A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2017

There is so much to celebrate in 2017. From the growing number of Black actors taking home the highly-coveted Oscar award to the success of ground-breaking films about Black life, we know nothing (or no one) can stop us this year. With each cover, we do our best to honor those doing this immaculate work.

Take a look inside to see all of our wonderful cover stars like Oprah Winfrey, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monàe.

1 of 17 Kwaku Alston

On the heels of the premiere of their highly-anticipated HBO film, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Oprah Winfrey and Renée Elise Goldsberry tell us why its vitally important to revive the stories of unsung Black women.

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A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay carried her crown well for our Women’s History month issue. She spoke candidly about her inclusive approach to film, saying "I don't have to approach film like a man would, or like anybody else I read about, because it's personal. So there's no right way or wrong way. Directors talk about their process but that doesn't have to be my process."

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The success of their film Hidden Figures revived a long forgotten story about three Black female mathematicians who helped propel the first American man into orbit. Along the way Henson, Spencer and Monáe made a little history of their own topping the box office charts to become this year’s highest-grossing Black film. They proved to be the perfect trio for our annual 'Black Women in Hollywood' issue.

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Who says January has to be cold and dull? No way was that possible with this mother-daughter duo. These two were proof that hair goals are definitely inherited and fierceness is a key trait for every woman at any age.

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