Every now and then, we like to treat our readers to a cover filled with supreme sexiness from corner-to-corner. How could you forget, right?
To make your day, we revisit the “finest” moments in the history of ESSENCE magazine covers. Are you ready for the sexiest trip down memory lane, ever?
Of course we had to kick this list off right. And what better choice than the April ESSENCE cover from 2003 when we sought out some of the sexiest actors in the business? Say hello to the hot chocolate lineup, which included actors Morris Chestnut, Mekhi Phifer, Omar Epps, Don Cheadle, Mos Def, Dennis Haysbert, Gary Dourdan and Damon Wayans.
For the February 2002 issue of ESSENCE we asked steamy-hot stars Shemar Moore, Tyrese and Boris Kodjoe to share a cover and the result was this poster-worthy shot.
In February 1998 three sexy (shirtless!) models made your month. Remember these gorgeous guys? We can’t forget!
Model Tyson Beckford owned our 1996 August cover. He posed sans shirt and the collective sound of Black women’s hearts racing in unison could be heard across the country. It’s getting hot in here!
Black women didn’t know what to do when the February 2000 issue of ESSENCE arrived in their mailboxes with heartbreakers Blair Underwood, Mekhi Phifer and Morris Chestnut laid back and relaxed on the cover. It was a truly memorable moment.
Forever gorgeous actor Idris Elba graced the cover of ESSENCE for the very first time in August 2009 and, as expected, he took our breath away the moment he showed up wearing all-white and donned that super sexy smile.
In November 1999 sexy and soulful crooner D’Angelo starred on our cover while the singles from his debut album were blazing the charts.
For our August 2007 cover we asked NFL cuties Braylon Edwards, Dhani Jones and Kerry Rhodes to pose for the camera and the result was absolutely scrumptious!
Cover stars Lance Gross, Blair Underwood and Boris Kodjoe really stole the show in the October 2010 issue. Woh, oh wow!
Soul singer Maxwell (and his lovely ‘fro) showed up on the November cover in 1997.
Who remembers Terrence Howard’s steamy stare on the August 2005 cover of ESSENCE when his hit film Hustle & Flow was released? Who are we kidding; how could you forget?
Box office hunk Willl Smith posed to perfection on the cover of the July 1997 summer beauty issue. Oh Jada, we’ll be forever jealous!
TV fanatics rejoyced when NYPD Blue star Henry Simmons graced the cover of the November issue in 2000.
Jamie Foxx made a special appearance on the cover of ESSENCE’s August issue in 2006 and he looked so dapper we just melted. Another smooth cover we won’t soon forget.
Just when we thought Idris Elba couldn’t get any hotter, he went and donned another sexy suit for the November 2011 ESSENCE man issue cover and walked off the set with all our hearts.
November 1988 cover star Mario Van Peebles left his shirt but brought all of this sexiness to set instead.
Reggie Bush covered our February issue in 2010 and he had zero problems showing off a few of his best assets. Hot, hot chocolate anyone?
Terrence Howard’s second ESSENCE cover, in April 2007, featured the sultry actor once again making his signature swag look effortless.
In 2013, action movie star (and female fan favorite) Dwyane Johnson graced our August cover. And, as an added bonus, the bald and beautiful hunk brought along his signature smile too.
In November 2002 actor Denzel Washington posed for our cameras and the result was magnificient.
Don Cheadle exudes strength on the cover of our 2008 Hollywood Issue.
For the March 2013 issue Grammy host and rapper-turned-actor LL Cool J graced our cover and brought along his signature swag.
In 1986 our November cover guy was none other than debonair actor Denzel Washington. (It was the first of many starring moments with us!)
Say hello to our sizzling hot Billy Dee Williams cover from July 1976. We bet it was one hot summer!
In December 1988 Eddie Murphy posed for the ESSENCE cameras in his suit and tie.
For the April issue in 1990 Billy Dee Williams smoothed things out on our cover and it was an instant classic.
Singer and songwriter Babyface graced the cover of our August 1995 issue donning a smooth white suit. There was just something about that sultry stare.
Our November 1983 cover was just oozing with hotness. Hello, gorgeous!
In November 1996 Michael Jordan was our cover star. Recognize this classic Jordan pose?
In July 1994 Danny Glover sat before our cameras and posed for this sexy portrait.
In November 1994 Laurence Fishburne was our sexy cover star and he proved he didn’t need to take off his shirt to steal our hearts away.
