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Home · Celebrity

ESSENCE's Year in Pictures

Every year is filled with indelible images — and 2012 was no different, with so many moments captured on camera that help us reflect on the past 12 months of Black life and culture. As we gear up to say "over and out" to 2012, ESSENCE.com takes a look back at the year in pictures.
By Michael Rowe and Myeisha Essex · Updated October 28, 2020
01
Gabby Douglas Soars into Olympic History

Gabby Douglas was the standout star from the Summer Olympics in London. The 16-year-old gymnast won a gold medal in the team all-around competition, and then made history by becoming the first African-American to win gold in the women’s individual all-around finals in August.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
THOMAS COEX/AFP/GettyImages
02
Barack Obama is Re-Elected
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama with Malia and Sasha
ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
03
Trayvon Martin’s Parents Mourn His Death
Tracy and Sybrina Fulton
ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
04
Baby Blue Ivy Makes Her Debut

Superstar Beyonce and music mogul Jay-Z welcomed their first child into the world on January 7. The proud mommy was all smiles when she debuted her bundle of joy, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, in a picture on her Tumblr page in February.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Beyonce Online
05
Whitney Houston Laid to Rest

The coffin holding the remains of singer Whitney Houston is carried to a hearse after funeral services at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. in February.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
06
Ledisi Shows Off Her Dancing Feet

Ledisi shined onstage during her Saturday night performance at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Rowe
07
The Obamas Pause for a Hug

President Barack Obama embraced First Lady Michelle Obama after she introduced him at a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa on November 2nd. The commander-in-chief shared this moment again after his re-election victory to his Twitter followers with the caption, “Four more years.”

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages
08
Halle Berry Gets Slimed

Not even Halle Berry was safe from the green goop at Nickelodeon’s 25th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards. The Oscar-winning actress got slimed at the event in April.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Christopher Polk/KCA2012/Getty Images for KCA
09
Robin Roberts Prepares for Surgery

Robin Roberts, with Diane Sawyer and her sister Sally-Ann Roberts, announced she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as pre-leukemia, on Good Morning America. The morning show host revealed her plans to undergo chemo and a bone marrow transplant as “pretreatment” for the disease, and that her sister would be the sole donor in June. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Photo Credit: AP Photo/ABC, Ida Mae Astute
10
Jennifer Hudson Honors Whitney Houston

Jennifer Hudson performed “I Will Always Love You” as a touching tribute to the late Whitney Houston at the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards in February.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
11
Oprah Interviews Bobbi Kristina Brown

Oprah Winfrey sat down with 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina Brown for her first one-on-one interview after the death of her mother Whitney Houston. The interview earned the OWN network its highest ratings with 3.5 million viewers in March.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
OWN
12
Beyonce’s Big Reveal

Beyonce stepped out for her first appearance after having daughter Blue Ivy Carter in a form-fitting, red dress. Only a month after giving birth, the new mother looked just as stunning as ever in Febuary.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Beyonce Online
13
Michelle Obama Dances with Ellen

The First Lady showed off her moves on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in February.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
14
Barack Obama Remembers Rosa Parks

President Barack Obama sat on the famed Rosa Parks bus at the Henry Ford Museum following an event in Dearborn, Michigan in April.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
15
‘In Living Color’ Cast Reunion

Kim Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Tommy Davidson, T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Kelly Coffield Park, Carrie Ann Inaba and Jim Carrey of In Living Color posed for a picture on Good Morning America prior to the 10th Annual TV Land Awards in April.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images
16
Viola Davis Goes Natural

Viola Davis debuts her natural hair on the cover of LA Times magazine in February. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
LA Times
17
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Share the Love

ESSENCE cover stars Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade celebrated the New Year together at the Remy V New Years Eve dinner at Vesper American Brasserie in Miami.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
18
Alek Wek Walks London Fashion Week

Alek Wek flaunted designs by Philip Treacy at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 in September. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
19
Estelle Guest Edits ESSENCE.com

The ESSENCE Music Festival artist took over ESSENCE.com as our special guest editor in June.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Rowe
20
Beyoncé Rocks the Revel Resort

Beyoncé rocked the Revel Resort & Casino stage in her first performance after giving birth to her daughter Blue Ivy in May.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Kevin Mazur /Wire Image
21
Nia Long Glows with Her New Baby Boy

Nia Long was all smiles when she was spotted out in Los Angeles with her new bundle of joy, Kez Sunday Udoka, in January.  

