ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Honors Lashana Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Niecy Nash, Janet Mock And POSE Cast

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Black Girl Magic Comes To Life At Essence Black Women In Hollywood Event

Thursday ESSENCE Magazine celebrated their 13th annual Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon, honoring actresses Lashana Lynch and Niecy Nash, director Melina Matsoukas and the cast and creator of the FX hit show “POSE”. BOSSIP was in the building as a guest of presenting sponsor Ford and we can truly say the event was a black girl magical one.

Storm Reid and Ava Duvernay attend Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon

Source: Rich Polk / Getty Images For Essence / Getty

Some of our favorite faces graced the place, including the beautiful and talented Storm Reid — who reunited with her “When They See Us” director Ava Duvernay. Duvernay did the honors of presenting Niecy Nash with her award.

Eve Cooper hosts Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Eve held down hosting duties for the day and she was supported by her CBS “The Talk” co-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Sharon Osbourne, Marie Osmond and Carrie Ann Inaba.

Marie Osmond Carrie Ann Inaba Eve Cooper and Sharon Osbourne attend Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Hit the flip for more great photos from the event.

Brittany Howard attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Brittany Howard Performs At The 13th Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Event

We were thrilled to be treated to a performance from singer Brittany Howard. Her voice is so amazing.

Michelle Eubanks Dee Guerrero Raj Register and Moana Luu attend Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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We also loved that the executives in the building were just as radiant as the stars. The big boss energy from Ford Motor Company’s Raj Register and Dee Guerrero and ESSENCE’s Michelle Ebanks and Moana Luu is incredible. Ford unveiled their Ford Escape “Built Phenomenally” commercial campaign at the event, playing several of the commercials they created with director Kanyessa McMahon and costume designer Marci Rodgers. The clips feature real black women helmed organizations – Girls Make Beats, Free The Work, Made In Her Image and See Her.

Marsai Martin Janelle Monae and Issa Rae attend Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon

Source: Rich Polk / Getty Images For Essence / Getty

We loved this shot of Issa Rae with Janelle Monae and Marsai Martin

Garcelle Beauvais attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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We chatted with Garcelle Beauvais and congratulated her on bringing some color to the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.

Kandi Burruss attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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We also caught up with Kandi from RHOA.

Eva Marcille attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Eva Marcille and Cynthia Bailey were also in the building.

Melina Matsoukas attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Melina Matsoukas gave the Real Housewives of Atlanta a shoutout in her speech — which also credited sisterhood, her mother, Beyoncé and other influences. She also spoke about finding frustration in her business but being advised not to let “them” steal her joy. It was an epic speech.

Lashana Lynch attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Lashana Lynch also devoted much of her speech to her mother and her mother’s sacrifice – her grace was truly something to behold.

Niecy Nash honored by Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Niecy Nash was wonderfully transparent, talking about how a wardrobe malfunction had threatened to derail her day, then going on to reveal how she was raised to believe a woman was nothing without a man, but that coming into her own had convinced her otherwise. She addressed some of her words to her daughters in the audience.

Janet Mock attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Janet Mock and the cast of POSE were also honored.

Billy Porter attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Billy Porter presented their award.

Angelica Ross attends Essence Black Women In Hollywood

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Angelica Ross had already captured our hearts in the role of Candy but we spoke with her briefly at the event and she was so humble and sweet that we’ll treasure the interaction forever. We can’t wait to see what she’ll do next now that her time on “POSE” has come to a close.