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Home • Culture

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016

In a digital universe of constant movement and change, photographs still prove to leave a lasting effect on our perspective and our worldview.  Through images, we are able to connect to people and experiences — locally and oceans away — while using the medium to tell our own stories and capture our own realities. And in 2016, we had no shortage of riveting, iconic, harrowing and beautiful images that shocked the world, made us think and inspired change. From the election that rocked the nation, to the Olympics and beyond, we’ve rounded up the top photos of 2016.
By Christina Coleman · Updated October 26, 2020
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01
The Obamas in Love

We love this playful moment between The President and First Lady

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
AP Photo
02
Freedom, Freedom

Beyonce completely owns the stage while performing her song Freedom at the BET Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for BET
03
Jump for Joy

Bronze medalist Kristi Castlin, gold medalist Brianna Rollins and silver medalist Nia Ali of the United States leap for joy at the Rio Olympics.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Cameron Spencer/2016 Getty Images
04
Post Election Dismay

A protester wearing an American flag faces police during an anti-Trump protest in Oakland, California.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Getty Images
05
The Kiss of The Year

Drake leans in for a kiss from Rihanna and proclaiming his love for her onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV.com
06
The African Street Style Festival
This colorful bunch did it big at The African Street Style Festival 2016 in London.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Tia Simon-Campbell
07
Obama in Greece
Obama traveled to Athens Greece during his last international trip as President. **tears**
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI
08
The “Moshoodat” Breast Cancer Series

“Ubuntu: I am what I am because of who we all are.” Model: Ericka Hart

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Island Boi Photography
09
Standing Up in Baton Rouge

A woman stands her ground peacefully as a group of police officers in riot gear try to apprehend her during a peaceful protest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman
10
New York Fashion Week, SS/17

Stylish women were spotted serving a message on the streets of NYC during New York Fashion Week, SS/17.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Emily Malan Photography
11
Howard Homecoming
Students and alumni gathered at the Mecca for another year’s epic homecoming
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Patrick Melon
12
The Fastest Man on Earth

Usain Bolt competes in the Men’s 100 meter semifinal on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
13
Oprah and Michelle Obama
Can they please be best friends and do everything together?!
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
NurPhoto via Getty Images
14
COURTNEY B. VANCE

Courtney B. Vance shouts out his wife Angela Bassett after winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series at the Critic’s Choice Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Image Group LA/ABC via Getty Images
15
Ciara
Ciara caught killing it at ESSENCE Festival 2016
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Greg Noire
16
The Harveys and The Obamas
The Harveys and The Obamas take the most epic holiday pic ever!
The Obamas and The Harveys, Viola Davis and More Celebs Out and About
@marjore_harvey/ instagram
17
Simone Biles

Superwoman Simone Biles tumbles through the air on the balance beam during the Women’s Individual All Around Final at the Olympics.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
18
ESSENCE Festival Durban

We can’t get over the beauty and culture seen at ESSENCE Festival Durban!

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Trevor Stuurman
19
Ciara

Ciara is infamous for her effortless beauty looks, sun kissed hair and model-worthy bone structure. 

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Michael Stewart
20
2016: A Fabulous Diva Demands The Stage
Mariah Carey had the whole audience singing along as she hit the ESSENCE Festival stage for the very first time in 2016 to run through her extensive catalog of hits while dazzling the crowd with several outfit changes.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
@MichaelRowePhotography
21
Pretoria Student Protest

Students protest a racist hair rule at a school in Pretoria, South Africa.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Twitter
22
Barack and Michelle

The First Couple looks so good here that it hurts!

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
23
AFROPUNK

This pair gave us major #couplesgoals at the 2016 AFROPUNK Festival in Brooklyn.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Denisse Benitez
24
Standing Up in Baton Rouge

Protestors take a stand after the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Patrick Melon
25
Dancers After Dark

A shot from the gorgeous book Dancers After Dark by Jordan Matter.

 

1:05 a.m Washington Heights, New York, NY

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Jordan Matter
26
Justice for North Dakota

Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Scott Olson/Getty Images
27
South African Realness

We can’t get over the beauty and culture seen at ESSENCE Festival Durban!

