Style [+] Life [+] Fashion by [@kwest1908]
Ciara has stepped into her own and has a new haircut to prove it! She was seen attending the ACE Awards wearing high-waisted trousers and diamante top.
The Beauty Marks singer accepted the Style Icon Award.
Deadline recently announced that Actress, Comedian, Host, Social Influencer and TV personality, Tami Roman (MTV’s The Real World and VH1’s Basketball Wives LA), inked an overall deal to develop and produce alternative and scripted content with prolific producer, Mona Scott-Young and Monami Productions.
The first project from the powerhouse executive producing duo, Tami Ever After, debuts on VH1 Wednesday, June 19th and was just announced via People Magazine. The special highlights Roman’s relationship with longtime boyfriend, Reggie Youngblood and blends his hilarious and entertaining family from Houston, TX with Roman’s popular and charismatic daughters.
Additional series include ensemble cast docu-follows, “Queen City” and “Big Oil Houston” as well as several scripted and formatted projects. Roman and Scott-Young are focused on expanding their slate beyond unscripted and committed to bringing their productions to Houston where Roman and her family maintain a residence.
“You know, I have grown a lot over the years, and I want my presence on television to be positive and uplifting,” she added. “I want real women with families who have ups and downs to be able to relate to me and feel inspired and empowered knowing they can push through anything.” – Tami Roman
Beyonce was spotted attending the 2019 AFI Awards. She presented Melina Matsoukas with the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal.
Photos from the event were shared via Instagram.
Just in case you missed seeing the regal Mother’s Day photo (below) I wanted to share it on Style + Life + Fashion.
Michelle Obama circulated the picture yesterday on social media. In the caption, she discussed her personal relationship with her mother.
Featured Photo from US Weekly
Michelle stated, “Mom, thank you for kindling that fire within me, and for your example as a mother and grandmother to our girls.”
The all white background and attire was a classic touch for a memorable family portrait!
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.
The ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience, is marking its 25th anniversary July 4-7, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. The Festival, the only experience of its kind, is also the largest celebration of global Black culture and continues to reach new heights with a focus on economic inclusion, cultural ownership, and community development. Now attracting more than 500,000 attendees each weekend, the ESSENCE Festival surpasses every national music, entertainment, and cultural festival based on average daily attendance and is planning its most extensive programming to date.
With a daily line-up of diverse, can’t-miss enrichment and entertainment programming, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be a safe space where hundreds of thousands of multigenerational attendees gather to be informed, inspired and empowered. Offering new and elevated experiences, each activation will serve the unmet needs of Black women across the globe and bring the pages of the magazine and online content to life as never before across arts, entertainment, music, beauty, fashion, technology, film, food, wellness, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment.
“For 25 years, the ESSENCE Festival has embodied the power and purpose of our culture – bringing a total of more than $4 billion in economic impact to the City of New Orleans and state of Louisiana and most importantly, serving as a sacred ground for millions of Black women to engage each other in community, sisterhood, service, family, love, laughter, joy, hope, and empowerment,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications. “Today, the Festival is a full celebration of that culture – what we have achieved, how we honor each other, and where we’re going from here. For us, as a 100% Black-owned company, that includes building from the Festival’s foundation of music, entertainment, and empowerment to also now reclaiming our economics and facilitating more opportunities for ownership of and in the culture that we create, innovate and evolve.”
Ebanks continued, “ESSENCE is home, and we know that home is where the heart is. It is where we go to be restored and sustained. No matter where we travel in the world, there’s no place like it. So, the ESSENCE Festival is also a much-anticipated homecoming for Black artists to be uplifted and replenished, for our brightest minds to convene around solutions to critical issues impacting our communities, and for our most creative, bold and passionate selves to be celebrated and renewed. ESSENCE is that place, and today we say “Welcome home.”
