Source: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

During the seminar titled “Pathways to Soar: Unlocking Impactful Leadership,” held in Anaheim, California, the storied organization welcomed four powerhouse women as honorary members: Olympic track star Gabby Thomas, and supermodel trailblazer Beverly Johnson, CNN anchor and legal analyst Laura Coates, and former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. With more than 9,000 members gathered from around the globe, the ceremony marked a moment of inspiration, excellence, and Black girl magic.

According to a post shared on the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Instagram page on July 14, all four of the extraordinary women selected for the honorary member award were chosen for being FIRST in their excellence in leadership, groundbreaking achievements, and transformative service that uplift communities around the world. 

“Welcoming these phenomenal women into our Sisterhood is a powerful testament to our legacy of distinction,” International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed told Watch the Yard. “Their voices and vision will further strengthen our mission of impactful service to all mankind.”

In an Instagram post, the ewly inducted honorary members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. expressed heartfelt gratitude and excitement following their induction.

Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shared her disbelief and joy, saying, “I can’t believe it. You all won’t believe it. I am now officially a member of the beautiful sorority, AKA. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

CNN anchor and legal analyst Laura Coates echoed the sentiment, saying, “Hey everyone, I’m Laura Coates. Can you believe it? I’m officially a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.”

Olympian Gabby Thomas also celebrated the honor, stating, “I’m so thrilled to be a member of the beautiful Alpha Kappa Alpha! I’m so excited to start my new journey of Sisterhood!”

Supermodel and trailblazer Beverly Johnson shared a deeply emotional message: “I’m so honored to be a sorority sister. I cannot tell you how proud I am. I cannot tell you, my heart is so full. I can barely speak, but thank you God!”

Not only that, but Tuesday, the newest honorary memebers were featuredd in a social media post posing for pics with their heads held high and their ivies up.

“Heads held high, and Ivies up.. Because this is a Serious Matter!” the official Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Instagram captioned a post. “Our newest Honorary Members, @gabbythomas, @k_jeanpierre, @thelauracoates, and @iambeverlyjohnson are already giving Pretty Girl style in full formation! We look forward to seeing them all Soar in Sisterhood. #AKAHonoraryMembers #SoaringWithAKA #AKA1908

Let’s meet the latest honorary AKAs. 

Laura Coates

Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty

Laura Coates, CNN’s Chief Legal Analyst and Anchor, is the first and only Black woman to hold the title. Before joining CNN, Coates served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, focusing on voting rights enforcement, and later as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she prosecuted serious felony cases including drug trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault, according to her website.  

In 2016, she authored the bestselling book You Have the Right: A Constitutional Guide to Policing the Police, demystifying citizens’ Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights, and advocating for greater police accountability.

Now the host of Laura Coates Live on CNN, she continues to bring clarity to pressing legal and political issues. Notably, Coates delivered extensive coverage of last year’s presidential race, hitting the ground in places like Michigan to talk with voters and hear their reactions. She has also had a pulse on the intense sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, delivering updates along every step of the case, a testament to her commitment.  

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“Welcoming these phenomenal women into our Sisterhood is a powerful testament to our legacy of distinction,” International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed said, according to Watch the Yard. “Their voices and vision will further strengthen our mission of impactful service to all mankind.”

Reed led the induction ceremony, which was held during Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 2025 Leadership Seminar in Anaheim, California.

“These trailblazers were honored for their excellence in leadership, groundbreaking achievements, and transformative service that uplift communities around the world,” the organization added in an Instagram post. “Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Honorary Membership is the highest recognition bestowed upon individuals who embody our core values: scholarship, service, and sisterhood.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,Inc®️ (@akasorority1908)

Gabby Thomas is the first Ivy League graduate to win an Olympic track & field medal

The athlete graduated from Harvard University with a degree in neurobiology and global health. She has used her platform to advocate for diversity in STEM fields and encourage young women to pursue careers in science and public health.

Thomas also competed in both the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris. Last summer, she won gold medals in the 200-meter as well as the 4×100-meter relay races.

Karine Jean-Pierre is the first Black person to be White House Press Secretary

Not only was Jean-Pierre the first Black person to hold the position of White House Press Secretary during the Biden administration, she also became the longest-serving woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the role.

Jean-Pierre has held several communications roles during the Biden and Obama administrations. She previously worked as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Watch The Yard (@watchtheyard)

Laura Coates is the first Black woman Chief Legal Analyst and Anchor at CNN

Coates became a recognizable face at CNN after joining the network in 2016, according to CAA. She also hosts her own show on SiriusXM, The Laura Coates Show, on which she interviews politicians. Coats previously worked as a federal prosecutor and a law professor.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Watch The Yard (@watchtheyard)

Beverly Johnson is the first Black woman to be featured on the cover of American Vogue

Johnson was part of a milestone moment in American media when she became the first Black model to appear on the cover of US Vogue in August 1974. 

“It’s definitely an American story,” Johnson told the publication as it celebrated the issue’s 50th anniversary, “in the way that you have a chance at opportunities that you would never have anywhere else in the world…and how it’s possible to stumble upon success. I was a student and I wanted to be a lawyer [when I was scouted at 18]; this never was in my scope. It’s only in America where you can totally redesign your life unintentionally.”

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