Gabrielle Union at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “The fact that I don’t care. I literally don’t try to be a slave to any trend or anyone’s opinion. I follow my own beat to my own drum and usually it works out.”
Pauletta Washington, Sherri Shepherd, Lynn Whitfield, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Anika Noni Rose attended ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Playwright and poet Ntozake Shange, author of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” was honored.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell and O the Oprah Magazine editor-at-large Gayle King at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Kerry Washington was honored at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Honoree Faith Ringold with one of the young ladies from Girls, Inc. at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
White House Senior Advisor Valerie B. Jarrett at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Procter and Gamble Vice-President Esi Eggleston Bracey was honored at the ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous Award Luncheon.
Brown University president Ruth Simmons was honored at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Anika Noni Rose was honored at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Handbag designer Gelila Assefa and the fabulous Pauletta Washington at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Wendy Williams with one of the young ladies from Girls Inc.
Actress Tessa Thompson, standing alongide one of the young ladies from Girls, Inc., was honored at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Sheryl Lee Ralph was honored at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
This year’s ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous award recipients pose with members of Girls, Inc. a non-profit organization targeting inner-city girls.
Actress Kerry Washington attended ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “Being part of a community of fierce Black women in my family, in my upbringing. I think we’re able to really mirror each other and support each other.”
TV Host LaLa Vazquez attended ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “I think having confidence makes you fierce and fabulous,” said Vazquez. “It has nothing to do with looks. It’s an inner appeal.”
Marjorie Harvey at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “I think its how you feel on the inside.”
Philanthropist Malaak Compton-Rock at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Malaak Compton-Rock at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actress Malinda Williams at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes a woman fierce and fabulous: “You have to know when and how to break the rules. Anybody who’s ever broken down a barrier has stepped out of line to do so.”
Actress Anika Noni Rose at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “I think that what makes me fierce and fabulous is my ability to keep getting up; to keep trying new things and to not limit myself to one place.”
Sisters Erica and Tina Campbell of gospel group Mary Mary at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “My confidence makes me fierce and fabulous,” said Campbell. “I know what I know and I know what I don’t know and I know that God is in control.”
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “I am a totally committed and passionate songwriter. I would never sing anything I don’t believe in. When I get on the stage I completely lose myself and when I’m writing songs I make sure it’s not just something that touches me but that can speak to the people that will be listening.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Sheryl Lee Ralph at ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
LaLa Vasquez and Gabrielle Union attended ESSENCE Magazine’s 40 Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
LaLa Vazquez and Gabrielle Union attended ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross hosted this year’s ESSENCE Magazine Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “I have no idea whether I’m fierce or fabulous, but I can tell you who I think is. Valerie Jarrett is fierce and fabulous, Desiree Rogers is fierce and fabulous. My mother [Diana Ross] is fierce and fabulous. I could go on…”
Actresses Kerry Washington and Anika Noni Rose at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actresses Kerry Washington and Anika Noni Rose at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson and Kerry Washington show off their ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous awards.
ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous award recipient DJ Beverly Bond at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous award recipient DJ Beverly Bond at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actress Tessa Thompson at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actress Tessa Thompson at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
White House Senior Advisor Jarrett was honored at ESSENCE’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Gabrielle Union share a laugh at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
ESSENCE Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor and actress Gabrielle Union congratulate Procter and Gamble Vice-President Esi Eggleston Bracey (left) at the ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous Award Luncheon.
ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous award recipient, actress Kerry Washington, poses with singer Estelle.
Estelle on what makes her fierce and fabulous: “I’m not afraid to be myself at any given moment, at any given time.”
Malinda Williams and Lynn Whitfield (right). Whitfield on what makes her fierce and fabulous: “My passion and gusto for life,” she said. “God is also really fierce.”
Model and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” castmate, Cynthia Bailey, attended ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
2010 ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous Award recipient, actress Kerry Washington with ESSENCE.com Managing Editor Emil Wilbekin.
Estelle and LaLa Vazquez share a moment during ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Motown Records President Sylvia Rhone (right) with Tracey Kimble at the ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actresses Tracee Ellis Ross laughed out loud at the ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City. Check out the shoes.
ESSENCE Relationships Editor Demetria L. Lucas looking chic at the Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Author, film maker and philanthropist Tonya Lewis Lee attended ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City. On what makes her fierce and fabulous: “The confidence I have that no matter what comes my way I will be able to figure out how to handle it.”
New York Governor David Patterson and Radio One Founder and Chairperson Cathy Hughes, at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous honoree, legendary actress Diahann Carroll (posing with Mikki Taylor), advised all fierce and fabulous women to ask themselves what they really wanted out of life. “If it is only success, readjust your thoughts,” she said.
Actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Wendy Williams smile for the camera at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City. How you doing?
ESSENCE Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor was all about fabulosity at the ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Actress Pauletta Washington at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Three times a lady. Tracee Ellis Ross and Gabrielle Union share a moment with ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Angela Burt-Murray at the Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Gospel’s Mary Mary and Wendy Williams at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City. The three ladies were honored for their artistic vision.
Sherri Shepherd, Marjorie Harvey and Malaak Compton-Rock at ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Governor David Patterson presented ESSENCE President Michelle Ebanks a New York State proclamation at the ESSENCE Magazine Fierce and Fabulous Luncheon.
Legendary model agent Bethann Hardison with supermodel Naomi Campbell at the ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous Luncheon in New York City.
This is what 40 looks like. “I’m very honored to be recognized. This award means a lot to me, to do something where my people recognize me," said Campbell on receiving the ESSENCE Fierce & Fabulous Award
F-I-E-R-C-E!!! Supermodel Naomi Campbell and ESSENCE Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor share a moment at the Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell shares a moment with a Girls, Inc. student at the ESSENCE Fierce and Fabulous Luncheon in New York City.