In addition to an epic ‘homecoming’ musical line-up of more than 80 performers at the Louisiana Superdome – including Mary J. Blige, Nas, Missy Elliott, H.E.R., Big Freedia, Davido, Frankie Beverly, Jermaine Dupri, MC Lyte, Pharrell Williams, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky & Mike (RBRM), Sheila E., Teddy Riley, Teyana Taylor, Timbaland, and more – a 25th anniversary celebration of 1994’s most culturally impactful and transformative albums that redefined pop culture will be curated and performed by the original artists. These include Mary J. Blige’s My Life, Nas’ Illmatic, Brandy’s Brandy, Method Man’s Tical, Scarface’sDiary, Big Daddy Kane’s Daddy’s Home, Da Brat’s Funkdafied, Slick Rick’s Behind Bars and Brownstone’s From the Bottom Up.
The 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival will also span more than 10 venues across New Orleans and encompass several new and enhanced curated experiences, including (**indicates new for 2019):
**Global Black Economic Forum – Attendees connect with today’s most seasoned corporate moguls and inspiring entrepreneurs, focused on building economic empowerment and generational wealth, featuring the Black CEO Roundtable, The Billionaire’s Forum, Entrepreneur’s Summit, relationship-building opportunities, and more.
**Fashion House – With ongoing accusations of cultural appropriation and tone-deafness in news and social headlines around the world, many major and luxury fashion brands continue to face issues around their appreciation, understanding, and representation of people of color globally. In addition, the increasing awareness that free promotion from cultural giants in the Black community bestow a lucrative cultural significance to these brands, but with little economic inclusion, and as Black creatives struggle to create and maintain significant business, this conundrum presents the challenge of how do we exercise our creative and economic influence for the benefit of our community. Focused on elevating the Black fashion community as well as the fashion experience for Black consumers, the Fashion House will provide the necessary tools for Black-owned brands to be successful and opportunities for major fashion brands to provide support, capital and partnerships for Black designers and consumers, as well as curate and showcase Black-owned brands via a shoppable designer trunk show and online Fashion House collaborations.
**Wellness House – The declining state of health and wellness in the Black community mandates that we do more – in more places, with more people – to educate and activate Black women and families around what it means to truly live well physically, mentally and emotionally. At the Wellness House, attendees will engage in an enlightening and inspiring environment focused on self-care, including educational and motivational conversations with some of today’s leading health and wellness experts; an array of fitness and wellness activities and programming; cooking and nutrition classes; wholesome and delicious food and more with nationally-renown speakers, instructors, trainers, chefs, and special guests.
**ESSENCE Black Excellence Awards
The ESSENCE Black Excellence Awards will embrace the triumph of everyday leaders in our communities; honoring trailblazers across disciplines including the Arts, Education, Entrepreneurship, Fashion, Film, Food, Music, Social Justice, Sports, Technology, Wellness and more. This elegant celebration of local and global heroes will also spotlight the impact of corporations, government and Black-owned businesses working collectively for the advancement of all.
**ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival – Foodies indulge in a wide range of mouthwatering selections at ESSENCE’s official culinary experience, featuring ‘ESSENCE Eats’ pop-ups at multiple locations throughout New Orleans.
ESSENCE Music Festival – The Festival’s 3-night, evening concert series will present more than 80 of the world’s greatest artists and performers across five stages, featuring artist-led curations, tribute moments and one-of-a-kind, only-at-ESSENCE collaborations, as well as a new intimate venue series called After Dark.
Beauty Carnival – Beauty enthusiasts pamper themselves in an immersive beauty experience designed to meet their individual needs. From live tutorials to curated shopping destinations, beauty fans explore a vivid spectacle of global beauty.
ESSENCE Film & TV Festival – Fans’ all-access to exclusive previews and screenings, appearances and meet & greets with the industry’s most popular casts and performers, featuring the Screening Room, Center Stage, and Fan Zone.
Power Stage – Audiences 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.
E-Suite – With a membership pass, subscribers access an exclusive suite for entrepreneurs and senior-level women in business. From panel conversations to recruitment opportunities with our partners, E-Suite is the Festival’s top destination for executives and entrepreneurs.
ESSENCE Marketplace – With participation from nearly 300 entrepreneurs, the ESSENCE Marketplace will offer a specially curated, daily retail experience across multiple destinations throughout New Orleans during the four-day weekend. Attendees will indulge in bespoke culinary, craft and retail shopping environments that present unique, culturally diverse and authentic offerings from around the world.
