This article lists the winners and nominees for the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female.

Prior to 2014 the category was no gender specific, thus was called Outstanding Breakthrough Performance.

Naomie Harris was the first woman to win the Outstanding Breakthrough Performance category.

At age 9, Quvenzhane Wallis became the youngest actress to win this award for Beasts of the Southern Wild and at age 38, Tiffany Haddish became the oldest winner in this category for Girls Trip.

At the 15th Annual Black Reel Awards both Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez became the first transgender actresses nominated in this category for their performances in Tangerine.