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00:00I'm Dana Blair and guess where I am the eighth annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards
00:26I cannot tell you how excited I am for today's event we are coming to you live from the Beverly Wiltshire
00:33you know right now I'm in the gifting suite all the celebs and the VIPs are gonna come through
00:38hang out sip a few mimosas mix and mingle it's kind of like a big reunion here and to my left
00:43behind this fabulous curtain is an amazing ballroom with so many surprises for tonight's
00:49honorees and our special guests my partner in crime as usual my girl Essence Entertainment
00:54editor Yolanda Sanguini she's upstairs at the red carpet Yolanda what's going on up there
00:58hey Dana I am here with Vanessa K DeLuca Essence magazine editor-in-chief hey Vanessa hey Yolanda
01:05how you doing I can't believe eight years of black women in Hollywood this is phenomenal honestly it
01:11is the hottest ticket in town everybody who's anybody is going to be in the room today and
01:16we're just so thrilled and excited about our honorees really it's going to be a wonderful day
01:20nice and you know we're also celebrating 45 years of Essence magazine which is major oh it is
01:27incredible the legacy the the people who have come through our doors really from Susan Taylor and Marsha
01:34Gillespie to Constance White to I mean it's just the the editors that we've had the stories we've told
01:42the drama that we've been able to illustrate about our community our issues it's really been an
01:50incredible incredible incredible time to be at Essence yes we both Vanessa and I were just talking
01:56about how you know this is an incredible ride as Essence editors but also the ride of just chronicling
02:02black lives for the last 45 years yes you know it is so important I mean Essence is still as relevant and
02:09real and important as it was in 1970 when four black men decided to start a magazine that would speak to
02:17our and celebrate our women our you know our lives our beauty our accomplishments and that is still
02:24necessary and very very real in fact we knew that last year at last year's event when Lupita gave her
02:30moving speech about being a dark-skinned woman in this world and really the challenges that she faced and
02:35why Essence still matters yes you know Vanessa we're going to continue our conversation but right now
02:41I want the readers the list viewers out there to see how we choose the honorees for each black woman in
02:47Hollywood luncheon so I'm going to toss it over to our entertainment director Corey Murray how we
02:58choose the honorees you know we often joke in the office that it should be like fodder for reality TV
03:04it's just things we can't film we meet twice a week we come together to really hash out and fight for
03:11those people who are deserving of an award this year I mean some of it is kind of obvious you you have
03:16that person who really is in the limelight but other things you know like a lot of times for our legend
03:22award or visionary awards you know we have to look at people who really have a true body of work who
03:27really have touched you know several parts of Hollywood who are really admired by Hollywood and
03:33who are really just beloved you know we get into that room and fight for that person it's really
03:38interesting it's a mix of all of that stuff and of course some just good fun of us critiquing
03:46everyone's career but in the end you know we all love it and we all put our heart into it for who
03:52you know who we're voting for who we're fighting for and it you see the love and passion we have every
03:58year when it when it comes together that special day what a process Vanessa listen I mean we put
04:09some painstaking hours into deciding who is going to be honored each and every year we really want
04:14to make sure that we honor and celebrate the very very best in black women in Hollywood and you know
04:21one of our first honorees is Gugu Mbata Ra who is starring this year she had she was in Belle she
04:27was also in Beyond the Lights I mean two incredible performances two very different I mean I think
04:32those roles really spoke to her versatility her brilliance as an actress and we expect really big
04:38things from her in the future and Regina oh I still think about Brenda from two to seven yes yes no
04:45that's not wrong at all listen she has had a legendary career in front of and behind the scenes and now
04:53that she's directing I think that really Regina is a perfect example of what of why black women in
04:59Hollywood is so important you know our presence is so important and she proves that every single day
05:04with every role that she takes we're giving her the fierce and fearless award which is so fitting of
05:10Regina absolutely listen she has had staying power in in a very tough industry let's be clear this is not
05:18easy for black women to succeed and she's figured out a way from very young age to stay relevant real
05:24and we just love her I love it so Ruth Carter who is also this master costume designer that a lot of
05:30people may not know about but Lucy Carter yes you know this year is the first time that we're really
05:35taking a look at some of the key players behind the scenes Ruth Carter's talent skill award you know
05:41award-winning brilliance finally to just shine a light on her and all of the work that she's done
05:48to make our costume design including designing costumes for Selma just really magnificent work
05:54wonderful now the cast of orange is the new black I don't know why I get so happy when I think the cast
06:00it's major major they're winning the Vanguard award today and I mean certainly they have been game changers in
06:09terms of the roles that are you know our women black women can play in the in this you know in this
06:17environment just seeing different stories being told it's wonderful had it and Vanessa you know
06:23you have a lot going on this week we also have a great celebration happening at the White House can we
06:28brag a little bit like we hang out at the White House listen this is phenomenal what a privilege to be
06:33able to host a black history month celebration celebrating women of the civil rights movement so yes on
06:39Friday we will be hosting a panel conversation with women of the likes of Charlene Hunter-Gault
06:46Charlene Eiffel I mean women who are really back you know past and present making a difference in terms of
06:53social justice and you can actually watch all of all of the happenings on essence.com on Friday Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern
