The Star-Studded Red Carpet Event and ESSENCE Hollywood House Will Take Place on March 9-10 in Los Angeles

ESSENCE, the leading and only 100% Black-owned media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities, today announced the honorees for the 16th annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. The star-studded event honors Black women who are making their undeniable mark in film and television and forging forward their own definition of what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood. The brilliance of modern-day entertainment unequivocally shines brighter because of the tremendous impact of Black women who continue to move the needle.

On Thursday, March 9, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA, ESSENCE will mark this momentous occasion honoring luminaries: executive Tara Duncan (President, Freeform and Onyx Collective), director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), SAG, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice and NAACP-nominated actress Danielle Deadwyler (Till), actress Dominique Thorne (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), and Emmy-Winning Actress & Activist Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary). This year’s ceremony will include awards presented by actress & producer Yara Shahidi and producer and director Chinonye Chukwu. Additional talent to be announced soon.

The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, sponsored by Coca-Cola™ and Netflix’s Queen Charlotte will be available on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com.

“For more than a decade and a half, ESSENCE has championed the Black Women in Hollywood Awards to commemorate the Black women who are the story makers, storytellers, story-doers, and story-sharers that cultivate the entertainment ecosystem that the world cherishes and loves deeply. We are privileged to have this sacred platform that illuminates the on-going accomplishments of Black women at our annual luncheon in its 16th year since inception. Whether the world acknowledges it or not, Black women are the CEOs of home, culture and community and because of that role, when you engage with her, you engage with the Black community as a whole,” said Caroline Wanga, President and CEO of Essence Ventures, LLC.

Fans will receive exclusive access to the red carpet, interviews with the honorees and attendees and Black Women in Hollywood Awards ceremony via livestream on ESSENCE.com starting at 11 AM PT.

Over the last 16 years, Black Women in Hollywood has grown from an exclusive luncheon for 400 guests, to an oasis of sisterhood and a safe space for Black women to fully see, hear and embrace one another. ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards is an annual celebration that honors pioneering and immensely talented Black women in Hollywood – both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. It is a love letter of sincere reverence, camaraderie and celebration to each woman and those who aspire to be like them.

In addition, ESSENCE is bringing back its fourth annual ESSENCE Hollywood House, which will be held on Friday, March 10th. ESSENCE Hollywood House was developed to provide compelling and engaging live content aimed at sparking meaningful conversation and action to drive more inclusion in Hollywood, as well as to provide an opportunity for Black creatives—aspiring and established—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 members of the creative community 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 the event will be featured on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com.

For more details on the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, visit ESSENCE.com/BlackWomeninHollywood. ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood and ESSENCE Hollywood House are produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

For press credentials for the 16th annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards please email essenceRSVP@ledecompany.com.

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Essence Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand's multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

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