Diva

Diva is the Latin and Italian word for "goddess", the feminine form of the Latin word divus (= "god").

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 Lesley and Brandi Chastain.

A less used Italian word, Divo, describes male super stars.