Tag: Essence

Celebrity /

McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Experience at 25th Essence Festival: Uplift and Inspire Entrepreneurs

McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden movement was lit at the 25th Essence Festival! The (em)power-packed weekend was full of activities to uplift and inspire up-and-coming entrepreneurs everywhere. With appearances by actress/businesswoman La La Anthony, entertainer Luke James, reality television stars Cynthia Bailey, Tamar Braxton and Trina Braxton, vocal powerhouses Jazmine Sullivan and Kierra Sheard, the always-suave actor/host Terrence J and more, some of the culture’s brightest stars came out to support the Black & Positively Golden movement, which celebrates Black excellence through empowerment, entrepreneurship and education.

BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN WELCOME BREAKFAST: McDonald’s kicked off the explosive weekend with an exclusive Black & Positively Golden Welcome Breakfast. The intimate event was hosted by McDonald’s Head of Cultural Engagement and Experiences Lizette Williams — the spearhead behind the brand’s largest African American-focused campaign in 16 years — and New Orleans franchisee Henry Coaxum.

WE SHINE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PANEL: Actress and self-made businesswoman La La Anthony moderated McDonald’s We Shine Entrepreneurship Panel before a crowd of thousands. She interviewed rising moguls, Dana Chanel (Sprinkle of Jesus, Founder), Nicole Walters (The Monetized Life, Founder & CEO) and Jewel Burks-Solomon (Part Pic, Founder), alongside McDonald’s franchisees Jade Colin and Tanya Hill-Holliday. At 29, Colin is McDonald’s youngest owner/operator, while Hill-Holliday is the brand’s first female owner/operator in Philadelphia.

EMPOWERING MUSIC PERFORMANCES: R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan brought down the house Saturday with some of her classics. Gospel music vocalist/actress Kierra Sheard left it all on the stage Sunday afternoon. Thousands of fans gathered at the Black & Positively Golden Booth for both performances to rock out to some of their favorite tunes.

BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN LATE NIGHT PARTY: After a long day of empowerment, McDonald’s hosted it’s Black & Positively Golden Late Night Party — the official Essence After Party. Celebs, such as actor/singer Luke James; reality television stars Cynthia Bailey, Tamar Braxton and Trina Braxton; actor Tyler Lepley; and social media star Karlton “@notkarltonbanks” Humes, sparkled at Club XLIV as attendees and Hiplet-style dancers showed off their best moves to the sounds of DJ Rashida and DJ B-Hen.

BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATIONS: To close out the weekend, McDonald’s empowered the next generation of leaders by supporting college education. In partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the organization’s national ambassador and HBCU alum Terrence J, McDonald’s presented two, $10,000 Black & Positively Golden Scholarships to well-deserving incoming HBCU freshmen.

 

 

Reality television star Cynthia Bailey attends McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Late Night Party during the 25th Essence Festival.  McDonald’s activities at Essence Festival are an extension of it’s Black & Positively Golden movement, which celebrates Black excellence through empowerment, entrepreneurship, and education.

 

 

Actor/singer Luke James attends McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Late Night Party during the 25th Essence Festival.  McDonald’s activities at Essence Festival are an extension of it’s Black & Positively Golden movement, which celebrates Black excellence through empowerment, entrepreneurship, and education.

 

 

R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan strikes a pose at McDonald’s mobile restaurant before her showstopping performance on the Black & Positively Golden Experience stage during the 25th Essence Festival. McDonald’s activities at Essence Festival are an extension of it’s Black & Positively Golden movement, which celebrates Black excellence through empowerment, entrepreneurship, and education.

 

Celebrity /

The 2019 ESSENCE Festival Draws More Than Half A Million Attendees For Historic 25th Anniversary Celebration

The 2019 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola® attracted more than half a million attendees to New Orleans this Fourth of July weekend (July 4-7) for a historic 25th-anniversary celebration representing one of the largest gatherings in the event’s history. Forever First Lady Michelle Obama commanded the main stage at the sold-out Superdome on Saturday, July 7 for her first ESSENCE Festival headline appearance.  Throughout the weekend, seven 2020 Presidential candidates joined Power Stage segments at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to directly engage the influential audience of Black women in attendance and share plans and policies to address some of their most pressing issues.  In addition, the debut of the ESSENCE Global Black Economic Forum connected attendees with accomplished leaders and chief executives including Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Chase Consumer Banking CEO Thasunda Duckett, Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey, and TDJ Enterprises CEO TD Jakes, among others.

“The 25th-anniversary ESSENCE Festival represented a truly transformative global homecoming celebration for Black women and the Black community,” said ESSENCE Chief Executive Officer Michelle Ebanks.  “This year’s extraordinary turnout reflects ESSENCE’s uniquely powerful engagement of Black women around personal empowerment, community, and culture as the only ESSENCE can.  With the debut of 10 new Festival experiences, activations at more than 40 venues across New Orleans, and engagement with more than 300 small businesses and local vendors, we have redefined the Festival as the largest and most impactful destination at the epicenter of Black culture.”

Ebanks continued, “Lastly, in honor of us embodying all that Black excellence and culture represent – beyond entertainment and beauty, we were thrilled to reveal the Festival’s official rebrand to the ‘ESSENCE Festival of Culture,’ with a mission to inform, inspire and uplift Black women and provide a holistic approach to how we offer and deliver Black culture in every way.”

Additional highlights of the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival include:

  • Live broadcasts of Power Stage ‘Presidential Spotlight’ and “Candidate Conversations” segments on MSNBC and CNN, featuring keynote addresses from Senator Michael Bennett, Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senator Kamala Harris, Former Representative Beto O’Rourke, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. In addition, exclusive live to tape segments on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton.
  • New, stand-alone consumer experiences including the ESSENCE Global Black Economic Forum, ESSENCE Fashion House, ESSENCE Wellness House, ESSENCE After Dark, and ESSENCE Passport25, among others, as well as the return of reimagined live content platforms and experiences including Beauty Carnival, Entertainment All Access, business & career summit E-Suite and ESSENCE Honors.
  • Over 100 performing artists across the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Many of the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, H.E.R, Nas, Pharrell, Patti LaBelle, Teyana Taylor and others performed at the event’s concert series and dozens of others across ESSENCE’s Center Stage and All-Star Gospel Celebration.
  • More than 300 influencers, leaders, creators and celebrities participated in the Festival’s daytime experience – featuring powerhouse speakers Rev. Al Sharpton, Ava Duvernay, Yara Shahidi, Tyler Perry, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Marsai Martin, Valerie Jarrett, Iman, Common, Mona Scott-Young, Miles Brown and Iyanla Vanzant, among many others.

TAMERON HALL NEW DAYTIME TALK SHOW 
Essence Festival /

THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY ESSENCE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PROGRAMMING FOR ALL-NEW WELLNESS HOUSE EXPERIENCE

WHAT: The 2019 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and the largest celebration of global Black culture, announces the 1st ever Wellness House experience. The ESSENCE Wellness House is comprised of programming targeted to mental, physical and relationship wellness inclusive of group workouts  by leading fitness instructors spanning fitness genres such as kickboxing, yoga, pilates, aerobics and more, healthy living conversations, mental health advice, expert nutrition and wellness advice and opportunity to experience a variety of holistic healing remedies.

WHEN:  Saturday, July 6, 8AM-4PM; Sunday, July 7, 8AM-3PM

WHERE: The Lighthouse Glass Gallery, 743 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

WHO: Initial participants for the ESSENCE Wellness House include:

  • Beatrice Dixon, Founder, Honey Pot Co.
  • Boris & Nicole Kojoe, Co-Founders of KoFit
  • Christina Rice, Founder, OM Noire (Yoga Retreat company)
  • DJ C Devone, Fitness DJ, creating live workouts
  • DaShaun “The Guru of Abs” Johnson, Fitness Instructor
  • Domango Training & Motivated Muscle, Shanda Domango & Michael Brown, NOLA-based husband, and wife Fitness Instructors
  • Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald, OB-GYN
  • Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts, Fitness Instructor
  • Dr. Jess, Mental Health Expert
  • Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
  • Dr. Safiya Lyn Lasiter, Medical Marijuana Expert
  • Dr. Tammy Wilborn, Mental Health Expert
  • Faith Hunter,  Fitness Instructor
  • Johanna Basford,  Fitness Instructor
  • Marco Borges, Beyonce’s Nutritionist
  • Melanie Fiona, Grammy Award Winner & Wellness Advocate
  • Mashonda Firere, Author
  • Nicole Chaplin,  Fitness Instructor
  • Shanti Das, Founder, Silence The Shame (Mental Health Advocacy Non-Profit)
  • Simone Bresi-Ando, Owner, Bresi-Ando
  • Staci Jae Johnson, Relationship Expert
  • Starr Hawkins, Fitness Instructor
  • Pinky Cole aka Slutty Vegan, Founder, Slutty Vegan
  • Trap Yoga Bae®,  Fitness Instructor

    A full lineup of participants and events can be found by visiting www.essencefestival.com! 