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
22
President Obama Poses with Students

President Barack Obama poses with students from the Daughter of Zion Junior Academy after a campaign rally at the Delray Beach Tennis Club in Florida this October. Check out the little boy planting a kiss on the girl in the back row.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
23
Savannah Brinson Shows Off Her Engagement Ring

Savannah Brinson, fiancee of LeBron James, posed for a picture with her engagement ring during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena in Miami in January.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
24
Grace Jones Shines on Stage

Grace Jones performed during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace in London. The star-studded, musical extravaganza came on the third of four days of celebrations to honor Queen Elizabeth II in June. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
25
Shonda Rhimes Gets Crowned

Shonda Rimes is the mastermind behind shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Private Practice. The screenwriter, director and producer was crowned by the president of Disney-ABC Television group Anne Sweeney at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon in February. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Rowe
26
Angela Bassett & Bishop T.D. Jakes Celebrate

Angela Bassett embraces Bishop T.D. Jakes during his 35 Years of Ministry Celebration in Dallas, Texas in June.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Cooper Neill/Getty Images For The Potter’s House
27
Serena Williams Jumps for Joy

Serena Williams jumped for joy as she advanced to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. She went on to win the US Open, Wimbledon and two gold medals in the Summer Olympics in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
28
Allyson Felix’s Golden Moment

Allyson Felix celebrated winning her gold medal in the Women’s 200m Final on day 12 of the Summer Olympic Games in August. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
29
Holly Robinson Peete Renews Her Wedding Vows

Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete re-exchanged their vows at The Empire State Building after 17 years of marriage in February. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
30
Idris Elba Arrives for State Dinner with UK Prime Minister

Idris Elba arrived for a state dinner in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron at the White House in March.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Bloomberg via Getty Images
31
Alicia Keys & Egypt’s Day at the Beach

Alicia Keys vacationed with her son Egypt in Hawaii in January. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
32
Octavia Spencer Wins Oscar

Octavia Spencer won the Best Supporting Actress Award for The Help during the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Febuary.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
33
Mariah Carey Shares Baby Love

Mariah Carey and little Moroccan and Monroe enjoyed bonding time in the pool in September. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Fresh Air Fund/WireImage
34
Rihanna Sizzles in Hawaii

Rihanna sizzled in the Hawaii surf as she showed off her red-hot body in May. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Splash News
35
Shemar Moore Has Fun in the Sun

Shemar Moore rode his a bike for the W South beach three-year anniversary in Miami Beach in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Aaron Davidson/Getty Images
36
Raven-Symoné Razzle Dazzles

Raven-Symoné made her Broadway debut in Sister Act in March. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Amanda Schwab/Startraksphoto.com
37
Barack Obama Lends a Shoulder

President Barack Obama comforted Hurricane Sandy victim Dana Vanzant as he visited a neighborhood in Brigantine, New Jersey in November. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
38
Introducing Dr. Aretha Franklin

ESSENCE Music Festival headliner Aretha Franklin received an honorary Doctorate of Music during Princeton University’s commencement in June.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
AP Photo/Mel Evan
39
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Renew Vows

Four years after secretly marrying, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon said “I do” all over again. The parents of twins Moroccan and Monroe Cannon renwed their vows at a ceremony in Paris in April. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
40
Black Hollywood Shines with Alfre Woodard

Hollywood A-Listers posed at the Grey Goose pre-Oscar dinner hosted by Alfre Woodard to honor African-American women in film in February. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Casey Rodgers/AP Images for Grey Goose
41
Chaka Khan Looks Great!

Chaka Khan showed off her 60-pound weight loss during a stellar performance at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Skip Bolen/Getty Images
42
President Obama Plants a Smooch

Barack Obama gave his wife Michelle a kiss during an exhibition game against Brazil at the Verizon Center in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images
43
Kelly Rowland Glows in Barcelona

Kelly Rowland shot a video with Project B for the song “Summer Dreaming 2012” in Barcelona, Spain in June. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Wenn
44
Cissy Houston Honors Whitney

Cissy Houston performed a tear-jerking tribute to her late daughter Whitney Houston during the 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles in July.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Buckner/ Getty Images
45
Usain’s a Bolt of Lightning

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won the gold at the Men’s 100m final during the London 2012 Olympics in August. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GettyImages
46
Tamera Mowry’s Bundle of Joy

