung to international stardom following her breathtaking performance as Patsey in Steve McQueen's "12 Years A Slave." Now we're anxiously awaiting her upcoming performances in Jungle Book and Star Wars: Episode VII.

The Kenyan beauty is Glamour Magazine's Woman of the Year. In the magazine, she talks about how rising career as well as the impact she's had on young girls.

Glamour: You’ve become a role model for many girls—black girls in particular. Who were your role models, growing up?

LN: Oprah played a big role in my understanding of what it meant to be female and to really step into your own power. I wouldn’t even call her a role model; she was literally a reference point. You have the dictionary, you have the Bible, you have Oprah.