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Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016

It's been a roller coaster of a year, but one thing that's never wavered is our love of amazing celebrities who remind us that black is beautiful. This year, wonderful men and women like President Barack and Michelle Obama, Gabrielle Union, Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, and Maxwell graced the cover of our magazine. So, to celebrate, here's every ESSENCE cover from 2016.
By Joslyn Winkfield ·
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
01
January 2016

Lupita Nyong’o kicked off 2016 with an ESSENCE cover.

Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
GREG LOTUS
02
January 2016

“After 12 Years a Slave and the quote-unquote meteoric rise, I felt like there was a moment where I was suffering from whiplash. I had talked so much about who I was that I’d forgotten who I was,” Lupita told ESSENCE for her January 2016 cover.

Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
GREG LOTUS
03
January 2016
Lupita Nyong’o
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
GREG LOTUS
04
January 2016
Lupita Nyong’o
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
GREG LOTUS
05
January 2016
Lupita Nyong’o
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
GREG LOTUS
06
February 2016
Yara Shahidi
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
07
February 2016
Teyonah Parris
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
08
February 2016
Johnetta Elzie
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
09
February 2016
Yara Shahidi
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
10
February 2016
Teyonah Parris
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
11
February 2016
Johnetta Elzie
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
12
February 2016
Johnetta Elize, Teyonah Parris and Yara Shahidi
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
13
March 2016
Chris Rock
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
14
March 2016
Chris Rock
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
15
March 2016
Chris Rock
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
16
Chris Rock
Rock earned a Grammy nom for Best Comedy Album.
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
17
April 2016
Audra McDonald
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
18
April 2016
Audra McDonald
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
19
April 2016
Audra McDonald
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
20
April 2016
Audra McDonald
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
21
April 2016
Audra McDonald
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
22
May 2016
Ciara
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
23
May 2016
Ciara
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
24
May 2016
Ciara
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
25
May 2016
Ciara
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
26
May 2016
May 2016
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
DENNIS LEUPOLD
27
June 2016
Andra Day
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
28
June 2016
Andra Day
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
29
June 2016
Andra Day
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
30
June 2016
Andra Day
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Nino Munoz
31
July 2016
Maxwell
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
32
July 2016
Maxwell
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
33
July 2016
Maxwell
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
34
July 2016
Omari Hardwick
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
35
July 2016
Omari Hardwick
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
36
July 2016
Omari Hardwick
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
37
August 2016
Zendaya
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
38
August 2016
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
39
August 2016
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
40
August 2016
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Warwick Saint
41
September 2016
Uzo Aduba
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
42
September 2016
Uzo Aduba
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
43
September 2016
Uzo Aduba
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
44
September 2016
Uzo Aduba
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
45
October 2016
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston
46
October 2016
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston
47
October 2016
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston
48
November 2016
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
49
November 2016
Gabrielle Union
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
50
November 2016
Gabrielle Union
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
51
November 2016
Gabrielle Union
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
52
November 2016
Gabrielle Union
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Dennis Leupold
53
December 2016
Viola Davis and Denzel Washington
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston
54
December 2016
Viola Davis and Denzel Washington
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston
55
December 2016
Viola Davis
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston
56
December 2016
Denzel Washington
Black Excellence: A Year Of ESSENCE Covers In 2016
Kwaku Alston