    Sponsors for the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival are Coca-Cola, AT&T, Disney, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart.

Entertainment /

ESSENCE ANNOUNCES 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO SPEAK AT THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY ESSENCE FESTIVAL IN NEW ORLEANS

Today ESSENCE Communications, Inc. announced that the 2019 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola will host exclusive keynote conversations with five of the leading Democratic contenders in the 2020 Presidential race, including Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Kamala Harris, Former Representative Beto O’Rourke and Senator Elizabeth Warren.  These live ‘Presidential Spotlight’ segments will take place on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7, 2019, on the ESSENCE Power Stage at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.  Following the candidates’ remarks, a question-and answer session with each will be led by Rev. Al Sharpton, CEO of ESSENCE Michelle Ebanks and founder and chair of Essence Ventures Richelieu Dennis and will be aired on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton.

Attracting an audience of 500,000-plus attendees over July 4th weekend and a total economic impact of roughly $4 billion over 25 years, the ESSENCE Festival has created a “home” for Black communities as the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience.  Beyond its ongoing coverage of key civic participation and political news, ESSENCE utilizes its Festival platform to go even deeper in its delivery of engagement and content that informs, enlightens and provides an open forum to discuss the issues of most importance to Black women, who represent a critical voting bloc wielding increased electoral influence.

“As we look towards the 2020 Presidential election, the importance of Black women and their decisive role in the pathway to victory is undeniable,” said Michelle Ebanks, Chief Executive Officer of ESSENCE Communications.  “We are thrilled to offer an opportunity at our 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival for our community to hear directly from some of the top candidates in the 2020 Presidential field as they discuss issues that matter most to our community – and how their individual visions and policies align with those issues.  As the largest annual gathering of Black women in the country, the ESSENCE Festival is a powerful platform to engage this critically influential and diverse segment of voters, who have had historically high turnout in recent years.  It is more clear today than ever that engaging with Black women in a meaningful way isn’t optional.  It is necessary.”

Each candidate will appear individually to outline his or her platform, addressing a live audience from the Power Stage at the ESSENCE Festival’s daytime experience.  Candidates will then field questions generated directly from the ESSENCE community, which includes more than 24 million Black women.   The ‘Presidential Spotlight’ segments will take place throughout the day, with each candidate appearing for 20 minutes:

Saturday, July 6:

  • Kamala Harris at 11:18am – 11:38am CT
  • Cory Booker at 1:05pm – 1:25pm CT
  • Elizabeth Warren at 2:52pm – 3:12pm CT
  • Beto O’Rourke at 4:04pm – 4:24pm CT

Sunday, July 7:

  1. Pete Buttigieg at 11:00am – 11:20am CT

Attendance is free and open to the public at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.   For more information, download the ESSENCE Festival app or visit essence.com/festival.

The ESSENCE Festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola, AT&T, Disney, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart.  The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Celebrity /

ESSENCE FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM

Today’s most seasoned business moguls and inspiring entrepreneurs will gather at the first Annual Global Black Economic Forum, taking place Friday, July 5th and Saturday, July 6th at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in New Orleans during the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival.  The mission of the highly anticipated event will be to illuminate the road ahead towards building economic empowerment and generational wealth within the Black diaspora globally. Sponsors of the Global Black Economic Forum are Disney, Facebook, and Walmart.

“ESSENCE® is proud to announce the Global Black Economic Forum, set to empower and ignite Black entrepreneurs and business executives everywhere,” said ESSENCE Chief Executive Officer Michelle Ebanks. “With the inception of this forum, we are bringing together the best and the brightest to sit before our community and have a much-needed discussion on leveraging globalization trends and building generational wealth within our communities.”

Event highlights include panel discussions with today’s leading cultural, societal and economic voices to address the state of the Black economy; conversations with today’s most innovative globalization and technology leaders; networking among corporate executives, business moguls, venture capitalists and more. Global Economic Forum speakers scheduled to attend include: Founder and President of the National Action Network Reverend Al Sharpton, Mayor of Gary, Indiana Karen Freeman Wilson, President and Founder of The Raben Group Robert Raben, Chief Executive of CHASE consumer banking Thasunda Duckett, Co-Founder of Andreessen Horowitz Ben Horowitz, Founder of LISNR Rodney Williams, Director and Producer Sidra Smith, President of the National Urban League Marc. H Morial, Managing Director of Double Impact at Bain Capital Greg Shell, Chief Executive Officer of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson and more. Topics will span from roundtables with CEO’s, global leadership throughout the diaspora, leveraging our culture for economic advantage, criminal justice reform, political policies to drive economic change and more.