07:02yes yes we're so excited and I want to know Dana who do you have with you right now it is our essence
07:09deputy managing editor the one and only miss Donnie Walton how are you great Dana I'm so excited to be
07:15here what does it feel like today all of the energy in this room as everyone's filing in and and just
07:20seeing it finally come together well you know this is one of my favorite events that we do all year
07:24because it's like a reunion for these women I mean this is a community of women because Hollywood is a tough
07:30business and they all really come together and support each other essence has supported so many
07:35amazing women through our 45 year history Queen Latifah Halle Berry our honorees today Taraji who's
07:41killing it now on Empire giving us life so we're so excited to be part of of helping them to make it
07:50in the business and really feel supported and valued no definitely that's so important especially in our
07:55community and empowerment is what the brand is all about but now I have to ask you our fans at home
08:01and everyone who's watching right now how they can get in on the action and feel connected to today's
08:05activities so hashtag black women in Hollywood is going to be hot all day long Twitter Instagram
08:14everywhere everybody's gonna be blowing it up and yesterday actually we put out a tweet and and on
08:20Instagram for women crush Wednesday we said share with us an image of your favorite black actress
08:26or behind-the-scenes star and tell us why using black women in Hollywood and we got so many amazing
08:31responses can I share some of them with you maybe no of course you can what are some of your favorites
08:37so Malasha Monique says Carrie Washington is so inspiring and continues to surprise me with her
08:44abilities sigh art sigh chill love that name says my absolute favorite is Ava DuVernay hashtag visionary
08:51hashtag inspiring hashtag brilliant which she is and Ava will be here a little bit later today and she
08:57was one of last year's honorees for those of you who watched last year she was and we're so happy for
09:01her amazing amazing year and then finally the Lewis effect Lupita is setting trends killing magazine covers
09:08and booking big roles yes and of course Lupita at black women in Hollywood last year gave that
09:14amazing speech that made us all boo-hoo cry and reach for the tissues and she's here again this year
09:19to present to the cast of oranges the new black now I have a prediction we kind of you know there's an
09:24emotional moment every year who do you think is gonna give us that tearjerker this year so I'm putting
09:29my money on Regina King Regina is such an amazing member of this community and she has had such a
09:37long and diverse career not only acting but now behind the scenes I'm doing directing and I just love
09:43seeing her every year she stops by our photo booth we have a lot of fun with her and I think that today
09:49is gonna be a big day thank you so much Donnie thank you so much for sharing that and of course if you
09:55want to see if her prediction is right and see more behind the scenes and you have to follow
09:58hashtag black women in Hollywood all right Yolanda who do you have here with Shawn Thompson Lincoln
10:05representative and Shawn you've been with us for six years yes Lincoln has been involved for six
10:10consecutive years and I'm so excited to represent Lincoln Motor Company again today so tell me what
10:15about this event keeps you interested wanting to be a partner with essence on this well this year is
10:21really a remarkable year to be an African-American woman whether you're in front of the camera or behind
10:26the camera and Lincoln is just proud to be able to support African-American women in the arts and film and music
10:33and that's why we're here you know what I want to know though I know we're going to get back to the business
10:37but I want to know how is Matthew McConaughey Matthew McConaughey is very well we're so proud of the work that he's doing for us
10:45and our MKC and MKZ ads it's just been wonderful even the parodies the Saturday Night Live made fun of it
10:52but it's all fun and games we're just really proud of the work that he's done for us
10:55yes and you know we talk about power of our presence as black women you mentioned earlier that it's been a great year
11:01what what are some of the highlights you think for for you as a black woman as well what are some of the highlights
11:05in the last you know 2015 well actually I'm just really proud of Lincoln continuing to support this company
11:13I'm very very proud of that you know it's our partnership with essence communications has been wonderful
11:19whether it's here with black women in music or with essence festival Lincoln continues to support
11:24and I'm so proud of Lincoln and Ford Motor Company wonderful well we love having you here as a sponsor
11:30and you are always welcome thank you I want to get back to you Dana and just find out
11:35what are you up to girl you know Yolanda I'm always up to something but many of you viewers at home are
11:41probably wondering who this beautiful lady to my right may be she's the future of Hollywood
11:46I'm standing next to the essence 2015 black women in Hollywood Discovery Award winner Miss Iman Milner
11:52how are you I'm very good I am so excited to be here and what you just said was so very nice
11:57so I'm like no okay so some of you who follow us on essence.com and may may follow some of the
12:04activities with the brand know that we have a short film contest and you were one of the entrants
12:08what inspired you to enter the contest um just essence essence has played such an important part
12:14in my life um it was always on my mother's table and so to even have anything seen by the people at
12:21essence by a publication that's so dear to me I just I wanted it to be seen so that was the inspiration
12:26to do it and I had the pleasure of viewing your piece Love Escapes Us an absolutely stunning brilliant
12:33piece of work I mean visually it told a beautiful love story of a couple um which I can relate to
12:39every moment of the breakup and the makeup um what inspired this work did you write this as well
12:45yes I wrote it with Anthony Phillips who's also plays King in the film he's plays the main role
12:51and um I had this story and I wanted to kind of discuss how we hurt each other and we don't think
12:57about it we're just moving from one thing to another and I felt there needed to be a responsibility that
