Essence Magazine Owner and Executives, Moanna Luu, Richeliu Dennis Michelle Eubanks
Kicking off Oscar weekend with style and grace, ESSENCE celebrated four remarkable Hollywood artist-activists during its 12th annual “BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS,” held Thursday, February 21, 2019, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
The luncheon, themed “Art + Activism,” was hosted by Grammy Award-Winning singer and actress, Kelly Rowland; and honored actress and comedian Regina Hall (Black Women in Hollywood Award Recipient); actress/singer and author Jenifer Lewis (Black Women in Hollywood Award Recipient); actress Amandla Stenberg (Black Women in Hollywood Award Recipient) and actress KiKi Layne (Ford Spotlight Award Recipient). Regina King, Sanaa Lathan, Elaine Welteroth, Loretta Devine and Sheryl Lee Ralph were presenters and Amber Riley performed two beautiful covers of Stephanie Mills’ “Home” and Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman.”
The exclusive pre-Oscar event was abuzz with Hollywood Black excellence from actresses to musicians, executives, beauty influencers and more. These A-list guests mingled during a cocktail reception prior to entering the grand ballroom for the ceremonial luncheon.
PHOTO CREDITS: -Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence -Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence -Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence -Aaron Thornton/Getty Images for Essence
Among the elite talents present were:
AJ Johnson | Actress/Influencer
Angela Bassett | Former Honoree
Angela Rye | Political Commentator
Anna Diop | Actress
Antoinette Robertson | Actress, Dear White People
Director, Ava DuVernay | Former Honoree
Bevy Smith | Host, Page Six
Bianca Lawson | Actress, Pretty Little Liars & Queen Sugar
Billy Porter | Actor, Pose/Tony Award winner
Bozoma Saint John | Chief Brand Officier, Endeavor
CCH Pounder | Actress, NCIS: New Orleans
Chandler Kinney | Actress, Lethal Weapon
Chloe X Halle | R&B Duo
Cynthia Erivo | Singer and Actress, Widows
Dawn-Lyen Gardner | Actress, Queen Sugar
DeWanda Wise | Actress, She’s Gotta Have It
Edwina Findley Dickerson | Actress, If Loving You Is Wrong
Eva Marcille | Model
Iyanla Vanzant | Inspirational Speaker, Iyanla: Fix My Life
Janet Mock | Producer, Pose
Jimmy Jean-Louis | Actor, Heroes
June Ambrose | Stylist, Influencer
Kandi Burruss | Singer/ Television Personality
Kofi Siriboe | Actor, Queen Sugar
Kylie Bunbury | Actress/Netflix
Laura Harrier | Actress, BlacKkKlansman
Logan Browning | Actress, Dear White People
Loni Love | Host, The Real
Loretta DeVine | Former Honoree
Lorraine Toussaint | Actress, Orange Is the New Black
Luvvie Ajayi | Award-winning Author and Speaker
Marsai Martin | Actress, Blackish
Maxine Waters | Congresswoman
Meagan Good | Actress
Melissa De Sousa | Actress, Best Man
Michele Weaver | Actress, Love Is
Nafessa Williams | Actress, This Is Us
Octavia Spencer | Former Honoree
Regina King | If Beale Street Could Talk
Regina Hall | The Hate U Give
Robin Thede | Tv Host, Comedian, Writer
Robin Givens | Actress, Riverdale
Russell Hornsby | Actor, The Hate U Give
Ryan Michelle Bathe | Actress, First Wives Club Show
Salli Richardson-Whitfield | Director, Queen Sugar
Sean Combs | Entrepreneur
Sherri Shepherd | Comedic Actress
Sheryl Lee Ralph | Activist and Actress
Sir John Barnett | Make Up Artist/Influencer
Skai Jackson | Actress, Jessie
Spike Lee | Film Director, BlacKkKlansman and Tonya Lewis Lee | Producer
Tarana Burke | #MeToo founder
Tina Knowles-Lawson | Fashion Designer/ Philanthropist
Tina Lifford | Actress, Queen Sugar
Trevor Jackson | Actor, Grownish
Vanessa Bell Calloway | Actress, Saints & Sinners
Valeisha Butterfield Jones | Chief of Black Engagement, Google
