Gabby Thomas And More Selected As Honorary Members Of AKA

After Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. added serious star power to its sisterhood, during its 2025 Leadership Seminar, the honorary members who were bestowed 20 pearls prettily posed for pics to represent the First Black sorority.

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

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.  

Gabby Thomas

Gabby Thomas has solidified her status as one of the world’s elite sprinters, excelling in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. Her breakout moment came in 2021 when she ran 21.61 seconds in the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Trials, making her the second-fastest woman in history at the time, according to Team USA. She improved that mark to 21.60 seconds at the 2023 USATF Championships, cementing her legacy in the sport.

Thomas made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she earned a bronze medal in the 200m and a silver medal as the anchor of the U.S. 4×100-meter relay team. She followed up with a dominant performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, capturing gold in the 200m with a time of 21.83 seconds and another gold in the 4x100m relay alongside Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, and Sha’Carri Richardson.

Her accomplishments extend beyond the Olympics. Thomas has claimed multiple Diamond League titles (2018, 2019, 2024) and won gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the 4x100m relay, setting a championship record of 41.03 seconds. In 2023, she took silver in the 200m at the World Championships with a blazing 21.81 finish.
A standout both on and off the track, Thomas graduated from Harvard University in 2019 with a degree in neurobiology and global health. She later earned a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center. Throughout her journey, she has been a passionate advocate for increasing diversity in STEM fields and uses her platform to inspire young women of color to pursue careers in science and technology.

Karine Jean-Pierre

Karine Jean-Pierre made history as the first Black person and the longest-serving woman to hold the position of White House Press Secretary. With a distinguished career in political strategy and public service, she has been a leading voice in American politics and advocacy.

Prior to her historic White House role, Jean-Pierre served as a Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and worked as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC, the McSilver Institute notes. During the Obama-Biden administration, she held several key leadership positions, including Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs and Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

She also served as Southeast Regional Political Director during Obama’s 2008 presidential run. Her career spans across advocacy and legislative work as well—she was Campaign Manager for the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Initiative and held roles as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members of the New York City Council. Born in Martinique and raised in New York, Jean-Pierre is a graduate of Columbia University.

Beverly Johnson

Beverly Johnson is a trailblazing supermodel, actress, entrepreneur, and author who made history as the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Vogue in 1974 and later on Elle. Her groundbreaking achievements opened doors for generations of models of color and reshaped the fashion industry’s standards of beauty and inclusion.

Beyond modeling, Johnson has built a diverse career as an actress and businesswoman. She has made appearances in films such as Crossroads and Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds. The icon is also the founder of The Beverly Johnson Luxurious Lifestyle Brand, which reflects her passion for beauty, wellness, and empowerment. 

Congrats to these honorable sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

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