Check out ESSENCE’s first annual Style & Substance Awards in the October issue, available on newsstands now. See who our editors chose, and let us know who you think deserves a place on the coveted list.
1. AUDRA MCDONALD, 42: TONY AWARD–WINNING ACTRESS
2. ROBIN ROBERTS, 51: MORNING-TV MAVEN
3. SYBRINA FULTON, 46: ANTI–GUN VIOLENCE ACTIVIST
4. VIOLA DAVIS, 47: OSCAR-NOMINATED ACTRESS
5. MICHELLE OBAMA, 48: THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES
6. P&G: CORPORATE INITIATIVE
7. TYRA BANKS, 38: MEDIA MOGUL
8. TAMRON HALL, 42, MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY, 39, & GAYLE KING, 57: CONVERSATION STARTERS
9. DR. VALERIE MONTGOMERY RICE, 51: HEALTH ADVOCATE
10. TAMERA MOWRY-HOUSELY, 34, & TIA MOWRY-HARDRICT, 34: ACTRESSES AND REALITY TV STARS
11. JUNE AMBROSE, 41: FASHION TRENDSETTER
12. PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER, 66: POLITICAL LEADER
13. GABRIELLE “GABBY” DOUGLAS, 16: OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER, GYMNASTICS
14. JANELLE MONÁE, 26: POP DIVA
15. JUDY SMITH, 48, KERRY WASHINGTON, 35, & SHONDA RHIMES, 42: DRAMATIC TV ICONS
16. GABI GREGG, 26: STYLE BLOGGER
17. LET’S STAY TOGETHER: TV SERIES
18. QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS, 8: INDEPENDENT FILM STAR
19. IVAN BART, 48, & KYLE HAGLER, 38: MODEL MAVERICKS
20. KAMALA D. HARRIS, 48: POLITICAL ACTIVIST
21. ISSA RAE, 27: WEB SERIES CREATOR
22. DIANE LATIKER, 55: COMMUNITY LEADER
23. JADE SIMMONS, 34: CLASSICAL MUSICIAN
24. TONI CAREY, 28, & ASHLEY HICKS, 29: FITNESS GURUS
25. MISTY COPELAND, 30: BALLET SOLOIST