13:02we have to each other um to know how we affect one another and so that was really the thing and
13:06we don't see a lot of love stories unfortunately with us and so I wanted to make something that I
13:12felt was real um and not to say that black men are bad or black women are bad which is another reason
13:17why we had it silent so there was no fault you know you don't know who said what you just know
13:22that this person affected this person and maybe that cycle continues and maybe it doesn't so so
13:27you wrote directed and she also starred in the piece as well what is it like changing all of
13:32those different hats well I wrote and I produced and I'm in it so um I mean the product actually the
13:39producing part was the hardest part because I had never done that and I didn't know anything about
13:44producing really I just was like I want to make this film and I'm gonna get it done and so that
13:49was hard you know you have to put up your own money you got to get your own things you got you
13:52know nobody's there's nobody to fall back on but yourself um and thankfully I had amazing amazing help
13:58Anthony was amazing um our director Craig he was amazing so I had this one this wonderful team of
14:03people who were like whatever you need we got you and that's important so what was it like when you got
14:08the call that you won the contest that you were the discovery award winner and you would be here at
14:13black women in Hollywood in this room with all of these amazing women um who are in front of and
14:18behind the camera I just the first thing I did is call my mom um and then we did a nice little praise
14:24hour you know and um I was just so excited I mean I had black women in Hollywood on my vision board and
14:32it was so funny this year I made a vision board and I forgot to put it on there and I didn't realize
14:36that and so she until I got the call and I was like oh my god but my vision still came to pass
14:42and so I'm just I'm just so overwhelmed I'm still in shock a little bit like even coming here today
14:46I was like okay I'm putting on my dress I'm going through the motions but I'm just so excited to be
14:51here is there anyone you're looking forward to seeing today Oprah Kerry Washington I love her
14:58definitely well thank you so much for taking time to speak with us congratulations and I'll see you
15:02later but a little bit later on you know in the ballroom all right thank you so much all right Yolanda
15:06so what you have going on over there on the red carpet I am here with the beautiful Sharon Leal
15:11welcome thank you good to be here what are you wearing today this is out of my closet Taylor oh
15:17just out of my closet and Kate Spade uh jewelry I love it and I want to zoom in on those nails
15:22they look so great thank you who did your nails you know I hop around I nail hop she's not loyal
15:29somewhere on Melrose I can be but you know this yeah impromptu I love it so you know Sharon this is the
15:35eighth year we're doing black women in Hollywood and I've seen you you've come and joined us a few
15:39times tell me what about this event makes it so special it's just one of those days of complete
15:44positivity where we're just all coming together as a community and celebrating each other and there's
15:49so much power in that you know I think putting that intention out there and collectively feeling
15:54all of these things and lifting each other up it's it's one of the events that I really really
15:59look forward to every year nice and you know you were recently in addicted that very addictive film
16:05those men are addictive those scenes were hectic they were a little bit they were definitely something
16:12I heard that when you shoot one of those scenes like it's not as romantic as it looks to the viewer
16:17like it's really like cut you know tell me about that no it isn't I mean well you've heard it and
16:22it's absolutely true and my boyfriend is happy about that as is my dad and my mother um no yeah so
16:28it's very technical it's uh you know hit your mark and and there's like 10 people in the room
16:33and you know so yeah uh yeah that's where I'm really acting yeah I love it so Sharon we're gonna
16:40like toss to right up we have a little break and we'll be back with more celebrities on the red carpet
16:45of black women in Hollywood
16:58take your tablet experience to a whole new level with a brilliant display wrapped up in a thin
17:20lightweight design introducing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S the next big thing is here
17:28I'm Dana Johnson and welcome to Essence Live your new go-to destination for candid convos and
17:39the inside scoop on everything from entertainment news fashion and of course love and relationships
17:43Liv and my boo Jake are back from the island
17:46is he your boo or well in my head we're dating okay a booty call I mean it was mentioned nine
17:52times booty call the booty call booty call can a booty call be romantic absolutely what dear black
17:58women did you know that cornrows are trendy again thanks to Rita Ora and Kristen Stewart what how is
18:04that a new trend how to get away with murder murder yes we've already seen Viola pulling up her panties
18:12I want to introduce you to the steamroll what's the last thing you dreamed about German chocolate on
18:17my wife hey steamroll whether it is reality TV or your favorite scripted drama it seems that the
18:25relationships depicted on television are way too close to real life this show definitely illustrates
18:30the importance of you always putting yourself first a man cannot be your identity is there a new
18:35black or should we still consider ourselves african-american you know I think it's on her that if she
18:40feels as though she doesn't know where her roots is you know maybe there's Ancestry.com
18:43Slater shade is a round-robin game of you know some hits or misses from the week part of their story
18:51is is that they're gonna have a hard time raising this biracial child in an all-white community oh so
18:58it's not a struggle as two lesbians as much as I want to shade I say slay because I will be tuning in
19:04religiously yes hello and that was essence live my personal baby so so excited to see that go get
19:15off the ground and as I said before at black women in music I'm telling you again right here at black
19:20women in Hollywood I want to see every last one of you next week as we launch essence live next
19:25Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern time right here on essence.com plus I don't know if you heard our essence
19:33festival one of the biggest festivals every single year of course we are back in my home
