Red Carpet Rundown: 18th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards

Continuing a decades-old promise of loving Black women deeply, entertainment legends, icons, and rising stars gathered at the 18th annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood® Awards, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, hosted by producer and star of Prime Video’s Cross, Aldis Hodge, celebrating the women who are transforming the television and film industry with their stories, impact and undeniable influence.

This year’s slate of coveted honorees included:

Cynthia Erivo, Emmy, GRAMMY, Tony winner, and 3x Oscar-nominated actress and singer
Teyana Taylor, Multifaceted, award-winning actress, singer, and creative lead
Marla Gibbs, Industry veteran, Emmy-nominated actress, producer, and writer
Raamla Mohamed, Emmy-nominated creator, writer, and executive producer of Reasonable Doubt

Here’s a glimpse of can’t miss moments from the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood® Awards:

The star-studded event opened with surprise remarks from political correspondent Joy Reid, who emphasized the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in storytelling and across society.
Each honoree received heartfelt presentations that highlighted the depth of their careers in the entertainment industry, featuring remarks from Issa Rae (honoring Raamla Mohamed), Niecy Nash-Betts (honoring Teyana Taylor), Keke Palmer (honoring Cynthia Erivo), and Tichina Arnold (honoring Marla Gibbs).
Tyra Banks was awarded the inaugural ESSENCE Luminary Spotlight, recognizing her journey of resilience, longevity, and significant impact on the industry. She addressed her commitment to evolving and creating new opportunities to expand visual storytelling for Black women.
In a poignant tribute to those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, Jotaka Eaddy, Founder of Win With Black Women, took the stage for a powerful moment of reflection and perseverance, honoring the community and celebrating the strength of Altadena and Pasadena.
Apple TV+’s highly anticipated Number One on the Call Sheet debuted the trailer of the two-part documentary, featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest stars revealing their journeys to game-changing leading.

The event drew a constellation of notable celebrities, from esteemed actors and directors to music moguls and fashion icons, including:

Taraji P. Henson, Oscar-Nominated Actress, Entrepreneur, Author
Zoë Kravitz, Actress, Director, Filmmaker
Tyla, Grammy Award-Winning Singer
Lori Harvey, Model, Actress, and Entrepreneur
Natasha Rothwell, Actress and Producer
Storm Reid, Actress and Producer
Laverne Cox, Actress and Activist
Coco Jones, Singer
Meagan Good, Actress
Tia Mowry, Actress and Entrepreneur
Jodie Turner-Smith, Actress
Marsai Martin, Award-Winning Actress
Danielle Brooks, Academy Award-nominated actress, Grammy Award Winner
Muni Long, Singer and Songwriter
Skai Jackson, Actress
Anthony Anderson, Emmy-nominated Actor, Comedian
And many more!

Sidenote: Some of you that are advid readers from when I first started my blog, may remember

my longtime photographer Robin Marshall(with the platinum blonde short haircut). She moved to Los Angeles a few years ago and now she covers all the glamourous red carpets out in Hollywood! She shot most of these amazing photos on the red carpet! I’m so proud of her, she is doing so well! More inside…