This event is one you don’t want to miss! To purchase tickets or for more information, visit essencefestival.com/gbef.

Atlanta /

Talia Oliver Announces Special Event In NOLA During Essence Festival Weekend

Atlanta entrepreneur Talia Oliver will be bringing big names to New Orleans during the Essence Festival weekend, for a party with a purpose about emotional intelligence and mental health issues. The headlining event, titled “The Essence of Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrating How To Foster Healthy Friendships, Romantic Relationships and Business Partnerships”, will be held on Friday, July 5th at the historic Carver Theater in New Orleans. Two amazing ladies — Randi Rossario Maples and Tamisha Monet — will be joining Talia in a panel discussion about the importance of having emotional intelligence, while building various relationships in this digital age we are living in.

Randi Rossario is a media mogul, author, life and empowerment coach, and the owner of Oh So Radio, an internet/app based radio station based in Metro-Detroit. She uses her platform to help others on a daily basis, delivering encouragement and wisdom through her morning videos. Randi currently has a combined social media following of over 250 thousand people, with a weekly reach of over 5 million accounts per week.

Tamisha Monet is a certified life coach, having received her certification from the reputable Tony Gaskins Life Coaching Academy. She has a plethora of spiritual gifts that she accesses regularly through her work as a certified Astrologer and Master Reiki Practitioner.

Other guest speakers will include Atlanta entrepreneur Christopher Williams, who recently became the youngest black franchise owner will be telling his story about how he raised over $250,000 and went from homeless to franchise owner in just a year. Atlanta entrepreneur Taylor Deathridge, owner of the only one-stop-shop beauty loft in ATL will be interviewed live about having it all; the dream career, the fairytale love story while balancing a huge life-changing struggle.

Talia will be partnering with A Bella La Femme Society to give away three scholarships to three very lucky attendees. A Bella LaFemme Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that provides collegiate minority women with scholarships to promote mental wellness. The mental wellness scholarships may be utilized at the desire of the recipients. ABLS is also committed to serving the community across the state of Louisiana by providing free self-defense and gun safety courses, Heels & Steels ®. The courses are structured to empower, alleviate hardships, and to build resourceful sisterhoods in their communities.

Not only will this event be filled with food for thought, but a lot of delicious food will also be prepared and served by Chef Sell (@SellsCajunCooking on Instagram). His mouthwatering Cajun chicken and seafood alfredo have been nominated for Best Pasta in Atlanta by Terrapin Brewery.

 

Please join us Fri. Jul. 5th, 2019 at 3 P.M. at the Carver Theater (2101 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, LA) for an afternoon of good discussion, good company, and a great time.

About Talia Oliver 

Having served as one of the original writers at The Shade Room and a contributor for The Singers Room, Talia went on to create the burgeoning media platform “The Closet Ratchet” which has become the voice of the intellectual and spiritual yet “closeted” ratchet people who utilize social media. In addition, Talia is a published author, a small business owner and an inspirational speaker to young mothers and entrepreneurs. For more information, contact Talia Oliver at (470)292-1811 or taliaoliver716@gmail.com

Uncategorized /

THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY ESSENCE FESTIVAL SIZZLES INTO THE EVENING WITH NEW ESSENCE AFTER DARK LINEUP

WHAT: The 2019 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and the largest celebration of global Black culture, will keep the party going into the evening—announcing its official ESSENCE After Dark lineup. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy a culmination of late-night jam sessions, live podcasts and underground performances from Hip-Hop and Bounce to Reggae and Afrobeats – from July 4th-7th following the nightly concerts. Tickets on sale now at https://www.essence.com/festival/!

 

WHO: Initial performers taking over the late-night scene during ESSENCE After Dark includes an exciting mashup of emerging and established musicians, DJ’s and personalities who represent our diverse, global culture.

**More to be announced soon, including new Comedy experiences.

Thursday, July 4th:

Women in Hip-Hop presented by MC Lyte

Featuring: Yo-Yo, Rapsody, Trina, MuMu Fresh, Music by DJ K Rock and DJ Jermaine

Time: 10PM – 2AM

Location: Republic Nola, 828 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

Friday, July 5th:

Reggae X Afrobeats presented by Estelle

Featuring: Spice, Rotimi, Machel Montano, Wale,  Kranium, Rafiya, Nick & Navi, Music by DJ Max Glazer and DJ Shacia Marley

Time: 10PM – 2AM

Location: Republic Nola, 828 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

The Come Up

Featuring: Danileigh, Nicole Bus, Angelica Vila, Bri Steves, Music by DJ M.O.S.

