Time Magazine observed in its 21 October 2002 issue: "By definition, a diva is a rampaging female ego redeemed only in part by a lovely voice." The word was originally used of great female opera singers, almost always sopranos (like Maria Callas), but is now used to describe any female celebrity, whether a female singer, movie actress, or athlete.
There are many women who are world famous divas, among them Madonna, Cher, Britney Spears, and among athletes, Lisa Leslie and Brandi Chastain.
A less-used Italian word, Divo, describes male super stars.