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ESSENCE Beauty Diaries: Brooke DeVard Gets Ready for Black Women In Hollywood | smartwater®
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00:04Sorry, sorry.
00:06Beauty hazard.
00:09Stay with this.
00:12Smartwater's saving lives today.
00:16Morning!
00:17It's the morning of Essence Black Women in Hollywood.
00:20I'm Brooke DeVard, and this is my incredible glam team
00:23just making all of my dreams come true
00:24for this big carpet we've got.
00:27I'm presenting live on the carpet, so it's a little nerve-wracking,
00:30but I feel prepared for it.
00:31I've been doing my podcast, Naked Beauty, for 10 years,
00:33so I do feel comfortable speaking live,
00:36but I've never done, like, a live recording at an award show.
00:40So the nerves, a little on the higher side,
00:43but I'm staying hydrated.
00:48The inspiration for today's look is really old Hollywood glamour,
00:51but with a modern twist,
00:52so I'm wearing this gorgeous, like, orange T-length dress
00:56that's a very classic 1950s silhouette,
00:59but then for the hair and makeup,
01:00we wanted to make it a little bit more modern,
01:02so we're doing an electric blue eye,
01:03which I'm so excited about.
01:06The hair is going to be kind of classic and swept off the face.
01:09I'm doing this really dramatic earring.
01:11When the whole look comes together, you'll see the vision,
01:14but for now we're just in the execution and build stage.
01:21Essence, of course, such an iconic brand,
01:23gathering all of these incredible powerhouse black,
01:26black women that have made their impact in Hollywood,
01:29and today I'm very excited because I'm presenting
01:31the first-ever Creator Award presented by Smart Water
01:35at today's show, and I love this because it just shows
01:37how far creators have come.
01:39I'm a content creator myself,
01:41and for creators to be recognized in the same breath
01:45as these legends in Hollywood is major.
01:48It's been really interesting to see how democratized it's become
01:51to get your story out there, right?
01:53Anyone can start a YouTube channel.
01:55Anyone can post on Instagram.
01:56Anyone can create on TikTok.
01:59And so creators really are moving into the space of Hollywood,
02:02and I'm excited to be part of this kind of new tradition
02:05of Essence Black Women of Hollywood.
02:08What's up, fellas? What's up, everybody?
02:10I'm Sir John, and I've been knowing Brooke for such a long time.
02:14I know.
02:14So one thing I would do love about today is that we,
02:17since we do know each other, there's a level of comfort
02:19so we can come in and sort of emotionally put our hand back down
02:22and get to work.
02:23But I do know that Brooke's nerves are extremely high,
02:26so what we want to do is possibly be a destination for energy.
02:29And it's so important that the people that you work with
02:31have that good positive energy because, yeah,
02:34it's like this high-pressure situation,
02:36and we need to be able to laugh and have fun.
02:39Also what's really cool about today, guys, is the fact that we get a chance
02:42to honor the women, like Black women, the 92%, you know,
02:46the demographic that literally I feel comfortable following
02:50and have been quite inspirational, not just to us, but to the world.
02:53So I always say women do rule the world,
02:56but Black women specifically are just like the constant source of inspiration
02:59that you never have to look far to find.
03:03I had the privilege of going to Essence Black Women in Hollywood last year,
03:09and I walked into that room and I was like,
03:10first of all, this is the best-smelling, most well-moisturized,
03:15gorgeous room I have ever been in because, again,
03:19I have never seen so many incredible Black women in one space.
03:23There is not another room like this, so to be in this room,
03:28it feels like sisterhood, it feels like true community,
03:31but it's also just so inspiring to look to your left and right and say,
03:34these are icons that I've grown up admiring.
03:38So right now I'm sculpting Brooke's face, so I always want to make sure,
03:42like when I talk to younger creatives about how not to homogenize everyone's beauty
03:47and make everyone look alike.
03:48So I'm not trying to erase any of our curves, any of our texture,
03:52like I love our Afrocentric features.
03:54This is going to be like the brick and mortar of a Teflon face.
03:58So if you want to keep your face on for a very long time,
04:00if you're working with someone who's on their lights, on carpets,
04:04singing and dancing on stage, duality is key.
04:07So we're going to start with creams and then we're going to end with powders.
04:09You have the most gorgeous three-dimensional lids,
04:12it's given very Diana Ross, a little bit of Cher,
04:16a little Lola Falana in the 70s in Vegas.