Tamera Mowry showed off her baby bump with twin sister Tia at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards back in July. She gave birth to son Aden on November 12.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
47
Michelle Obama Wows at DNC

First Lady Michelle Obama electrified the crowd in Charlotte, North Carolina with her speech on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in September.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages
48
President Obama’s Proud Moment with Sasha & Malia
President Barack Obama and daughters Malia (L) and Sasha (R)
ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Pete Souza/White House Photo via Getty Images
49
Lionel Richie Poses with Muhammad Ali

Lionel Richie and Muhammad Ali posed for a picture backstage during Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XIII in Phoenix, Arizona in March. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Buckner/WireImage
50
Jennifer Hudson Works the Catwalk

Jennifer Hudson walked the runway at the Project Runway Spring 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City in September. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
51
The Ross’s Pose for a Family Photo

Diana Ross and her five children attended the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles this February. The legendary diva was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Kovac/WireImage
52
Solange & Juelz’s Play Date

Solange Knowles and her 8-year-old son, Juelz, had a good time at the Stella McCartney Spring 2012 presentation in New York City in June. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Lifetime
53
Jay-Z & Beyonce’s Obama Fundraiser

President Barack Obama chatted with Jay-Z and Beyonce at their fundraiser at the 40/40 club in New York City. The power couple raised more than $4 million for the President’s re-election campaign in September.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Beyonce Tumblr
54
D’Angelo’s Big Comeback

After being away from the music scene for almost 12 years, R&B singer D’Angelo made his big comeback as the headliner of the Friday night show at the ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael Rowe
55
Toni Morrison Receives High Honors

Toni Morrison laughed with President Barack Obama before she was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in May. The Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
56
Michelle Obama Congratulates Gabby

Olympic star Gabby Douglas had such a standout year that Michelle Obama had to congratulate her achievements. Here, the First Lady and two-time gold medalist high five during at chat with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show in August.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
57
Tameka Foster Mourns the Death of Her Son

Tameka Foster and Naviyd Raymond alongside the casket of her son Kile Glover after his funeral at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. Eleven-year-old Kile Glover was the son of Foster and Ryan Glover, and the stepson of Usher. Doctors removed Kile Glover from life support on July 21st. He was injured on July 6th at Lake Lanier when he was hit by a jet ski while swimming.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Butch Dill/ Getty Images
58
Prince Debuts New Look

Prince debuted a new song and new ‘fro during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in Septemeber.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
59
Will Smith Poses with Samba Dancers

Will Smith posed with Samba dancers during his Men in Black III photo call in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in February.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
60
Viola Davis Plants a Kiss

Viola Davis planted a kiss on her husband of nine years, Julius Tennon, as she left the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills in February.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
61
Beyoncé’s Show-Stopping Dress

Beyoncé Knowles looked stunning in the body-revealing gown by Givenchy that she wore to the “Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations” Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in May.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
62
Solange Graces Milan Fashion Week

Solange Knowles had an amazing year, and one of the things she’ll definitely be remembered for is her style. When is comes to fashion, the singer-songwriter is always winning — a great example is her look on the amfAR Milano red carpet during Milan Fashion Week at La Permanente in September. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Venturelli/Getty Images
63
Matt Kemp Shows Off Pearly Whites

Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers showed off his stunning smile on Jimmy Kimmel Live in June. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Karen Neal/ABC via Getty images
64
Kelly Rowland Honored at Black Women in Music

Kelly Rowland performed at the 3rd annual ESSENCE Black Women in Music event in Los Angeles. The event saluted the Grammy-nominated singer, as well as music industry veteran Sylvia Rhone in Febraury.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup
65
Will Smith Shows Fatherly Love

Will Smith gave his daughter Willow a kiss during the ‘The Next Ten Years In The Fight Against Human Trafficking: Attacking The Problem With The Right Tools’ committee hearing in Washington, DC in July. The Smith family has been active in their fight against human trafficking. In the September issue of ESSENCE, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed it was Willow who encouraged her to work to raise awareness against the cause.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Paul Morigi/WireImage
66
Barack and Michelle Obama Stun at US State Dinner

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama know how the show up to an event in style! The first couple walked into the North Portico of the White House before attending the state dinner in March. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Getty Images
67
Oprah Says Thank You

