TARAJI P. HENSON, NAOMI CAMPBELL, AND MARSAI MARTIN ROCK THE 2021 BET AWARDS IN LOS ANGELES, CA WEARING UPGRADE BOUTIQUE

Official host of the 2021 BET Awards and actress, Taraji P.  Henson, rocked the occasion last night wearing custom wigs by Upgrade Boutique throughout the evening styled by Tym Wallace. Model, Naomi Campbell, and actress, Marsai Martin, both styled by  Alexander Armand, also stole the show wearing extensions by Upgrade Boutique. The evening was filled with flawless looks from powerful women including Queen Latifa, Lauren London, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Maxine Waters, Ciara, Chloe Bailey, Jazmine Sullivan, Ari Lenox, Zendaya,  H.E.R., The City Girls and many more.

ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA ANNOUNCES 2021 VIRTUAL DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME LINE-UP

ESSENCE, the leading and only 100% Black-owned media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities, announces its daytime and nighttime schedule for its virtual 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola—the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience. With the theme “Live Loud,” ESSENCE curated an invaluable hybrid experience that offers the best of in-person and virtual worlds via a celebration of the resilience, power and achievement of Black communities and the omnipresence of our culture. Under strict adherence to guidance from local health agencies, ESSENCE produced live-to-tape activations in early June available only to New Orleans and Louisiana residents honoring essential workers and first responders. As a result, the entire Festival will present a “taste of New Orleans” with a full schedule of can’t-miss content centered around culture, equity and celebration—and a tribute to the city that the Festival has always called home.

It will be broadcast on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com–Friday-Sunday over two weekends, June 25-27 and July 2-4. In addition, for the first time, this year’s Festival will host a live Verzuz battle to remember on Thursday, July 1, with soon to be announced guests. For more details, visit ESSENCE.com.

The Festival’s virtual programming will include powerful daytime interactive sessions and star-studded evening concerts and connections. The star-studded lineup will feature performances by: Jazmine Sullivan, DJ Khaled & Friends, Ne-Yo, Amerie, Tank, Kirk Franklin, Davido, Lucky Daye, Carl Thomas, D-Nice and more. The Festival’s powerful interactive sessions will also showcase leading voices throughout the two weekends including: Mary J. BligeAngela Yee, Michelle Williams, Adrienne Bailon, Sarah Jakes RobertsTracy G., Tiana Major9, Big Freedia, Miss Lawrence, Supacent, Shantrelle P. Lewis, Jesseca Dupart and more. See below for highlights across the two weekends: 

THURSDAY, JULY 1: 

  • ESSENCE Dear Black Men (6 PM-8 PM): ESSENCE Studios presents Dear Black Men—an all-male summit that salutes the contributions of our brothers who speak vulnerably about their respective experiences as family men, community advocates and leaders of this generation.  
  • ESSENCE Festival Verzuz Battle (LIVE at 8 PM-10 PM) 

FRIDAYS: 

  • PITCH, Please! New Voices Pitch Competition (3 PM-4 PM EST): Tune in to PITCH PLEASE!, powered by Pull Up for Change’s Impact Fund and the New Voices Foundation to watch up-and-coming Black women-owned beauty brands make their pitch to change the beauty business game! During this pitch competition, eight Black women founders will compete for cash prizes ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, plus valuable business coaching to launch and execute or grow and scale their beautiful entrepreneurial dreams.
  • Coca-Cola Juke Joint Kick Off with D-Nice (6/25 ONLY 5:30pm-6pm EST) : D-Nice kicks off the party with a set of our favorite songs from New Orleans at the historic Howling Wolf Venue.
  • ESSENCE Beauty Carnival [6 PM-10 PM (ET)]: Enjoy presentations from industry insiders and top brands on makeup, skin, body, and hair care that provide a fresh perspective on caring for and embracing the hair and skin you’re in. Speakers include: Adrienne Houghton, Melyssa Ford, Claudia Jordan, LisaRaye, Supacent, Miss Lawrence, Big Freedia, Demetria Lucas, India.Arie, Tina Knowles and more.
  • ESSENCE GU After Dark [10PM-11 PM (ET)]: Tune in for music curated by ESSENCE’s Girls United brought to you by your favorite rising stars. Featuring performances by Raiche, Tayla Parx & Makenzie and also a world premiere music video by MuMu Fresh.

SATURDAYS:

  • Wealth & Power [1 PM-5 PM (ET)]: Discover how to be an agent of change during this virtual town hall. Topics include tools for investing, business, entrepreneurship, policy, voting and more. Speakers include: June Ambrose, Jemele Hill, Tamika Mallory, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell, Angela Yee, D-Nice and others.  In addition, watch a  special segment featuring our Black Female Mayors.
  • Entertainment All-Access [5 PM-7 PM (ET)]: Catch your Hollywood faves in Q&A’s and be the first to watch exclusive sneak peeks of the hottest upcoming releases! With appearances by: Gina Torres, Lil Rel, Yvonne Orji, Yandy Smith, Mary J. Blige and more.
  • Evening Concert Series [7 PM-10:30 PM (ET)]: ESSENCE® is giving you Saturday Night Vibes with our legendary evening concert series with a must-see lineup (*scroll down for talent line-up.)