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Trevor Stuurman
28
Maria, Maria

Maria Borges shows some love as she walks the runway during the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Paris.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Taylor Hill/WireImage
29
Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson slayed this look at The 47th NAACP Image Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Backstage Creations
30
The Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Diana Ross.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Alex Wong/Getty Images
31
An Unlikely Meeting

Barack Obama shakes hands with Donald Trump after the election results, as a watchful Martin Luther King bust sits by Trump.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Win McNamee/Getty Images
32
Winnie Harlow

Winnie Harlow slays the red carpet at The Fashion Awards 2016 in London.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Karwai Tang/WireImage
33
Viola Davis

Viola Davis gets emotional during her acceptance speech at the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Jerod Harris
34
Victory at Standing Rock

Protestors celebrate the cease of the Dakota Pipeline dig.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Scott Olson/Getty Images
35
Ellen Gets Teary

Ellen Degeneres tears up as President Obama awards her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Alex Wong/Getty Images
36
The Tribe Returns

Q-Tip attends “They Got It From Here” Album Premiere Event for A Tribe Called Quest at MoMA PS.1  in NYC, their first album in 20 years.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
37
Natural Gang

Maria Borges,Jourdana Phillips and Herieth Paul pose prior the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
38
Kanye West

Ye performs onstage in Inglewood, CA.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
39
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

Beauty Jasmine Tookes sported this year’s million dollar bra.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
40
Tiny But Strong

We love this photo of Michelle Obama with Olympic Medalist Simone Biles.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Alex Wong/Getty Images
41
Zendaya

Zendaya heats up the southern shores of Italy while shooting a Dolce & Gabanna campaign.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Jacopo Raule/GC Images
42
For The Purple One

Purple confetti falls as “Purple Rain” plays to close out the Prince Official Tribute concert at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota .

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP/Getty Images
43
Hugging it Out

Barack Obama watches first lady Michelle Obama embracing former president George Bush, accompanied by his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, while participating in the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Astrid Riecken
44
Bey and Jay

Still drunk in love.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Larry Busacca/PW
45
Riri for the Win

Rihanna showed her latest FENTY x PUMA collection during Paris Fashion Week.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Fenty x Puma
46
Solange

We’ve been dying over Solo all year long and her Saturday Night Live performance was no exception.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
47
Beyonce

Beyonce takes one last look during her Final Peformance of “The Formation World Tour.”

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Larry Busacca/PW
48
Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga and David Oyelowo

We’re loving all this melanin at the premiere of Disney’s Queen Of Katwe.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Todd Williamson/Getty Images
49
The National Museum of African American History and Culture

A statue depicting USA track and field athletes Tommie Smith, C, and John Carlos, R, as they raised gloved fists during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics is housed in the Sports Galleries at the NMAAHC.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images
50
Poetry in Motion

Alvin Ailey dancers perform during Taking The Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changes America, a star-studded special commemorating the opening of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Fred Watkins/ABC via Getty Images
51
Don’t Shoot.

A protester holds up her handsduring a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
52
Yeezy Season 4

The most talked about presentation during New York Fashion week took place at Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island. The celeb attendees and fainting/stumbling models made for quite the show.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 4
53
Uzo Aduba
Best smile for the win!
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Christopher Polk
54
The Finish Line

Somaya Bousaid of Tunesia wins the Women’s 1500m T13 Final during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Helene Wiesenhaan/Getty Images
55
Mommy and Me

Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter float on their way to the MTV Video Music Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Noam Galai/MTV1617/Getty Images for MTV
56
North West

Little North gives the cameras a rarely spotted smile and our hearts are melting.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Robert Kamau/GC Images
57
Unrest in Charlotte

Police officers face off with protesters on the highwa during protests in the early hours of September 21, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The protests begand after he fatal shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
58
Going for Gold

Mohamed Farah of Great Britain reacts after winning gold in the Men’s 5000 meter Final on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Ian Walton/2016 Getty Images
59
New York Fashion Week

Al Malonga and Ayana Hipps attend New York Fashion Week Fall 2016.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Hannan Saleh
60
Black Girl Magic in Paris

Ogo Offodile during Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture F/W 2016/2017.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
61
The Flood in Baton Rouge

Evacuees take advantage of the shelter setup in the The Baton Rouge River Center arena as the area deals with the record flooding that took place causing thousands of people to seek temporary shelters .

