The 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards was nothing short of amazing. The carpet was filled with many of black Hollywoods’ finest such as Tina Knowles, Chloe Bailey, Zendaya, Tia and Tamera and many more. The stars wore their trendiest attire as they made their glamorous entrance on the carpet. Most guest seemingly radiated excitement for the highly anticipated ceremony.
For so many, the atmosphere in the room felt like a joyful family reunion filled with laughter and heartfelt moments exchanged among the stars. This year’s ceremony honored The Color Purple’s very own, Danielle Brooks, Disney’s Little Mermaid Princess, Halle Bailey, acclaimed screenwriter and showrunner of the hit TV series All American Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Kathryn Busby, industry powerhouse and the President of Original Programming for STARZ. Each honoree has transcended boundaries in their field, ultimately leading to them being awarded and recognized by the publication dedicated to celebrating black women.
Red Carpet Talent Shares Their Expectations
Onsite! chatted with talent who graced the carpet as many seemed ecstatic to be in the room. Comedian, actress, and TV host widely known as the former host of The Real, Loni Love, expressed her excitement for the show.
“I am looking forward to just supporting my friends. ESSENCE is just a great avenue for black females, and this year they pull out all stocks. I have been stalking Daniel Brooks forever. If she’s in a play, I’m there…. so it’s good to see her tonight. Also, our girl, Halle Bailey, [she’s] been through a lot and we have to come around her and give her support. So, I think she deserves this honor tonight.”
“It’s like a family reunion here, we don’t get to see each other a lot so atleast this one time a year we get to come together,”
the TV host continued.
Actress Letitia Wright revealed that she’s looking forward to seeing the women being honored as well as connecting with other individuals in the industry. The Black Panther actress revealed that she’s expecting to
“connect with other people [whose work she admires].”
Red Carpet Guests Share Their Favorite Aspects of Being A Black Woman
ESSENCE embodies black excellence with a strong emphasis on black women. Black women experience many aspects of life, and when asked about their favorite part of being a black woman, the red carpet guests provided diverse answers.
Actress Tichina Arnold expressed that her favorite part about being a black woman was simply being black. While Bel-Air actress.
Cassandra Freeman revealed that she enjoys her melanated skin. She revealed,
“my favorite part about being a black woman is literally my skin, the melanin. I love [that] when it’s summer time, it turns golden, it literally has like sparkles in it.”
TV writer Renada Shepard said,
“I think it’s the gift of being a black woman to take up space in a world that people are going to not understand you and they don’t have to. But there’s a non-verbal language that we speak.. it’s just such a gift to speak without words and understand each other.”
Shepard went on to explain that black women are now allowing themselves to rest.
“When I look at my mom and my aunt.. women who have such strength and such ability. But, also, I love that as black women we’re coming to this space of [wanting to be soft]”
said Shepard.
Here are some of our favorite moments from 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Red Carpet:
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
