Why Keke Palmer Is a Real-Life Cinderella

Keke Palmer TLC

[Photo Credit: VH1]

Keke Palmer on 'Key & Peele'

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Keke Palmer in 'Masters Of Sex'

[Photo Credit: Showtime]

Keke Palmer on 'Just Keke'

[Photo Credit: BET]

Keke Palmer in 'The Trip To Bountiful'

[Photo Credit: Lifetime]

Keke Palmer

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Keke Palmer Instagram

[Photo Credit: @kekepalmer]

Keke Palmer

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Keke Palmer turns 21 today, and the actress has plenty to celebrate. Over the past year, she's parlayed her 2013 role in VH1’s CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story into a talk show, a high-profile photo shoot promoted by Vanity Fair, and an upcoming musical theater role as Broadway's first black Cinderella.

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In the clip above, you can see why Palmer's star has been on the rise since she played Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas in our TV movie.

Since the past 12 months have been magical for the former child star, we’ve reflected on her fairytale ascent toward stardom. Find out just what she’s been up to and why she’ll be a household name by her next birthday.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images, Robyn Richardson/VH1]