19:37state Louisiana taking over New Orleans starting July 2nd the essence festival presented by coca
19:43cola we have a couple of announcements for you I don't know if you heard but Mary J Blige common
19:48and Kendrick Lamar are going to be joining us under the Superdome it is something that you do not want
19:54to miss of course for more updates details on what to do while you're in New Orleans how to get tickets
19:58and much much more keep it locked right here of course at essence.com all right Yolanda what you
20:04got going on on your end of the red carpet I'm seeing Holly Robinson Pete I saw Tracy Ellis Ross and
20:10a few other amazing black women in Hollywood so we're gonna just keep spanning the red carpet and
20:18just having lots of fun and getting ready to interview more and more of our favorite celebrities hey all
20:23right so as I mentioned the celebrities and everyone they're starting to file in right now lots of
20:29action that's happening Yolanda's up here at the red carpet everyone's kind of mixing meeting schmoozing
20:35I'm gonna keep it lots and lots of entertainment lots of interviews behind the scenes keep it locked
20:40right here I'll have some more guests joining me in just a few moments I am here with Miss Dolores
20:47can I call you Miss Dolores you can call me Miss Dolores your mama trained you right yes she did
20:52and Holly Robinson Pete how are you doing we're doing great we're so happy to be here today and
20:57celebrate these women of color what a beautiful day you know Holly I love seeing you here and I just
21:03think you're one of such a great supporter of all you know women in Hollywood I love that about you
21:08so well thank you I mean I wouldn't miss it I just I just get worried that I'm not going to get
21:12invited I get so excited I'm really happy to bring well I mean you I'm really happy to bring my mom
21:17because my mom you know came here in 74 there weren't a lot of black women in the room and uh in in this
21:24town and she was a talent manager so I love having her here so she can speak a lot to you know when
21:30Essence was created in 1970 we're also celebrating 45 years this year Essence did an article on me oh and
21:37had me on the center page who was the most powerful woman in Hollywood I always said it was Oprah
21:42but it was such an honor that Essence did that for me but in 1974 when I came here there was just a
21:48handful of black women in a room like this Suzanne to pass and me uh and now to come out and see us
21:54celebrate it like this good for Essence this is wonderful black history moment did you catch that
22:00Dolores Pete and you know how Dolores Robinson oh I'm so sorry I forgot she's an official Pete too
22:07I'm so sorry about that so Holly you know black women in Hollywood this year a lot is happening
22:14especially on prime time yeah as a veteran of prime time I want to know like what are some of the shows
22:19that you're like keeping your eye on this season I'm watching all of them Empire Scandal you know
22:23being Mary Jane all of them I'm so thrilled to see these women leading these uh dramatic shows and
22:30even Tracy on blackish but I'm more thrilled about Shonda and those who are behind the scenes
22:36Ava like that to me gets me more excited I mean obviously I love seeing my friends work
22:41but so I'm really thrilled to see these showrunners and green lighters that are women that look like
22:46us I love it we love having you here and we'll see you inside thank you hey Dana what you got
22:52okay I'm standing here with the beautiful and talented Miss Vanessa Bell Calloway how are you today
22:57I am great how are you I am fabulous and I'm loving all of the colors that you're giving me
23:01very very beautiful okay so you're no stranger to this event you're here this essence is family for
23:07you how do you feel um what is so special about black women in Hollywood that makes you want to
23:12come back year after year and celebrate let me just say this with all sincerity this is my most favorite
23:17event of the entire year because you know in Hollywood and I've been around for a while we get beat up
23:24we get kicked to the curb we get stomped on forgotten and you know sometimes it leaves you
23:28feeling a little depleted a little sad a little insecure and you need you know we all do that we
23:33are we all nobody is exempt from that and what I love about this event it's like going to the gas
23:37station I get filled up you know I get filled up with all of the the the inspiration the courage
23:43I'm reminded what a force I am what how beautiful I am to be a black woman in this industry and in this
23:49world and I see all my sisters that either I've worked with I want to work with I know or I want
23:54to meet you know and it's just a love fest and I'm always leaving here feeling so renewed and
23:59invigorated and just you know hopeful and you know about the future and just happy to be who I am in
24:06the space that I am and just reminded about how I should stand in the beautiful unique space that
24:13God has designed just for me I don't think we could have scripted anything better than that that was
24:19so passionate sincerity is it was heartfelt and that was absolutely absolutely beautiful and essence this
24:24year we're celebrating 45 years of the magazine our past our present cover 1980 88 January 88 yeah and
24:34a four page printed inside okay well you better go check that out we have a gallery on essence.com we
24:39can check out some of the past covers so what do you have a special memory with essence well you
24:45mentioned your cover but something that may have inspired you as you mentioned in this industry to
24:49keep you going through the years because you know we just recently started this event only eight years
24:53ago so what kept you going well you know I do have a special memory and there's a lot that can be
24:57going but my memory is I used to be essence spokeswoman a lot of people don't know that the early 90s I
25:03actually did a thing called essence on the mall where I would go to different malls across the country it was
25:08kind of like the Oprah Winfrey of them all and I have these like these shows that I conducted on
25:13essence's behalf we had sponsors and that was so beneficial for me at the time I was you know
25:18young actress they believed in me they brought me into the essence family from there I got my cover
25:22and you know it was just them taking the time that's when Susan Taylor you know and Ed all those you
25:29know the old old regime was there and they brought me in and just really treated me like family and it
