Essence Communications Inc.

In this pivotal election, Black women everywhere could, for the first time, see a reflection of our grandmother’s dreams as Commander in Chief. This moment isn’t just about casting a ballot; it’s about claiming our space, our rights, and our future. That isn’t lost on Vice President Kamala Harris. She knows where she stands, firmly at the intersection of freedom and power. We’re not just voting; we’re shaping a legacy of freedom for generations to come. The stakes are high, but so is her spirit. In a very special Chief -to- Chief interview filmed at the 30th ESSENCE Festival of Culture, ESSENCE Ventures CEO and President Caroline Wanga sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss what inspired her to enter politics, her plans as President, and the potential impact of the upcoming election on everyone. This is our special, Collector’s Edition September / October subscriber cover. Read her cover story here: https://lnkd.in/eB-8TDCd

Dawn Richard, New Orleans’ daughter, is rising once more—but this time, on her own terms. With her new album, Quiet in a World Full of Noise, the genre-bending singer, songwriter, and producer invites us into a softer, more introspective chapter of her story. After years of navigating the music industry—from her early days with Danity Kane to her closure with Diddy—Dawn is no longer seeking validation. She’s found peace in stillness, power in vulnerability, and new strength in showing up exactly as she is, rooted in fertile ground. From the streets of New Orleans to global stages, Dawn’s voice has always carried weight. Now, it carries wisdom, too. And in this quiet, we hear her most clearly. In the newest “Of The ESSENCE,” Dawn Richard opens up about her roots in New Orleans, her longstanding relationship with fashion, and how both grit and joy led to her breaking through barriers. Read her full cover story here: https://lnkd.in/gS4e9ihA The Credits: Talent: @dawnrichard Photographer: @jvwanjames Stylist: @chaschevonne Hair: @hairbypriss Makeup: @michellejcardoza Nails: @asvpnailbar Production: @themorrisongroup Location: @hotelpeterandpaul ESSENCE, VP, Content: @itsnandibby ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______ ESSENCE, Art Director: @so.lit

Welcome to The Family Business Joey Bada$$ and Serayah have turned chemistry into commitment—and now, they're building an empire of love, legacy, and little feet. After meeting on a boat in 2021, the timing wasn't right, but when they reconnected, it was magnetic. "Her aura was radiating," Joey says. Now, they're building a home and a future together in NYC, and as they prepare to welcome, they're expecting their first baby together (spoiler alert: it's a boy!). For Serayah, it's her first; for Joey, it's his second. They've gone from sushi dates and workout sessions to nursery prep and college savings. Together, they're redefining what a modern Black family looks like: intentional, healed, and rooted in joy. In the latest Of The ESSENCE they open up about falling in love, choosing monogamy after his polyamorous past, and the ways parenthood has already transformed them. Read their full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gxEYSsFg Talent: @joeybadass @serayah Photographer: @anthonyprinceleslie Stylist: @aaronchristmon @marquisemiller Glam: @makeupbythynna / Hair: @naedidmyhair Grooming: @tenelleveira / Barber: Michael Powell Post Production: @nadiaselander Production + Set Design: @hashtag_bre Location: ESSENCE Office ESSENCE, VP, Content: @itsnandibby ESSENCE, Creative Direction: @alistkariss ESSENCE, Creative Operations: @hashtag_bre SSENCE, Art Director: @isaiahmikhail Writer: @ghostwritervic

The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is, in fact, a heroic one. Except the only saviors are ourselves. The memories, emotions and realities evoked by Katrina are our proof of life. We remember, although some recollections we’d rather forget. We feel, although it pains us. We take up space in this new reality because we must. We are what has remained constant, when everything around us has changed and tried to change us. Despite devastation, removal and extraction, we continue to seize our right to be here. Come Sunday, we are pounding concrete in neighborhoods we have been priced out of; and in Congo Square, drumming in a very different Tremé. By Monday we have red beans cooking on the stove, as we have done for centuries. Throughout the week we show up as artists, educators, elders, youth, adults, chefs. We are still up at dawn on Mardi Gras morning and out at dusk for St. Joseph’s Night. We call redeveloped housing developments by their pre-Katrina names and still rep the neighborhoods where we were raised, no matter where we may now be. Our May/June issue is a love letter and tribute to the city of New Orleans, honoring the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Be sure to grab your copy on newsstands on April 24th and read the cover story here: https://lnkd.in/gTpux9By The Credits: Photographer: @e.buckles Stylist:@bijouluna Hair & Makeup: @makeupby 1beautifulblunt Creative: @cozah Production: @wanderingcameras Post-Production: @cejimenez @theoptimistdreamer ESSENCE, VP, Content: @itsnandibby ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______ ESSENCE, Senior Designer: @so.lit

WE ARE NOMINATED FOR TELLY AWARD!!! Our Essence x McDonald's Blueprint has been nominated for an award in the category of BRANDED CONTENT! If you want to see us take home the trophy here you're chance to vote! https://lnkd.in/g65dKQRG

