*Two things will surely bring out the stars, the midnight sky and awards season. As Hollywood gears up for the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, Essence hosted its annual “Black Women in Hollywood Awards,” sponsored by Coca-Cola™, Netflix’s “Queen Charlotte,” GLACÉAU smartwater® and Prime Video and catch all the glamorous Black excellence; the ceremony will air as virtual experience on Monday, March 13, from 4 pm PT/7 pm ET on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com.
On Thursday, March 9, Essence, the leading and only 100% Black-owned media, technology, and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities, hosted its 16th-anniversary “Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards.”
As one of Hollywood’s most highly coveted events during awards season, Essence Black Women in Hollywood recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the industry’s most inspiring Black women who are helping to tell diverse Black stories.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: President and CEO of Essence Ventures Caroline A. Wanga (3rd from L) poses with honorees Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tara Duncan, Dominique Thorne, Danielle Deadwyler, and Sheryl Lee Ralph during the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: (L-R) Yo-Yo, Kandi Burruss, Cheryl James, Caroline A. Wanga, CEO, Essence Ventures and MC Lyte attend the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Essence marked this momentous occasion by highlighting “The Black Cinematic Universe” and honoring luminaries: director/screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood “The Woman King,” President of Onyx Collective Tara Duncan, actress Danielle Deadwyler “Till,” actress Dominique Thorne “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph “Abbott Elementary.”
Boris Kodjoe hosted the star-studded affair at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: Boris Kodjoe attends the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: (L-R) Quinta Brunson, Naturi Naughton, and Dominique Thorne attend the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Viola Davis, Yara Shahidi, Quinta Brunson, Chinonye Chukwu, Daniel Kaluuya, and Ryan Coogler served as presenters. Notable attendees from the film, television, fashion, and entertainment industry included Mayor Karen Bass, Storm Reid, Yara Shahidi, Marsai Martin, Larenz Tate, Beverly Johnson, Karrueche Tran, Teyana Taylor, Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Vivica A. Fox, Yaya DaCosta, Meagan Good, Amber Riley, Channing Dungey, Lisa Ann Walter, Pearl Thusi, Tristan Wilds, Danielle Pinnock, Brandee Evans, Naturi Naughton and more.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: (L-R) Quinta Brunson and honoree Sheryl Lee Ralph pose with an award during the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
In addition, Essence is bringing back its fourth annual Essence Hollywood House, held on Friday, March 10. The Essence Hollywood House aims to provide compelling and engaging live content to spark meaningful conversation and action to drive more inclusion in Hollywood and give aspiring and established Black creatives an opportunity to educate, collaborate, and empower one another with a purpose. The experience sponsored by Coca-Cola™ and Prime Video will feature thought leaders, industry stakeholders, and creative community members, including actors, directors, writers, showrunners, studio heads, and others who will lead a curated schedule of interactive conversations, panels, masterclasses, fireside chats and more. Los Angeles-based attendees can register at: ESSENCE.com/HollywoodHouse, and access the event on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com.
For more information about “Time of ESSENCE,” the five-part docu-series coming soon to OWN, please visit ESSENCE.com/entertainment/own.
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