25:36meant so much to me over these years because once you've been on the cover of essence it's nothing
25:41else for me you know that was like one of the epitome of the moments of being in this industry so for
25:48me that that's a really special memory thank you so much is there anyone that you're looking forward
25:52to seeing this evening well everybody I'm a huge fan of you know oranges to black huge fan I've seen them
25:58all Regina King I have loved since she well I've known her since she was a teenager on 227 so I'm
26:04especially proud of her you know we've been you know close to maintain a friendship all these years
26:09um I'm like a big sister to her and to see her grow and prosper and just become the woman that she is
26:14is just delightful and you know it's you know Ruth Carter I've worked with her numerous films I mean
26:22we all kind of started out together you know we were all trying to get our thing so so proud of her
26:27and the work she's done so I'm just happy once again to applaud all my sisters and who knows maybe
26:32one day it'll be my turn that's true that is very true and and I know you have to get going and you
26:36want to make mix and mingle but I have a question for you you know right now it seems on primetime
26:40television african-american women are are the leads they are the go-to um to for for these some of
26:46these major characters do you feel like that's a trend it's going to start to become the norm I think
26:50it's a it's a trend for the Shonda Rhimes show I don't really know that there's other shows that have
26:55you know leads like that I hope it's going to become a trend because it needs to become a trend and I hope
27:01that they take a page out of Shonda's book because I mean she's created some amazing dramas that we
27:06all can't wait you know to see we can't get enough of so I mean it's like you know come on guys what
27:12do we have to do do we have to like you know what else what else can we do to show you that it works
27:17I don't I don't know what else to say so I hope it's a trend because there's so many deserving you
27:22know actresses myself included that you know deserve if not the main spot but a good spot you know this
27:29it's still a problem not a typecast a character something with some depth right and it's still
27:33a problem because we see the Academy Awards you know I heard I read this article says and they
27:37work with the best Caucasian is I thought I make that up I read it the best Caucasian is and you
27:44know it's like when white folks are complaining about diversity it's an issue so there you have
27:49it so yes I think I pray that it is a trend thank you very much thank you so much for your insight and
27:54your powerful passionate words and I look forward to seeing you in the ballroom I'm excited great
27:58afternoon again all right take care Yolanda who do you have upstairs in the red carpet I am here
28:05with the trainer to the stars Jeanette Jenkins hey hi everybody I was on the treadmill this morning
28:12like oh I gotta get this like I just have to get right yes is that how you start your day I do start
28:19my day every day with the workout and if it's not with me it's with one of my clients it's with Kelly
28:24Roland it's with pink it's with Tracy Ellis Ross who's our current cover girl she is also one of
28:31my amazing clients me along you name it you name it is right yeah when we honor rock a keel when we
28:39honor black women in Hollywood you know you are a black woman in Hollywood you're behind the scenes
28:43and you're helping our women look so amazing and feel amazing too which is so important thank you I'm I'm just
28:50honored to always come to this event because I really do think that it's so important that everyone all
28:56generations whether you're in front of the camera or behind to be strong in mind body and spirit and
29:01when you are then you're so much better at everything that you do well I want to talk about your skin my skin
29:08because wow wow wow what a beautiful it's beautiful thank you what are you wearing today um this dress
29:14is Ted Baker and the Jew the shoes are Jimmy Choo I love it you look amazing thank you so much for
29:22always joining us we're going to take a little break now and be back in a few minutes thank you
29:38take your tablet experience to a whole new level with a brilliant display wrapped up in a thin
30:02lightweight design introducing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S the next big thing is here
30:10so we're here today with beautiful Tika Sumter I'm so happy to be here I mean I was just like you are
30:19just so beautiful thank you as you oh wow as well thank you I mean every woman here every every single
30:26person is beautiful here love it you know we're having a great year on prime time this year as black
30:32women yeah I want to know you know besides haves and have-nots what else are you tuning into
30:36oh my gosh my show Empire yes oh my god I love that show I mean the whole cast is killing it
30:44Taraji obviously but I just feel like I love the layers in every single character and um that's a
30:49show that I actually if I'm at dinner I'm like all right guys I gotta go bye sorry I never do that
30:55I usually DVR everything I literally am in front of the TV just eating popcorn watching with wine
31:02yeah so you're one of those women that everyone is like oh well who's Tika dating so I want to know
31:07like what are some love lessons that you've learned in in your years of sort of I think my my love
31:13lessons that I have learned is to be still and to know that everything's going to be okay at the end
31:19and every every breakup every um break whatever it's a lesson in it so and I don't think anything's
31:27a mistake yeah yeah I want to play a little fun game of this or that okay with you miss Tika okay
31:32all right so best romantic comedy in all in the last 45 years because we're celebrating 45 years of
31:39essence you know my gosh so I'm gonna give you is it love Jones or brown sugar
31:45love Jones brown sugar was good too but I love love Jones I love it yeah so best HBCU college movie
31:56school days or drumline I'm sorry I just thought do the right thing the other day again and I love
32:04Spike Lee so school days sorry sorry I was a young girl watching that like yeah so impressed yeah you
32:12know and everybody was so beautiful and there was we have so many different complexions in our
32:16community and it's just like wow it's just it's a beautiful it's a beautiful world to have a to
32:23have not seven thousand dollar pair of shoes to have not I shall not do it I can put that in an IRA
