Léopoldine Emma Doualla-Bell Smith, born in 1939 in Douala, Cameroon, made history by becoming the first black flight attendant in the world. Coming from the Douala royal family and granddaughter of King Rudolf Douala Manga Bell, she broke racial barriers at the age of 17, when she was recruited by UAT (future UTA) to fly on international lines in 1957, well before her American counterparts.

In 1960, she joined Air Afrique with registration number 001, becoming the first purser of the pan-African company. For 12 years, she traveled the world, confronting racism and sexism with courage and dignity.

After her career in aviation, she continued to serve Africa through development and education missions, notably through the organization she founded in the United States, BISETAL.

Léopoldine died in May 2023, leaving a powerful legacy: that of an African woman who opened the way in a still closed sky.