SUNDAYS:

  • ESSENCE Wellness House [10 AM-1 PM (ET)]: A multi-faceted collective of self-care resources for you! Through our curated sessions, you will walk away equipped with the resources to prioritize your nutrition, spirit, relationships, and more.
  • Get Lifted Gospel Sunday Celebration [1 PM-3 PM (ET)]: Get your spirits lifted as the annual all-star Gospel tribute hits your screen for two Sundays back to back! Tune in for powerful words of praise by your favorite spiritual leaders and music by your favorite gospel artists. Performances by Kirk Franklin & Friends, Israel Houghton and more.

WEEK 1 (Saturday Evening Concert Line-up): 

SATURDAY, 6/26: 

  • Ha Sizzle 
  • Teedra Moses 
  • KES 
  • Lucky Daye 
  • Tank 
  • Jazmine Sullivan 

WEEK 2 (Saturday Evening Concert Line-up): 

SATURDAY, 7/3: 

  • Case 
  • Carl Thomas 
  • D-Nice, Ne-Yo and Amerie 
  • Davido 
  • DJ Khaled and Friends 

*Artists and schedules are subject to change. 

For more information, pick up the July/August “ESSENCE Festival of Culture” split-cover issue, featuring headliner Jazmine Sullivan on the cover. To register or for a full line-up, visit www.essencefestival.com. Join the conversation via social @EssenceFest. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola® is executive produced by ESSENCE Festivals LLC, a division of ESSENCE Communications Inc. Sponsors of the 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors Estée Lauder, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Walmart as well as premium sponsors AT&T, Disney and UnitedHealthcare.

essence Makeup’s NEW Lash Princess Mascara; Lash Princess Curl

We are thrilled to share that essence makeup officially welcomes their newest Lash Princess formula – Lash Princess Curl – available NOW for $4.99 at essencemakeup.comUlta.com and Amazon.com!

essence is widely known for its best-selling Lash Princess Mascara – which is the #1 mascara on Amazon with nearly 150K rave reviews plus a true cult-following. At the request of Lash Princess lovers, the brand is excited to welcome the long-awaited addition to the coveted mascara lineup – Lash Princess Curl. Created with a curling formula and peanut-shaped fiber brush, Lash Princess Curl lifts coats and holds lashes for a dramatic wide-open look!

 $4.99 –available at essencemakeup.comUlta.com and Amazon.com and in select Ulta locations beginning in July.  

    • Long awaited and finally available: Lash Princess now has a curl formula!
    • Peanut shaped fiber brush allows for easy application that provides maximum volume and curl – 2 main must-have mascara effects combined in one mascara
  • This Vegan formula is totally paraben-free, with no micro plastic particles added

Juneteenth Recipes for our Soul! – The Urban Martha Stewart

Growing up in Los Angeles, My parents were very involved in the Black movement but I didn’t really learn and absorb Black history until I went away to college at UC Berkeley and enrolled into an African American Studies classes with the infamous Dr. Harry Edwards. He rocked my world on African American Studies and I remember calling my mom crying asking her why she didn’t teach about our Black history?
For the full story and recipes please visit Ali in the Valley!

Tyler Perry in First Trailer for ‘Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces

From a traumatic childhood to the redemptive role of faith, discover the rags-to-riches rise of Tyler Perry, one of America’s most respected entertainers in the new feature-length biography ‘Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces’ from Legacy Distribution.

The feature-length biography ‘Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces’ is now available on Roku Channel, Google Play, XUMO, Glewed, STIRR, and LocalNow.

Produced by Dana Webber and distributed by Legacy Distribution.

FIVE WAYS BLACK WOMEN CAN FEEL EMPOWERED ON JUNETEENTH

On June 19th, 2021, millions of Americans will come together to honor a key piece of American history; Juneteenth — the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States.

“Understand the history,” says Dr. Sonja Stribling, Life Coach for the Black American Woman, “but utilize this date to empower yourself, as empowerment is what this day is all about!” Stribling, a Certified Life and Business Coach recently featured in Black Press of America, Good Day D.C., and KDRV-TV, has coached and mentored over 300,000 women.

As the daughter of a farmer and housekeeper from Arkansas, Dr. Sonja Stribling is a retired US Army Major who spent 21 years in the United States Military. Stribling went from poverty to millionaire. Here, Dr. Stibling offers five tips to help Black women feel empowered this June 19th, 2021:

Understand Your History: Juneteenth can be a launch point to delve into your own personal history. Try journaling to understand how your past has shaped who you are today.