32:31account smart girl beauty and brains yeah I like that I like beauty and I like brains and then beauty
32:39that's great I love it we love having you here Tika and I just want you to finish this sentence
32:43before you go okay being a black woman in Hollywood is it's a beautiful thing you know and um I find
32:52strength in it and I find a lot of love in it and there's there's it's all it's only something to look
32:58up to to me you know and and it's a celebration to be honest and who are you wearing today I'm wearing
33:04uh Stella McCartney and I'm wearing uh Christian Louboutin love it she always looks I know I hate
33:10I'm gonna sound like the old person on fleek eyebrows on fleek I know I I'm so like what's fleek again
33:18what is that bae huh okay all right well we love having you we'll see you inside and we're gonna toss
33:25to you Dana what are you doing I'm just over here hanging out taking in all of the sights you know black
33:30women in Hollywood is such a huge event and of course you know we see the finished product the
33:35roses the celebrities the lavish carpets and the champagne so on so forth but there's a lot that
33:40goes on to making this event as special as it is so why don't you check out I took a few uh sneaks
33:46behind the scenes and I have some special footage for you let's go
33:49what's up essence I am Dana Blair and guess where I'm at the Beverly Wiltshire also known as the location
34:00for the 2015 8th annual black women in Hollywood awards this is the behind the scenes now you always
34:06get to see the after but you know I want to show you something new this year this entire space is
34:11going to be transformed into tons of flowers glitz glamour lots of lights and of course lots of
34:17surprises I don't know if you can see over my shoulder here we have sound check happening light
34:21load in all of the tables are about to be covered in fabulous upholstery and flowers tons of crew working
34:28around the clock to make this a beautiful experience I cannot wait to see the actor
34:36and if you thought that was fabulous and exciting wait until the event starts and we can really show
34:41you the action that's happening on that side of the curtain all right Yolanda what you got going on
34:45upstairs girl she's talking about fabulous Miss Niecy Nash hey you always look I just love this woman
34:53on camera off camera love it I appreciate that what are you wearing today you know what I'm wearing a
34:59little bit of everything um I got dressed really really fast and uh kind of pulled it together myself
35:07a lot of times when you work with a stylist they give you that little sheet of paper the little cheat
35:11sheet so you don't miss anything today mama was on her own hey and this is what you got but look what
35:16mama pulled oh thank you can we show off that purse that clutch you know this is one of my favorite
35:22books yeah one of my favorite books it got converted into a purse and here we are here we are yeah so
35:28Miss Niecy you know getting on on HBO is a fantastic show thank you you know and I love that if anyone's
35:35seen it she wears no makeup bare oh my it is not the essence of women women's luncheon that is for sure huh
35:43no glamorous hair no makeup they even make you take off your spank oh wow it's not pretty well how
35:48do they know you have a spank oh listen when the producers come around and give you a hug you think
35:53they're being endearing it's a spank check we should do a spank check tonight oh well honey let me say
36:00it's so many spanks in here right now listen I'm like oh no don't don't let me laugh too hard
36:05yeah so missy you know you give great advice to single women we just had you on essence.com
36:13celebrating valentine's day yes and tell me about you know what kind of you know it's a very general
36:18question but what kind of advice would you give to a single woman right now in 2015 is it any different
36:23from let's say 2010 or something you know I think the best advice I could give would be to know exactly
36:30what you want that way when it shows up huh we are already ready as opposed to just going along with
36:37the flow don't do that know exactly what you want and then wait for it be prepared for it hmm you know
36:47because a lot a lot of a lot of people stop at a man who finds a wife finds a good thing but that
36:51implies that a woman was already a wife when she got found hey I'm just trying to help somebody all right
36:58so to to know and then you know and lastly I would say be what you want to see because we are going
37:03to attract what we are yes now Nisi do you believe in lists you know you sit down and you write down
37:09an actual list of the kind of man that you want I believe in lists for everything yeah you know what
37:14I mean and I think that you write the vision you make it plain and I think I mean I think there's
37:20something said for that for bringing to fruition those things that you say you want in your life yes yes
37:26love it and congrats on the new season of getting on thank you yeah and I'm currently um I'm currently
37:33filming season four though first of the soul man okay so I won't make it over to getting on until after
37:39I'm done with that one wonderful well we'll see you on soul man and getting on you're a hard-working
37:43woman thank you that's why I'm going in here to get some food and a cocktail I need it love it thank you
37:49so much Nisi we'll see you inside mix and mingle Dana who you got I have the beautiful and talented
37:56Miss Garcelle Beauvais how are you I'm great how are you I'm absolutely fabulous and as we were talking
38:01off camera you look stunning can you share with us who are you wearing yes I'm wearing black halo
38:05and Safia jewelry absolutely stunning so you're no stranger to the essence family or to black women in
38:12Hollywood what keeps you coming back to this event year after year this event to me is one of the best
38:19events of the year because so many times we are either vying for the same job so when we see each
38:25other it's a different vibe or we don't see each other that often and coming here it's all about
38:30love we love each other we honor each other we respect each other we uplift each other it's the most
38:36amazing time I get I'm getting goosebumps just talking about it it's always like tissue you're
38:41crying you're hugging everybody so it's a beautiful beautiful event I was joking a little bit earlier
38:45with our managing deputy editor Donnie Walton every year there's a tear jerker mom jerker moment or