04:19So if you notice, I'm starting to layer this up just to get a bit more intensity.
04:22It starts out, it seems almost like an indigo because, you know,
04:27Brooke has really naturally olive skin.
04:30And so I'm given a second layer so it can really bring through that.
04:33Yeah, this builds really nicely.
04:35This beautiful, like, I don't know, Devil Wears product called Cerulean.
04:39Yes, that's just not any blue, it's Cerulean blue.
04:44So Brooke, this face is going to be on.
04:47For all day.
04:48I love it.
04:48All day, baby.
04:50This is an all-day event and we're starting in the morning
04:54and it's supposed to be really hot today.
04:56Staying hydrated can't be underestimated.
05:01Yeah, like, you work these events and you're like,
05:04oh, I'm not, I'm actually not feeling great.
05:06And it's like, yeah, well, have you been drinking water?
05:07By the way, are we all drinking water, everyone?
05:10You guys have your drinks, you're staying hydrated because it's very real.
05:16Cheers.
05:17Cheers, guys. Cheers, cheers, cheers.
05:19Go team.
05:20Go team.
05:24What I love about working with Brooke is that she really allows for, like, a true collaborative space
05:28and really values, like, you know, a professional's opinion and, like, really likes to, like, take that into consideration for
05:36her look.
05:36It's not just, like, this is what I want, do it and, like, don't talk to me.
05:39She's, like, really into it.
05:41She really loves glam and it's really always, like, so fun to work with her.
05:46Alexis and I, if you go to our DMs, they are just, it's just all pictures of, like, makeup looks,
05:52like, no context, but, like, we get it.
05:54And we just share constantly, sharing inspiration.
05:57We'll have, like, three different conversations going and, like, complete different looks.
06:01Yes.
06:01And it's all glam-related and only we know.
06:04It's, like, our own language.
06:05It's our own language.
06:07Yo, how does blue make you feel?
06:08Blue makes me feel calm, strong, confident.
06:12My son's name is Blue, but in Turkish.
06:16My son's name is Mavi, which means blue in Turkish.
06:19My daughter's name is Jade.
06:20They're the color of our lives.
06:22I also, you know, thinking way back to my art classes as a kid when you learn about the color
06:26wheel,
06:27so knowing that we were going to have this gorgeous, vibrant blue backdrop, what's across from blue on the color
06:33wheel?
06:33Orange.
06:34So that's why I was, like, I was specifically looking for an orange dress when I was dress shopping.
06:39I was, like, I know that against this blue backdrop I want to wear orange.
06:44And me and the dress found each other, and it was meant to be.
06:48Yay!
06:49So we have this amazing runway look.
06:52It is titled Mycelium, which references the complex structure and nature of fungi underneath.
07:01What you see on top is a beautiful mushroom or whatnot,
07:05but underneath there is incredible boning and corsetry underneath all the structure.
07:10And on top you see a blossom representing an anemone, which is an or femoral flower.
07:17It only grows for a couple weeks in fall, spring.
07:21This is inspired by a crumb catcher dress, which was very popular in the Victorian era.
07:26So what we've done to add volume, truly, is use the use of a Victorian petticoat to add volume.
07:37This is going to accentuate the waist.
07:40And what better month to do it than Women's Month, celebrating the women's form.
07:44I grew up always seeing Essence magazine at the home.
07:48My mom was featured in Essence magazine as an executive on the rise.
07:53And I can remember me and my brother would look and be like, wow, look at mom.
07:57And Essence was always just a constant.
07:59When I would go to the beauty salon, there would always be issues of Essence magazine on the table.
08:03You would flip through. Essence also featured women of so many different ages.
08:07And I think that's one of the things that has made me feel excited about aging,
08:11because it's like you're only growing more into yourself.
08:13You're only growing to be a more fabulous version of yourself.
08:16And I think that black women, I will say, Artavia, let me know if you agree.
08:22I feel like we don't fear aging.
08:24No.
08:25You know, it's like age is a privilege.
08:27And I love that Essence has always celebrated women of all ages.
08:31You know, going into the archives, these vintage issues of Essence.
08:35This is from January 1999.
08:37So it's just become 1999.
08:39I got all of these kind of like older issues of Essence
08:43and just went in and found incredible beauty inspiration.
08:47Actually, your mentor, Sir John, Sam Fine, was interviewed in this one.
08:50I have to show you.
08:51Oh, yeah?
08:52Yeah, I'm going to tell you some of the things he said.