Time: 10PM- 2 AM

Location: Howlin’ Wolf, 907 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

Saturday, July 6th:

Teddy’s Jam

Featuring Guy and Blackstreet, Music by DJ M.O.S.

Time: 10PM – 2 AM

Location: Republic Nola, 828 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

ESSENCE Underground: The Femme Fatales

Featuring: Young Devyn, Dreezy, Young M.A., Music by DJ Niena Drake

Time: 10PM- 2 AM

Location: Howlin’ Wolf, 907 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Jesus and Jollof Live with Luvvie Ajayi and Yvonne Orji, Music by DJ Niena Drake

Time: Doors at 5:30 PM // Showtime 6:30 PM

Location: Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70112

 

Sunday, July 7th:

Beats & Bounce

Featuring: Big Freedia, Soul Rebels and More, Music by Mannie Fresh and DJ Niena Drake

Time: 10PM – 2 AM

Location: Republic Nola, 828 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

The Underground Lituation

Featuring: Shawn Smith, Oswin Benjamin, Christian “King” Combs, August Alsina, Music by DJ M.O.S.

Time: 10PM- 2 AM

Location: Howlin’ Wolf, 907 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

                                                                                                                                                               

NOTES: In addition, the 2019 ESSENCE Festival® will feature over 80 performing artists for its nightly concert series, plus a daily line-up of diverse, can’t-miss enrichment and entertainment programming, including the ESSENCE Beauty Carnival, ESSENCE Fashion House, ESSENCE Wellness House, Film and Television Festival, and Global Black Economic Forum, among others. Register now for the many free ESSENCE Festival experiences at https://www.essence.com/festival/.

Sponsors for the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival are Coca-Cola, AT&T, McDonald’s, Ford, State Farm, and Walmart.

Celebrity /

25th Essence Festival: Daytime Experience Culminates With All-Star Gospel Celebration

WHAT: The 2019 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and the largest celebration of global Black culture, convenes top world leaders, influencers and creators for its newly reimagined ESSENCE Power Stage. Free and open to the public, the Essence Power Stage will feature conversations and keynote addresses with influencers and artists – plus a culminating all-star Gospel celebration with performances celebrating 25 years of Black women in Gospel music.

 

The ESSENCE Power Stage will allow audiences to take in a range of empowering conversations with today’s most influential voices, tackling key issues around politics, love, and family, activism, wealth and more. For a full lineup of this year’s daytime speakers and artists, visit essence.com/festival.

WHO: Initial participants hitting the ESSENCE Power Stage are some of the most influential and legendary voices and performers, who represent our culture and community.

**More participants to be announced.

ESSENCE Power Stage:                                                         

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar                                   

Dr. Jess                                                                             

Erika Alexander                                                                                                                 

Jemele Hill

Mayor of Flint, Karen Weaver

Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms

Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell

 

Mayor of Rochester, Lovey Warren

Mayor of Baton Rouge, Sharon Weston Broome

Marvet Brito

 

MC Lyte

Pharrell Williams

Reverend Al Sharpton

 

Teddy Riley

Terry Crews       

 

All-Star Gospel Celebration:

Donnie McClurkin

Mary Mary

Tasha Cobbs Leonard                                         

Yolanda Adams

                                                                                                                                         

WHERE: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

WHEN:  July 5 – 7, 2019

 

NOTES: In addition, the 2019 ESSENCE Festival® will feature over 80 performing artists, plus a daily line-up of diverse, can’t-miss enrichment and entertainment programming, Including the Essence Beauty Carnival, Essence Fashion House, Essence Wellness House, Film and Television Festival, and Global Black Economic Forum, among others. Register now for the many free ESSENCE Festival experiences at https://www.essence.com/festival/.

Sponsors for the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival are Coca-Cola, AT&T, McDonald’s, Ford, State Farm, and Walmart.

Celebrity /

ESSENCE’s Yes, Girl! Podcast Live Now ft. “Little” stars, Issa Rae & Regina Hall

ESSENCE’s Yes, Girl! Podcast is now live featuring “Little” movie stars and comedians extraordinaire, Issa Rae and Regina Hall. The Hollywood faves sat with the Webby nominated Yes, Girl! crew to talk about their now longstanding friendship and how the movie was not their first time coming together in a creative space. Believe it or not, Issa and Regina co-wrote a movie script in the past, that was turned down by nearly seven studios!

For more on their journey beyond rejection, developing their friendship among many of Hollywood’s #BlackGirlMagic icons, inside jokes on-set and working with the brilliant Marsai Martin, tune-in to the full episode here or download on Apple and Spotify!

You can also read more via essence.com.