BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Essence magazine has not only created one of America’s signature events of the 4th of July (via the mammoth annual “Essence Music Festival” in New Orleans), but they have quickly created one of the must-be-at events of the annual Oscars week through the Black Women of Hollywood luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire hotel.
The honorees and attendees reads like the Who’s Who of Hollywood, including walking goldmine Shonda Rhimes (creator and writer of blockbuster series “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” and “How to Get Away With Murder”), Oprah Winfrey, Kerry Washington, Lupita Nyong’o, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, actress/director Regina King (Fierce & Fearless Award), the cast ofOrange is the New Black (Vanguard Award) and costume designer Ruth E. Carter (Visionary Award), David Oyelowo, John Legend, Kelly Rowland,
Selma star David Oyelowo, on hand to present Mbatha-Raw’s award, hailed the luncheon as one of his favorite awards season events, and hit on another common theme of the afternoon: the need for more diversity in Hollywood.
Take a look at some of the hottest photos from the Oscar-related event that took place at the mouth of Rodeo Drive.
Photos: Twitter, Instagram