38:51something super sentimental do you have a prediction as to what that moment may be this year or who may
38:55cause that moment oh my goodness it might be Laverne Cox because I know Orange is the New Black is being
38:59honored and I think she has a journey that no one else can speak upon so I feel that maybe it's her
39:06maybe it's Ava maybe it's Oprah maybe it's everybody yeah you know so we're celebrating 45 years this year
39:13of essence magazine do you have a favorite moment um with the magazine or about the magazine that
39:18really inspired you to keep going in your craft let me say this I was on a bus a New York City bus
39:24at 17 when Suzanne Taylor came on the bus and gave me her card said you should be a model and I was on the
39:32cover like maybe months later so the best stories I'm getting the best story that was phenomenal and
39:39after that I got another cover and it was just uh it's wonderful to uplift each other it's wonderful
39:44to have a go-to where you know you're loved and you're embraced it's amazing that's the best story
39:51ever nothing like that happens to me I'm on the bus like somebody pushes me or something like that nothing
39:56like that ever happens to me it was pretty phenomenal okay I want to play a really fun game of this or
40:01that with you so okay best urban drama juice or new jack city oh new jack city oh new jack city okay um
40:10best movie about hbcu school days or drumline oh drumline nick cannon i love that movie i mentioned
40:18i'm a louisiana girl from the south so we're all about our bands and and everything like that you know
40:22all right last one best romantic comedy love jones or love and basketball love and basketball i loved
40:30it i'm a big fan of sanos yes thank you so very much for taking time to speak with me i'll see you
40:36in the ballroom thank you all right yolanda back to you so i'm here with tracy ellis ross aka team murder
40:45aka joy spreader hey had you giggling over here i know she's so funny
40:51with a new name joy spreader just like butter but it's joy i don't know what it is like when
40:55you're around tracy you just want to like laugh like she just makes you so happy it's very good
41:00my mom would be very pleased i love it what are you wearing today i'm wearing reed crack off and
41:04my absolutely favorite leboutin so kate pump this is my new pair in white love it um and i'm just working
41:12the white story yes yeah now tracy when you're having a garage sale because i think your shoes need
41:17liberation because some of us out of here need some tracy ellis rush i do a lot of garage sailing
41:23do you three people before it gets sold and it goes to two different stores so there's no way i
41:29could get like a pair it's possible what's i shooting where nine same seven and a half oh i have
41:36the teeniest little feet i don't know how i can stand up i should just be falling over so you know
41:41congrats on blackish thank you so much what a great show it's been a really exciting ride yeah
41:46did you have any idea like this was i'm sure like larry wilmore you kind of have well kenya barris
41:52he is sort of you know to me like i was like yeah it's gonna be a hit but one never knows it's what
41:57you hope for it's what you dream for and then when it happens and people are really responding
42:01connecting loving the show it's fantastic so i have a ball at work and people are enjoying what we do
42:08so it's great and i love that the fashion that rainbow wears like i'm just like one day you had
42:13a pair of nikes and i was like where did she get those she she is rocking there's three things that
42:18rainbow rocks that she does really well i think her pajama game is on point like beyond and um her
42:26sneakers with dresses killer sneaker dress game amazing love it and i feel like there's one more thing
42:32that i was gonna say but now i can't remember it so whatever so whatever well i just felt a little
42:37t-murda coming on so yeah can t-murda like bust a freestyle or something like oh t-murda's never
42:42been known for being a freestyler oh okay no so did she did t-murda decipher lifestyle did you really
42:48no she checked it out she had no idea but i'll tell you what i can't stop thinking okay four five
42:53seconds from while it stuck in my head we do know that song we do know that song four or five seconds
43:02i'm just telling you and i'm gonna go wilding out listen don't you have four or five seconds where
43:05you're like you know what i'm gonna no for real like go ahead try me try me try me try me love it
43:11so we're gonna see you inside and you are but we didn't talk about the one best thing in the world
43:14i have to say quickly i'm sorry that i'm on the cover of the march issue and it's the best thing
43:18that ever happened to me sorry and the pictures are gorgeous and i'm the march cover girl for essence
43:23and essence is like the most amazing publication ever that is way more than just what happens in the
43:27pages of this magazine it is a publication that has expanded way beyond the pages yes thank you
43:34tracy all right okay so dana what do you have what's happening with you only one of the biggest
43:41moments of my life ever is happening right now i'm with the one and only shonda rhimes how are you
43:47i'm good how are you it's exciting to be here i don't know if i'm going to be able to put proper
43:51subject verbs together because i'm such a fan and so inspired by you i i can't even words cannot even
43:59begin to articulate so i'm just going to jump right into it what does this event black women in
44:04hollywood mean to you i love coming to this event every time you come here you get to see everybody
44:08it's a way to get together celebrate the work that everyone's doing um catch up with everyone it's sort
44:14of like a yearly reunion it's wonderful you are a pioneer you're an innovator on so many different
44:21levels what is it like knowing that you're putting these talented african-american women in these
44:27very complex roles um on in prime time and everyone's responding everyone's falling all over
44:33themselves to tune in and they have these these massive fans what is that like for you to see
44:37your babies come to fruition like that i think it's wonderful that the fans have come but to me it feels
44:42like these are the roles that black women should have been playing all along i mean we're we all know
44:47that black women are complex talented women anyway so it's nice to see that everybody else is seeing it
44:53too at essence we're celebrating 45 years of the brand and we're also talking about what fuels our