Lights. Camera. Truth. Apple TV+’s Number One on the Call Sheet turns the camera around on more than thirty of Hollywood’s A-list Black actors and actresses’ journeys set out to remind us that Black actors aren’t just here; they’ve been here—fighting for space, legacy, and respect since the dawn of cinema. The two-part documentary digs into the unfiltered reality of being Black in Hollywood. Not just the wins, but the near-misses, the coded rejection, and glass ceilings that, though cracked, haven’t fully shattered. The Apple Original Film is produced by what some may call the Mount Rushmore of Black Hollywood: Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Angela Bassett, and Halle Berry, with acclaimed visionaries Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch are in the directors’ chairs. Together, they craft a project that takes you on a ride through Black movie history that doesn’t just celebrate the resilience and success stories of Black Hollywood’s elite; it looks at the cost of being “the first,” the responsibility of being “the only,” and what’s required to stay at the top. Hudlin and Shola pulled back the curtain to talk director to director about the truth about the movie industry, the power of legacy, and what it took to create this powerful two-part documentary. Read their Of The ESSENCE digital cover story here: https://lnkd.in/eHBeeiCy Talent:@sholalynch @reggiehudlin Writer:@kelvineunique Photographer:@xavierscottmarshall Stylist: @dionemdavis Hair: @rachelpolycarpe Makeup: @rosegracemua Nails:@she.nails.it Set Design: @jennykcorrea Tailor:@carol_ai_studio Production: @themorrisongroup Location: @pleasespace ESSENCE, VP, Content: @itsnandibby ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______ ESSENCE, Senior Designer:@so.lit

That's my brother. He's not heavy. There's something truly sacred about a creative bond rooted deeply in trust. A bond that doesn't just birth incredible art, but elevates possibilities when two souls fully recognize, challenge, and empower each other, transforming collaboration into communion. Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler know this kind of trust. Their bond breathes between scenes and beneath scripts. It is a connection not born from transaction or crafted for applause but rooted in respect and mutual seeing—brother to brother, heart to heart. Now, with their upcoming film, Sinners, this duo embarks on their fifth collaboration in just over ten years. From their gripping debut in 2013’s Fruitvale Station to the inspiring journey of Creed, the groundbreaking legacy of Black Panther, and its powerful sequel Wakanda Forever, they've continuously stretched their creative limits. With Sinners, they're stepping boldly into new territory—fearless, ambitious, and visionary as ever. Jordan grins: "In a different life, we would've grown up together—friends in school, probably not getting much work done." Coogler responds instantly, "We would've got work done—because you like to work." In this simple exchange lies the truth of their bond: effortless yet intentional. Hollywood's finest duo teach us the strength in unity, the beauty in brotherhood, and the quiet power of Black men who choose to rise together, shaping legacies and leaving cinematic love letters to future generations. And that’s what we call Legendary. Explore this heartfelt conversation in our newest Of The ESSENCE digital cover story.  Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gKRpuUw6 The Credits: Talent: #RyanCoogler & @michaelbjordan Writer: @coolhandoak Photography: @kingtexas Styling: @jasonbolden MBJ Barber: @jove14 Grooming: @tashareikobrown Set Design: @prsxlla Tailors: @costumer.shirlee & @mayh.see Production: @themorrisongroup Post Production: @onehundredberlin ESSENCE, VP, Content: @itsnandibby ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______ ESSENCE, Art Director: @so.lit

We had two cover images in our hands and couldn't choose one. So it's only right that One iconic model gets Two iconic covers! Tyra Banks graces our March/April Beauty Issue, proving that beauty, power, and resilience only get better with time. Want to be on top of the mailing? Subscribe and get this special edition subscriber cover sent to your home! Read her cover story here: https://lnkd.in/gcUxhsvP

Tyra Is Back! The walk that changed the industry. The face that broke barriers. One of the last Supermodels. Few people in this industry can be identified by saying one name, and you know exactly who they're talking about. Say "Smize," and you immediately squint your eyes and raise your eyebrows. Say the phrase, "I only have one photo in my hand," and you know the exact place you sat rooting for your favorite model. Ladies and Gentlemen, its: TYRA. After a hiatus from the modeling industry she is putting back on her heels and is ready to hit the runway. “I am going to model again, officially. I’m gonna sign with an agency in Sydney. I’m gonna have agencies in Paris. I’m going to be in New York. Like, I’m just gonna do this” In our March/ April Beauty Issue, the first lady of fashion and beauty talks about America's Next Top Model, menopause, and her plans to return to the runway. Grab your copy on newsstands March 18th and read her cover story here: https://lnkd.in/gcUxhsvP Talent: @tyrabanks Writer: @brooklynrwhite Photographer: @knngrm Stylist: @edemdl Hair: @richi_grisillo Makeup: @justinhenrybeauty Nails: @cindyvellisnailstylist Set Design: @mariskalowri Tailor: #JuliHerlihy Post Production: @onehundredberlin Location: @bakerstreetstudios Executive Production: @themorrisongroup Local Production: @c.cproduction ESSENCE, VP, Content: @itsnandibby ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______ ESSENCE, Senior Designer: @so.lit

The power is in YOUR hands! ESSENCE and Diet Coke are celebrating Black Women in Hollywood with the ESSIES’ Choice Award—and we need YOU to crown the winner! This year’s nominees are Dominique Fishback, Emayatzy Corinealdi and the Cast of Tyler Perry’s SISTAS are redefining the game and changing the face of Hollywood. Who’s taking home the honor? That’s up to YOU! You can vote once every hour, so set those reminders and make your voice heard. Ready to show love to your fave? Click the link and let the voting begin! https://lnkd.in/gnKWbz_8 #DietCokeESSIES #ESSIESChoiceAwards #DietCoke @dietcoke