00:00we're here at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the essence black women in Hollywood
00:07luncheon so excited to see all these ladies real fierce and fearless women
00:11celebrate and compliment other women and we recognize and embrace the notion that
00:18their shine in no way diminishes our light and that it actually makes our
00:23light shine brighter the images that black women in Hollywood create are images
00:31that influence the entire world driven women women who overcome struggle and
00:36challenge and hardship and are here standing proud it's so empowering you
00:42leave the room completely empowered close proximity to you your fabulousness just
00:47spills off onto me and and I feel more glorious and smarter and capable so I
00:56am grateful today I have always wanted to be recognized by essence because I
01:02recognize myself from the very first issue but just to be invited to sit
01:09amongst all of you talented beautiful women I have really touched very
01:17overwhelmed and extremely grateful to be inspired and to be reminded of who I am
01:26first I would like to thank God I would also like to thank essence for honor me
01:32with this award I would also like to thank everyone who helped me play this
01:38part and everyone who was there for me and my babysitter that was on set thanks to
01:45everyone at the Ford Lincoln Motor Company our sponsor today so hello Shawn
01:50Lincoln Motor Company is so proud to be here again this year I believe this is
01:56our fourth year returning as the sponsor and it's important us to be where the
02:01African-American community is and why not this event this event represents the best
02:05African-American women in Hollywood and that's why we're here to see your peers go through some
02:11of the same struggles as you have and achieve their dreams and their goals we have been in
02:18every part of Hollywood having our say-so both in front of them behind the camera
02:22you applaud the collective efforts that we're all making and to just you know appreciate each
02:28others crap being a visionary sometimes is a lonely place to be and I always have
02:35to come here every year so I can feel my cup up I can see your faces hear your
02:41voices so I can get back to work when the personality comes to serve the energy of the soul that is
02:51authentic power I am grateful that you see me and that you have heard me and that
03:00what I have said has mattered I am humbled by this day
Comments