Day of Service/Girls United – The 2019 annual “Day of Service” – community reinvestment via projects around New Orleans focused on rehabilitation, beautification, and inspiration – will focus on ESSENCE Girls United, ESSENCE’s Gen Z platform and the mentoring initiative focused on helping this generation increase their academic potential, self-love and leadership skills. The day will culminate with ESSENCE Day in the Park – a community celebration at Louis Armstrong Park with music, food, and local vendors.
Weekend and single-night ticket packages for the evening Music Festival concert series are on sale now. For the first time ever, ESSENCE is introducing the 2019 Weekend VIP Power Pass, which provides access to a premium experience at all of the Festival’s ticketed events throughout the weekend, including the evening Music Festival, Fashion House, Beauty Carnival, ESSENCE Day in the Park, Wellness House and Power Stage, among other experiences to be announced.
For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival® visit Essence.com/festival. Join the festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of Festival on Facebook.
Sponsors for the 25th-anniversary ESSENCE Festival® include Coca-Cola, AT&T, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart. The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications Inc.
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.
The ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and largest celebration of global Black culture, is set to bring the 90’s heat with special performances that celebrate the 25th anniversary of some of the top albums of the decade. The Festival also just announced the official night-by-night performance line up for its concert series taking place July 5th, 6thand 7th at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
With hits that remain timeless, the 90’s era of R&B and hip-hop music significantly impacted our global culture – setting musical trends and a standard of excellence that made space for artists to thrive as creators, visionaries, and entrepreneurs. By spotlighting some of the era’s most forward-looking, game-changing albums that are also celebrating their 25th anniversaries, the celebration will reach beyond nostalgia to the new school—with special performances to elevate the groundbreaking sounds that continue to influence the most popular, chart-topping artists of today.
“We are celebrating our 25th anniversary with an extraordinary, multigenerational, cultural celebration featuring nearly 100 Black artists who know that the ESSENCE Festival is ‘home,’” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications. “Through an imaginative slate of 25th anniversary curations and a fresh take on our night-by-night line-up, this year’s milestone Festival will creatively represent some of our culture’s most important and influential bodies of work – past, present and future. We are excited to place the spotlight on the music that captivated and inspired our global communities—all re-imagined exclusively for the ‘only-at-ESSENCE’ Festival stages.”
Each “25th” set will be curated and performed by the original artists, including Mary J. Blige’s My Life, Nas’ Illmatic, Brandy’s Brandy, Scarface’s Diary, Big Daddy Kane’s Daddy’s Home,
Da Brat’s Funkdafied, Slick Rick’s Behind Bars and Brownstone’s From the Bottom Up.
The ESSENCE Festival takes place July 4-7, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. You can view the official night-by-night line up here. Single night ticket is on sale now.
For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival® visit Essence.com/festival. Join the festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of Festival on Facebook.
The ESSENCE Festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola, AT&T, Ford, State Farm and Walmart.
The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please e-mail festivalpress@essence.com.
About ESSENCE Communications Inc.
ESSENCE Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.
Actress and entrepreneur, Cara Santana, was spotted this week in New York City carrying the adorable Ella McHugh Monika Quicksilver handbag!
Take a look at the photos below.
“I certainly see more doors opening for Black women and people of color…and of course, I celebrate it. But I also have a healthy yearning for more…”— Sonequa Martin-Green, ESSENCE.com
ESSENCE’s new digital cover features Star Trek: Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green who continues her upward trajectory on the iconic sci-fi series in her role as First Officer Michael Burnham. In the piece, Out of This World, she talks about diversity in Hollywood and the impact of her role on the next generation (pun intended.) As one of the few faces of color to have navigated the zombie apocalypse on The Walking Dead, she’s now the first Black woman to be a lead on a Star Trek series in its 53-year history. Here, she talks to ESSENCE about:
In the piece, written by Candice Frederick, Martin-Green is stunning in looks and accessories by Kimora Lee Simmons, Zadig & Voltaire, Maki Oh, Kenneth Jay Lane and more. Photos are by Derek Reed and styling by Mecca James Williams.
For more on this and more stories, visit ESSENCE.com.