08:55So, okay, the look of dewy skin with a soft glow is the hottest look now.
08:59And if you have oily skin, try powdering your T-zone and reserving the dewy finish for cheeks.
09:03I feel like you do that, right?
09:05Okay, final glam reveal.
09:08Wow.
09:08This is like round of applause.
09:11Everyone did not play any games today.
09:14That is absolutely gorgeous.
09:16The highlight.
09:17This.
09:18Everything is so soft and coming together.
09:21Beautiful.
09:22Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
09:23We whipped it up to shape.
09:24I mean, like, she's already a beautiful, beautiful girl.
09:27But this is like the bippity-boppity-boo.
09:29Oh.
09:30No.
09:31This is next level.
09:32Okay.
09:33Glam's done.
09:34We're moving to wardrobe.
09:37I mean, look at this dress.
09:44This is a costume design trick that I learned from Dion.
09:46What is this called?
09:47It's called a petticoat.
09:48It comes from the Victorian era.
09:49They knew a few things about creating shape in undergarments in the Victorian era.
09:54So, these are going to be tied around my hips and that's going to create that, like,
09:58that shape that we want.
09:59Oh, look at this loveliness.
10:05Okay.
10:06Accessory time?
10:07Yeah.
10:08Accessory time.
10:10Okay.
10:11We're adding in the final touches, the little accessories.
10:15For the bag, we just did, like, a little cute, like, nothing too competitive.
10:19It's kind of almost giving, like, a 1950s.
10:21Naked beauty.
10:23Yes.
10:23We've got a naked shoe, naked bag.
10:25We keep that in the same kind of skin tone palette.
10:28Yes.
10:28And then we let everything else pop.
10:32These are my mother's earrings.
10:34She wore these in the 90s and I always grew up seeing my mom wear these earrings and she
10:38was going to her glamorous events.
10:40And they were clip-on, so ever since I was little I could, like, clip them on and play dress
10:43-up.
10:43So the fact that I'm still playing dress-up at my age in my mother's earrings feels great.
10:48And I love just having her personal history with me on the carpet.
10:51Well, how do you guys think I should pose on the carpet?
10:53Should I do, like, hands on hips?
10:55Cross your ankles.
10:56Cross ankles?
10:57Okay.
10:58Yeah.
10:58Like tugging on one finger.
10:59Yeah, tugging on one finger.
11:01So kind of like this?
11:02Or should I do...
11:03Your elbows can.
11:05Whenever you do that.
11:06I feel like maybe hands on hips is easier, right?
11:08Yes.
11:10The final look.
11:12We're ready to go down.
11:14Do our thing for Essence Black Women in Hollywood.
11:17Okay, you guys are all about to see the craziness because this event is nuts.
11:21We're going into the fray.
11:23I think I'm going to go this way, right?
11:24You look beautiful.
11:26You look amazing.
11:39This year we're celebrating women who live off script.
11:41The ones who don't wait for the mission.
11:42Who don't wait for the role.
11:43Who create the moment for themselves.
11:45This year we are so excited to present the Creator Awards where we highlight some of the
11:50best and brightest on the internet.
11:52And to do that is a creator extraordinaire herself, my dear friend, the beautiful Brooke
11:59DeVart.
11:59Thank you for that lovely introduction.
12:01I'm Brooke DeVart.
12:02I'm so excited to be here today for Essence Black Women in Hollywood.
12:05This award is proudly presented by Smart Water, a brand that celebrates confidence
12:11to define culture on your own terms.
12:14Everyone, please join me in celebrating the 2026 Essence Creator Award honoree, Canigra
12:21Dion.
12:22This means so much to me and to more, to more moments, to more awards.
12:26This is not going to be the last award, last time being here.
12:29So I really, really appreciate it.
12:31We did it.
12:32We came, we saw, we conquered.
12:34I was able to present the Creator Award to Canigra Dion.
12:38I did my carpet walk.
12:40I mean, look at the energy here on the carpet.
12:42Everyone looks so gorgeous.
12:43This is going to be such a fun event.
12:45I feel like the hard part is over and now I just get to go in and enjoy myself.
12:49So we're going to have fun tonight.
12:51Thank you all so much for joining, watching, and being a part of this very special day.
12:55Let's go inside and have some fun.
12:57Bye, everybody.
12:57We'll be back around absolutely shooting next.
13:02Hope we would.
13:03We were better off.
13:03Dong