The 9th ANNUAL ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD LUNCHEON

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, DEBBIE ALLEN, NINA SHAW
HONORED AT 9th ANNUAL ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD LUNCHEON

  
February 26, 2016 (New York, NY) – ESSENCE, the preeminent brand for African-American women, proudly honored remarkable moments and performers in film and television at yesterday’s 9th annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon. Underscoring the spirit of diversity, 2016 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards were presented to Tracee Ellis Ross, Debbie Allen and Nina Shaw.

Known as one of Oscar week’s most exalted and star-studded events, the red carpet luncheon included celebrity appearances and guests such as Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock, Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Nate Parker, Meagan Good, Kelly Rowland, Tika Sumpter, Keke Palmer, Amber Riley, Serayah, Lala Anthony, Margaret Avery amongst others. Grammy-award nominated R&B singer Leon Bridges, performed “River” followed by a stirring rendition of “Brown Skin Girl.”

Powerhouse actress Tracee Ellis Ross was presented the Fierce & Fearless Award by her sister Rhonda Ross and Zendaya. Multi-talented producer, director and actress Debbie Allen was presented the Legend Award by Shonda Rhimes and entertainment attorney Nina Shaw was presented the Power Award by ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey and Nick Cannon brought to you by Lincoln. 

The ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon will be televised as an ESSENCE and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network special, airing on Saturday, February 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.

Alfre Woodard, Regina King, Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson, Zoe Saldana, Mary J. Blige, Gabourey Sidibe, Quvenzhané Wallis, Jurnee Smollett, RubyDee, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, Loretta Devine, Naomie Harris, Gabrielle Union, Mara BrockAkil, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ruth E. Carter, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Suzanne de Passe.

The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon was presented by The Lincoln Motor Company and sponsored by L’Oréal Paris, Colgate®OpticWhite®, Geico, Walmart and AT&T.

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS INC.

ESSENCE Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events and online. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women, generating brand extensions such as the ESSENCE Festival, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music, Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series, the ESSENCE Book Club, ESSENCE.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). 

For 45 years, ESSENCE, which has a brand reach of 14.2 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information and specific solutions relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at http://www.essence.com.