00:00Black women are doing amazing things.
00:02Black women have been doing amazing things.
00:04And I think that, of course, brands like Essence are definitely the top
00:09as far as celebrating other women, as far as bringing it to the forefront,
00:14letting other people know about it.
00:16And I just feel like, but this is a different year.
00:19It's like a different year.
00:21It's a different something in the air.
00:22And we all feel it.
00:24That's why we're all here.
00:25And that's why so many people want to be a part of this event every year, for sure.
00:29I remember the first year I came, and I heard Gabrielle Union speak.
00:35And I literally had chills all over my body.
00:39And I felt like she was reading my journal.
00:43And I was like, whoa.
00:44And it was like something that I secretly didn't want anybody to know.
00:48And she said it, and she was like, she owned it, and then she let it go.
00:52And she did that in front of us.
00:54That was so vulnerable.
00:56It was so transparent and so authentic.
00:58I was like, that's my girl for life.
01:01And that's what this room is.
01:02This room is that transparent and that honest.
01:05And there's a reason why women feel that, to share that.
01:12You know what I mean?
01:12But that room doesn't.
01:14It's the room.
01:15And we've had it in different places.
01:16But it's what Essence creates in that room.
01:19And it's the perfection that goes into it.
01:22And that's why you get perfection every year.
01:24And that's why people talk about it every year.
01:26And that's why the doggone guest list grows every year.
01:29So it's just exciting to be here to host it.
01:31I'm so delighted.
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