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Joe Raedle/2016 Getty Images
62
The Obamas in Cuba

President Obama greets local people in Old Havana.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
@petesouza
63
Grance Jones

Grace Jones serves the people at the FYF Fest in California.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Paul R. Giunta/FilmMagic
64
Ibtihaj Muhammad

Ibtihaj Muhammad of the United States reacts during a match with Sofya Velikaya of Russia during the Women’s Sabre Team Semifinals at th Rio Olympics.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Tom Pennington/2016 Getty Images
65
FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs shut it down on stage at the Budweiser Made in America Festival in Philadelphia.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
PHOBYMO Photography
66
Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt poses with fans on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Ryan Pierse/2016 Getty Images
67
Simone Manuel

Simone Manuel’s face was pricelss when she won gold in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Adam Pretty/Getty Images
68
Dej Loaf

Dej Loaf makes a statement at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
69
Rolling Deep

The First Lady Michelle Obama and Missy Elliott join James Corden for Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
CBS via Getty Images
70
Black Lives Matter

Enough said.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images
71
Stop the Violence

Dallas Police Chief David Brown pauses at a prayer vigil following the deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march n Dallas, Texas.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
72
Jesse Williams

We all realized how woke Jesse Williams was this year at the 2016 BET Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for BET
73
Lebron’s Big Win

LeBron James and Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
74
The Obamas in Cuba

The Obama ladies share a special moment at La Catedral de la Virgen Maria de la Concepcion Inmaculada in Old Havana.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
@petesouza
75
Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson

The funniest TV couple out there took to the stage at the BET awards.

 

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for BET
76
Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae arrives in stylen at the Nordic State Dinner at the White House.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Alex Wong/Getty Images
77
Hillary Clinton
That is one “nasty” woman <3
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
78
Willow and Jaden Smith
The coolest siblings on the planet at the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” Costume Institute Gala.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
79
Prayers in Baton Rouge

Locals and family react to the shooting of Alton Sterling by police.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Mark Wallheiser
80
Tika Sumpter, Zendaya and Aja Naomi King
Tika Sumpter, Zendaya and Aja Naomi King have a black girl magic moment at Glamour’s Game Changers Lunch.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
81
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

Gabby an Dwyane gave serious #couplesgoals.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Raymond Hall/GC Images
82
Love Wins

 A rainbow-colored fist in honour of those slain in the gay nightclub Orlando shootings, the worst terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
83
Kendrick Lamar

Nothing like a woke Kendrick Lamar show, this time during The 58th GRAMMY Awards.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Larry Busacca/2016 Getty Images
84
Bird’s Eye

An aeriel view of the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium in Brazil.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
85
Taking over NYC

Kanye soaks in the moment at the Yeezy Season 3 in New York City.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3
86
POTUS

President Obama channels his inner kid while blowing bubbles from a bubble wand made with a 3D printer by nine-year old Jacob Leggette while touring exhibits at the White House Science Fair.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Win McNamee/Getty Images
87
February 7 – Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show
The Super Bowl performance that sent racists into a tizzy, the singer paid homage to the Black Panthers and gave us the blackest Super Bowl halftime we’ve ever seen.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Ezra Shaw/2016 Getty Images
88
Black Excellence
Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, Loretta Devine, Tika Sumpter, and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the 47th NAACP Image Awards.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
89
Laughter is the New Black
Uzo Aduba and her Orange is the New Black costars crack up backstage at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Gala.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for People Magazine
90
Stephen Curry
Steph mid air after making a shot against the San Antonio Spurs.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
91
Winning Shot
Gael Monfils of France dives for a forehand in his fourth round match against Andrey Kuznestov of Russia during day eight of the 2016 Australian Open
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
92
Barack in Tears
President Obama sheds a tear of frustration and sadness due to gun violence.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Chip Somodevilla/2016 Getty Images
93
Danielle Brooks
Danielle flaunts her curves on the Christian Siriano x Lane Bryant runway.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
94
RIP Prince
Fans mourn then the day of the death of superstar Prince outside the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
95
Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks
Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks celebrate 100 Performances at “The Color Purple” on Broadway.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
96
The NMAAHC
A stunning view of the brand new National Museum of African American History and Culture.
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images
97
Water Crisis Continues

Zariah Garner, age 9, rests on a stack of water as national guard members and civilians carry cases to vehicles Flint, Michigan.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Brett Carlsen
98
Victory
Lawrence Erekosima #43 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game
ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
Harry How/Getty Images
99
ESSENCE Fest Photo Booth
The cast of Queen Sugar stopped by the ESSENCE photo booth at ESSENCE Festival 2016.
See Who Stopped By the ESSENCE Festival Photo Booth This Weekend!
Michael Rowe
100
Zimbabwe on Fire

Protestors set up a burning barricade as they clash with police during a protest for electoral reforms, in Harare Zimbabwe.

ESSENCE Year in Review: 100 Photos We Loved in 2016
ZINYANGE AUNTONY
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