44:59passions and what inspires us and keeps us going what keeps you going you have so many successes on
45:04your hands what keeps you going into getting to innovate and push forward um i i guess i don't look at
45:10it as being successful i feel like everything's a challenge every day is a challenge um i pretty much
45:14wake up every day going how can we be better how can i do better and you know i'm never satisfied
45:19you know i don't feel like anything is has worked yet so yeah so i'm always still striving to make
45:25things better and who is there any particular moment in cinema or in television that inspires you
45:31that that was like an aha moment for you are you like you know what that's what i want to do oh wow
45:36you know for me the moment i really knew that i wanted to really sort of try this business was when
45:42i saw whoopi goldberg's live on broadway when i was maybe 17 i was on hbo he's brilliant yeah i think
45:48i like it was back in the vhs days i taped it on my vhs i watched it a thousand times when my dad like
45:55accidentally taped over it with a football game i must have cried for days yeah i mean it was a
46:00really pivotal moment for me she was amazing she had written it herself it was the first time i'd
46:04seen an african-american woman play that many characters and be that complex and and it felt very
46:10possible now i'm not sure if you can share this with me are are there any sneak peeks or any tips or
46:16things you can give away for scandal or how to get away with murder um no i really can't tonight's
46:23episode of how to get away with murder is one of my favorites i will say um miss cicely tyson is on and
46:29she's extraordinary um tonight we get to see um what ends up happening with olivia pope um which is
46:36great and next week might be my favorite episode of scandal that we've done so far as well yeah that's
46:43coming and i think it's going to be a really powerful one so we have some great stuff coming
46:48thank you so very much for taking the time to speak with us i'll see you inside in the ballroom
46:52thank you all right yolanda back to you all right i'm here with an honoree of the fierce and fearless
46:59award regina king hello how are you regina i am pretty fierce and fearless right now you are actually in
47:07general thank you i don't know it's like the from brenda to you know so many characters riley i don't
47:13know why i kept because i have kids i don't i think that's everyone's like favorite even some people
47:18that may not admit it yeah they might have a little riley in them tell me about what this honor means to
47:23you ah i mean it's just essence black women in hollywood i mean just this luncheon is an opportunity
47:31for us to love on each other and and and and celebrate each other so to be in a room of women
47:38that i've admired and that look like me that have loved me for years that inspired me to to dream
47:46bigger um it's pretty special yeah and you are pretty special because everyone that we've talked to
47:53about you they hold you so dear to their heart we recently interviewed ben mckenzie from gotham
47:59yeah and he just was like so full of love when he talked about that's my been that that that group
48:06southland was such a it just an experience within itself that that it created a family that from the
48:17crew to the cast that we still are connected like this usually when something is over you talk to each
48:26other every now and then but that that's a special time in life for me so over 20 years front and
48:32behind the scenes on you know hollywood what are some lessons that you've learned on in this journey
48:38hmm i have learned that there is beauty in always learning there is freedom in admitting when you're wrong
48:50um i hope that i'm learning until the day i die i hope that my last breath a lesson was learned right
48:59before yes um i learned that you can um learn from the smallest of children till your to your grandmother
49:10that there's something you can get out of every single relationship and to just always be open yes
49:18yes yeah and we'll be loving you till the end i'll be loving you thank you you heard that song
49:25wait yes i have yeah but it took me a minute to uh be there with you i was like i think she's
49:32talking about a song i think she's quoting something all right regina well you know congratulations on
49:37this honor and we'll see you inside enjoy and i hope to see you again next year yes it's all about
49:41you today yeah enjoy you all right day now i'm going to toss right back to you and see who you
49:47are speaking to i am here with the beautiful and talented chanel iman how are you i'm good thank you
49:53you are like a thousand million times more stunning in person i've been a huge fan of yours like sometimes
49:58on my head i try to pose like you this is your first time at black women in hollywood what inspires
50:04you to come out this year i'm really excited i've been trying to come out to this event for like
50:08three years and now i'm here and by the director that did my first film he's he invited me as one
50:15of his guests tell us about your first film um it's super exciting it come out it came out in sundance
50:20film festival and um it's doing well it's like one of the most talked about films at sundance so it'll
50:27be coming to theaters soon everyone's gonna see it how was it going from the runway to behind like on the
50:34actual stage and as an actress that transition um it was cool you know i i really fell in love with
50:40it and i want to continue to to stay in film and um i'm working with my acting co acting coach every
50:47day every other day when i have time and um i love it i love what i do yeah awesome now since it's your
50:54first time here is there anyone that you're um really excited to see or meet today oprah i heard
51:00she's gonna be here tonight so it's always just it's so inspiring to see so many beautiful women
51:07all right i want to play a quick game of this or that with you okay so best romantic comedy love
51:14jones or love and basketball oh love and basketball so far that's been the favorite best soundtrack
51:21waiting to exhale or brown sugar brown sugar yeah all right and now i have to ask you this is what
51:28we call our purple category the color purple or purple rain that's a tough rain yeah thank you so
51:38much for taking the time to speak with us oh wait before we go who are you wearing because this is
51:42absolutely stunning jonathan sizeman absolutely gorgeous thank you so much i'll see you in the ballroom
51:48all right we'll be right back after this break
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