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Home • ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood

All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards

Ten years in and the magic is still happening. Take a look at all the unforgettable moments from ESSENCE's 10th annual Black Women in Hollywood event. Here's how it all went down...
By Christina Coleman · Updated October 26, 2020
01
Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi, Janelle Monae and Isse Rae
Honorees Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi, Janelle Monae and Isse Rae give us life at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
02
Gabrielle Union and Tracee Ellis Ross
Gabrielle Union and Tracee Ellis Ross take a flawless photo at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
03
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo arrives in style at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
04
Keri and Yara Shahidi
Keri Shahidi gazes like a proud mama at daughter Yara Shahidi at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
05
Loni Love and Danielle Brooks
Loni Love and Danielle Brooks take selfies at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
06
Aja Naomi King
Aja Naomi King commands the room at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
07
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae is poised and elegant at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
08
Tracee Ellis Ross and Tina Knowles
Tracee Ellis Ross and Tina Knowles pose for a pic at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
09
Cynthia Erivo and June Ambrose
Cynthia Erivo and June Ambrose chat it up at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
10
Vanessa Simmons and Common
Vanessa Simmons and Common pose for a pic at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
11
Alfre Woodard
Alfre Woodard arrives in style at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
12
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is all smiles at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
13
An Inside Look
The Colgate Optic White Photo Booth is ready for bright smiles at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
14
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi flashes her gorgeous smile at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
15
Vicky Jeudy
Vicky Jeudy looks like Hollywood royalty at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
16
An Inside Look
The latest issue of ESSENCE, featuring Ava DuVernay, on display in the lounge at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
17
Issa Rae
Issa Rae can’t contain her joy at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
18
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett simply slays at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
19
Adrienne C. Moore
Adrienne C. Moore is pretty in pink at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
20
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae takes in the night at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
21
An Inside Look
Goodies displayed on the dining tables at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
22
Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen gets ready for her closeup backstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
23
Aja Naomi King and Viola Davis
Aja Naomi King poses with the one and only Viola Davis at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
24
Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Amirah Vann
“Underground” stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Amirah Vann pose for a pic at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
25
Gabrielle Union and Pharrell Williams
Gabrielle Union and Pharrell Williams chat backstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
26
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi takes in an evening of elegance at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
27
Logan Browning
Logan Browning is posing pretty at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
28
Gabrielle Union and Aja Naomi King
Gabrielle Union and Aja Naomi King embrace on stage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
29
Vanessa K. De Luca
ESSENCE Editor-In-Chief Vanessa K. De Luca gives an inspiring speech at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
30
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union hosts the evening at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
31
Holly Robinson Peete and Issa Rae
Holly Robinson Peete and Issa Rae smile for a photo at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
32
Janelle Monae, Angela Bassett and Jurnee Smollett-Bell
Janelle Monae, Angela Bassett and Jurnee Smollett-Bell stun at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
33
An Inside Look
Coca Cola cocktails were on deck at the bar at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
34
Aja Naomi King
Aja Naomi King accepts the ‘Lincoln Shining Star Award’ onstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
35
Kofi Siriboe and Common
Kofi Siriboe and Common chop it up at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
36
Aja Naomi King
Aja Naomi King tears up at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
37
An Inside Look
The stunning decor the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for ESSENCE
38
Aja Naomi King and Laverne Cox
Aja Naomi King and Laverne Cox are camera ready at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
39
An Inside Look
The AT&T Recharge Bar saved many phones from dying during the night at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
40
Kofi Siriboe
Kofi Siriboe praises Black women at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
41
Shaun Robinson
Shaun Robinson strikes a pose at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
42
Holly Robinson Peete
Holly Robinson Peete is all smiles at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
43
An Inside Look
The beautiful table setting at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
44
Janelle Monae and Angela Bassett
Honoree Janelle Monae and Angela Bassett at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
45
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi celebrates with her little brothers Ehsan and Sayeed at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
46
Yara Shahidi and Tracee Ellis Ross
Yara Shahidi and Tracee Ellis Ross celebrate backstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
47
Tracee Ellis Ross speaks
Tracee Ellis Ross speaks speaks onstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
48
Yara Shahidi
Honoree Yara Shahidi accepts the ‘Generation Next’ award at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
49
Yara Shahidi and Tracee Ellis Ross
Yara Shahidi and Tracee Ellis Ross hug after Yara accepts her award at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
50
Issa Rae and Debbie Allen
Issa Rae and Debbie Allen take selfies backstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
51
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae accepts the ‘Breakthrough Award’ at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
52
Issa Rae, Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi and Janelle Monae
Honorees Issa Rae, Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi and Janelle Monae celebrate at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
53
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams speaks onstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
54
Issa Rae
Honoree Issa Rae proudly poses with her ‘Vanguard Award’ at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
55
Issa Rae, Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi and Janelle Monae
Issa Rae, Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi and Janelle Monae share in a moment of black sisterhood at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
56
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo performs onstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
57
Michelle Ebanks
President of Essence Communications Michelle Ebanks speaks onstage at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
58
Debbie Allen and Issa Rae
Debbie Allen presents the ‘Vanguard Award’ to honoree Issa Rae at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
59
An Inside Look
The room filled with black excellence at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
60
Issa Rae
Issa Rae accepts her award at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
61
Yvonne Orji and Yara Shahidi
Yvonne Orji and honoree Yara Shahidi at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
62
Common and Teyonah Parris
Common and Teyonah Parris take pics at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
63
Black Beauties
Cynthia Erivo, Vicky Jeudy, Samira Wiley, Kelly McCreary, Aja Naomi King, Adrienne C. Moore, and Danielle Brooks take a group pic at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
64
Teyonah Parris and Vanessa K. De Luca
Teyonah Parris and ESSENCE Editor in Chief Vanessa K. De Luca pose pretty at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for Essence
65
Danielle Truitt
Danielle Truitt exudes elegance at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
66
Loretta Devine
Loretta Devine floats in upon arrival at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
67
June Ambrose and Vanessa Simmons
June Ambrose and Vanessa Simmons have some fun in the Colgate photo booth at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence
68
Issa Rae, Aja Naomi King, Yara Shahidi and Janelle Monae
The four honrees embrace at the end of an amazing night at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence
69
Black Excellence
Vanessa K. De Luca, Quvenzhane Wallis, Yara Shahidi, Aja Naomi King, Danielle Brooks, Shonda Rhimes, Vicky Jeudy, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Tracee Ellis Ross, President of Essence Communications Michelle Ebanks, Issa Rae, Janelle Monae, Angela Bassett, Diahann Carroll, Alfre Woodard and Loretta Devine take an epic group photo at the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel.
All Of The Must-See Moments From ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence