Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker As the title says, this miniseries is inspired by a real woman: Madam C.J. Walker, a black woman who started out as a laundress and became the first woman to be a self-made millionaire by launching a beauty empire. It's packed with plenty of character drama alongside her history-making professional milestones, casting light on the real struggles faced during that era — and in the modern world too. Watch Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker on Netflix. Image Source: Everett Collection