Category: Celebrity

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 
Beauty /

Nia Long Protective Twist Braids: Photo of The Day

Nia Long showcased her new summer hairstyle. We all remember the days of mom braiding our hair for the warmer months.

It was a protective style and you knew better than to sweat out your braids when playing outside with your favorite cousin!

That reason alone is why this picture gives us “all the feels” and her perfectly laid edges are icing on the cake.  Nia Long will always be a 90’s favorite and epic actress for our time!

Ladies, what’s your favorite protective hairstyle?

Photo Credit: Instagram

Accessories /

COMMON, DAPPER DAN, JUNE AMBROSE AND MORE TO SPEAK AT ESSENCE FASHION HOUSE

The 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival is set to debut the ESSENCE Fashion House, a premier destination focusing on owning our style, culture, and impact.  Happening Friday, July 5th through Sunday, July 8th at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, fashionistas will experience a cutting-edge curation of runway shows, trunk shows, and pop up shops brought to you by household names and rising Black designers.

Attendees will hear from fashion industry icons Bevy Smith, Common, Dapper Dan, Ebonee Davis, Ethan Miller, Joan Smalls, June Ambrose, Karl Kani, Misa Hylton Brim, Quincy Brown, April Walker, Zerina Akers, Ade Samuels and more.

Follow the fashion fast-lane down to New Orleans as models rule the runway in exquisite pieces during a fashion week style designer showcase, shop an extensive collection of runway-worthy apparel and accessories plus get to know the creators behind the design and reinvent your very own look with new wardrobe staples for the upcoming season!

To purchase tickets and for more information visit:  https://www.essence.com/festival/fashionhouse/

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.

Celebrity /

Ciara Wilson New Pixie Haircut: Photo of The Day

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.

Photo Credit:  Instagram
Celebrity /

People Magazine | Actress Tami Roman and Reggie Youngblood Get New Spinoff Special Tami Ever After

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