Know When to Say NO: Evaluate Your Boundaries, find power and strength in knowing when it’s best for you to say no to an event, a person, or anything you don’t want to do. Equally important is knowing when to ask for help.

Draw Your Road Map To P.O.W.E.R: (Possibilities, Opportunities, Wealth, Wellbeing, Worth, Excellence and Responsibility). Seize the possibilities and opportunities open to you, recognize your worth, reinvest in yourself to build wealth, prioritize your wellbeing, approach ALL aspects of life with excellence and share the responsibility of helping others.

Make A Routine Ritual: Treat yourself, every single day. Start by finding something you love to do. Each day, set aside at least five minutes to do that exact same thing. The mind will look forward to this routine self-time.

Share Your Story: Don’t just post to social media, talk to people in your life. Share your story to empower your loved ones and yourself. You never know who needs to hear what you’ve been through.

Dr. Sonja’s Bio:
Dr. Sonja Stribling, Ph.D. is a Business Strategist, Public Speaker and the Founder of the Born to Be Powerful Academy, a company that empowers women with the confidence and skills to dominate their personal and professional lives. A former clinical counselor and 21-year Army Retired Major, Dr. Sonja uses her training and experience to lead thousands to their victory by using their inner power to ascend to their next level in life and business.
This mother of three boys and divorcee, knows all too well the mindset of a woman who wants more but has to constantly fight multiple times harder than others. Becoming a mother at 15, before being raped and left for dead at 17-years-old, Dr. Sonja joined the military and spent the next 21 years serving three combat tours in a male-dominated field.
Known as the ‘General to Giants’ and is the Best-Selling Author of “The Divorce That Saved My Life,” this 21-year Army Retired Major and recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (by President Barack Obama), is a National Speaker for the Think & Grow Rich The Legacy World Tour, and former TV Host on Bravo Network.  Dr. Sonja has been featured in outlets such as Bustle, KTLA, Good Day DC, The Ladders, Influencive and more.

Instagram: @IamDrSonja
Facebook: @IamDrSonja

ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA ANNOUNCES ITS 2021 “LIVE LOUD” VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

ESSENCE, the leading and only 100% Black-owned media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities, announces its stellar talent line-up for its 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola—the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience. Incorporating virtual for the second year in light of the pandemic, this year’s event will live up to its theme of “Live Loud” by featuring exciting content across all of its stages centered around culture, equity and celebration. As the nation continues to reopen, ESSENCE’s exciting and elevated hybrid experience will present a celebration of the resilience, power and achievement of our community and omnipresence of our culture — and a tribute to the city that the Festival has always called home. The star-studded lineup will feature performances by: Jazmine Sullivan, DJ Khaled & Friends, Ne-Yo, Tank, Michelle Williams, Kirk Franklin, Davido and D-Nice. The Festival’s powerful interactive sessions will also showcase leading voices throughout the two weekends including: Mary J. Blige, Angela Yee, Adrienne Bailon, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Tracy G., Tiana Major9, Big Freedia, Miss Lawrence, Supacent, Shantrelle P. Lewis, Jesseca Dupart  and more. The Festival will stream on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com—Friday-Sunday over two weekends, June 25-27 and July 2-4.

“The ESSENCE Festival of Culture, now the largest festival in the nation by per day attendance, is an unparalleled convening and celebration of global Black culture and continues to have even deeper impact on our communities via our expanded focus on economic inclusion, cultural ownership and community development,” said Latraviette Smith-Wilson, ESSENCE Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer. “As a live experience, the ESSENCE Festival normally attracts more than 500,000 attendees annually during July 4th weekend in New Orleans — but last year, we made the necessary decision to shift our multi-day celebration to an innovative virtual format due to COVID-19. The ESSENCE Festival was the first of its kind and scale to be executed virtually during the pandemic, and our team worked tirelessly to deliver the content, programming and resources that our community desired. As a result, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture provided much-needed, only-at-ESSENCE content and experiences that inspired, entertained, informed and empowered—resulting in 45+ million full-stream views of 2020 Festival content to date. This year, we are thrilled to bring forth another exciting talent line-up, curated programming and a new hybrid experience that will directly touch the people of New Orleans and Louisiana while also further extending our reach, engagement and impact via enhanced digital, technology and streaming capabilities to connect more of our community in the U.S. and across the diaspora.”

For the 2021 Festival experience and under strict adherence to guidance from local health agencies, ESSENCE will produce live activations available only to New Orleans and Louisiana residents— honoring essential workers and first responders—that will be integrated into the virtual experience during both weekends.

For more information and to register, visit www.essencefestival.com. Join the conversation via social @EssenceFest. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola® is executive produced by ESSENCE Festivals LLC, a division of ESSENCE Communications Inc. Sponsors of the 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors Estée Lauder, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Walmart as well as premium sponsors AT&T, Disney and UnitedHealthcare.