Plot Synopsis

Held each year the week before the ACADEMY AWARDS, the ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS spotlights the top African-American women who are pushing the limits, raising the bar and breaking through barriers in both film and television. First televised in 2015, the eighth annual event, hosted by Tracey Edmonds and Shemar Moore, was televised as a one-hour special on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. This 60-minute program covered special moments from the awards show, which honored cast members of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, Regina King, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and legendary costume designer Ruth Carter. Presenters included Oprah Winfrey, Lupita Nyong'o, Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo, Mara Brock Akil and Gina Prince Bythewood. Plus, John Legend and Common were scheduled to perform. The 2016 ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS were held on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and broadcast two days later as a one-hour special on Saturday, February 27 at 10pm ET/PT on OWN, featuring exclusive backstage interviews, red-carpet highlights and intimate reflections from the annual luncheon. The 9th annual event honored actress Tracee Ellis Ross with the Fierce & Fearless Award; producer, director and actress Debbie Allen with the Legend Award; and entertainment attorney Nina Shaw with the Lincoln Power Award. Plus, the luncheon was highlighted by a performance by Leon Bridges and appearances from Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, Nick Cannon, Ryan Coogler, Zendaya and more. LaLa Anthony hosted the live red carpet live stream, starting at 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT the day of the event.On Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network premiered the 2017 ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS, a one-hour special highlighting an event that was held 10 days earlier on Thursday, February 23 at the Beverly Wilshire, as it shifted from a daytime luncheon to an evening gala for the first time. Actress/producer Gabrielle Union serves as the program's host. For its 10th anniversary, the event featured: actress/musician/entertainer Janelle Monae receiving the Breakthrough Award; groundbreaking actress/writer/producer Issa Rae being honored with the Vanguard Award; standout actress Aja Naomi King receiving the Lincoln Shining Star Award; and dynamic actress Yara Shahidi earning the Generation Next Award.
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The 2018 ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS premiered on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 10-11pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Hosted by INSECURE actress Yvonne Orji, this year's luncheon -- which was held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel two days earlier on Thursday, March 1 -- recognized the accomplishments of BLACK PANTHER star and playwright Danai Gurira, writer and actress Lena Waithe, comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish, and actress/activist Tessa Thompson. In addition, presenters included Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Janelle Monae, Milton 'Lil Rel' Howery, and Justin Simien. Plus, Chloe x Halle, performed their new song, "Warrior," from A WRINKLE IN TIME.