OWN and Oprah.com launched Oprah’s Thank You Game on Facebook to spread gratitude around the world in May. She wrote, “I’d like to thank Andre Walker, who for 27 years has nourished and taken care of my hair and is himself a beautiful person inside and out. Never a diva moment, not even a complaint, never late, and never missed a day of work in TWENTY SEVEN years!” 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
OWN
68
Halle Berry Takes Lunch Stroll with Nahla and Olivier

Halle Berry visited the Beverly HIlls Farmers Market after lunch at Fig & Olive with her 4-year-old daughter Nahla and fiance Olivier Martinez in August. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
x17online.com
69
The Obama’s Moment of Silence

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama participated in a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House to remember the September 11th terrorist attacks. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GettyImages
70
Kimora Lee Simmons’ Hits Fashion Week

Kimora Lee Simmons showed off her shoes during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City in September. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Michael N. Todaro/WireImage
71
President Obama Sheds Happy Tears

President Barack Obama wiped away tears as he thanked members of his campaign staff and volunteers after his re-election victory in November. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
AP
72
Kevin Hart Celebrates 33 Years

Kevin Hart blew out 33 candles! The comedian celebrated his birthday at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
73
Robin Roberts Stays Strong

About a month after her bone marrow transplant, Good Morning America host Robin Roberts returned to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with her sisters in Manhattan in October. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Doug Meszler / Splash News
74
Queen Latifah Vacays in St. Tropez

Queen Latifah struck a pose in her animal print kaftan with friends as they prepared to depart from Club 55 in St. Tropez in July. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Bauer Griffin
75
Serena & Venus Williams Make Gold Medal Duo

Serena Williams and Venus Williams celebrated on the podium after receiving gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the women’s doubles tennis tournament in Wimbledon in August. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages
76
Rihanna Stuns in Yellow Dress

Rihanna turned heads in a stunning yellow dress during a shooting for a Barbados tourism campaign on the east coast of the Caribbean island in August. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Splash News
77
Yolanda Adams & CeCe Winans Share Their Heavenly Voices

Yolanda Adams and CeCe Winans performed at the “We Will Always Love You: A GRAMMY Salute To Whitney Houston” at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in October. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
78
Kerry Washington Campaigns for President Obama

Kerry Washington had a good year with her hit show, Scandal, and she clearly knows the difference between real and fake politics. She scheduled time to hit the road with the Barack Obama campaign to encourage early voting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Larry Marano/WireImage
79
Alicia Keys On Fire

Alicia Keys performed “Girl on Fire” with special appearances by Nicki Minaj and Gabby Douglas at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in September.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Lester Cohen/WireImage
80
Bobbi Kristina Finds Love
Bobbi Kristina and Nick Gordon
ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Christopher Polk/WireImage
81
Frank Ocean’s Memorable Performance

Frank Ocean’s debut studio album Channel Orange quickly climbed the Billboard charts, and his performance of lead single “Thinking About You” at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards had everyone talking in September. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
82
President Obama Gives a Strong Performance

President Barack Obama was fired up at the second of three presidential debates against Republican nominee Mitt Romney in October.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
83
Solange Goes Straight

Solange Knowles looked stunning with silky, straight tresses at the American Ballet Theatre opening night at the New York City Center Gala in October.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
84
Tia Mowry Meets a New Friend

Tia Mowry made a new friend in Steimie, a 21-year-old bottlenose dolphin, during her visit to SeaWorld San Diego in October.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Mike Aguilera/ SeaWorld San Diego via Getty Images
85
Naomie Harris Shines at Premiere of ‘Skyfall’

Naomie Harris made a fashion statement at the Royal world premiere of Skyfall at Royal Albert Hall in London in October. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Mike Marsland/Wireimage
86
President Obama Casts His Vote
Barack Obama
ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
87
Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles Sit Courtside

Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles had fun courtside at the Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in November.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
James Devaney/FilmMagic
88
Stevie Wonder Sings at Get-Out-The-Vote Rally

Stevie Wonder warmed up the crowd during a campaign rally for President Barack Obama at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio in November. 

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
89
Michelle Obama Gets the Christmas Spirit

First Lady Michelle Obama was all smiles as she walked out to preview the White House Christmas decorations in November.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Photo by Olivier Douliery/ABACAUSA.com
90
Rihanna Takes Center Stage

Rihanna’s music, style and fun personailty keeps the world watching in fascination. Her awe-inspiring performance on The X-Factor Live results show in November was an example of her continuously-growing artistry.

ESSENCE’s Year in Pictures
Ken McKay/Thames/Rex/Rex USA
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