Entertainment
Queen Latifah on Returning to Host This Year’s NAACP Image Awards: ‘I Want to Deliver Something to My People’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 03: Queen Latifah speaks on stage throughout the thirty eighth Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on November 3, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Kane/Getty Images for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Queen Latifah returns to host the NAACP Image Awards for the second yr in a row and admits she feels the pressure.
“I put a certain amount of pressure on myself with every project and everything I do because I want everything to go well and be good,” she tells ESSENCE from her makeup chair between rehearsals for a movie show. “I really just want to serve my people.”
Broadcasting live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, the fifty fifth NAACP Image Awards will culminate a week-long celebration of Black excellence in entertainment. Distinguished honors will go to Usher, who’s the 2024 President’s Award recipient, poet Amanda Gorman, who will receive the President’s Award, and stylist June Ambrose, who will receive the Vanguard Award.

Not only can Latifah take the stage because the evening’s host, but she’s also an NAACP Image Award winner, as she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her starring role within the film, which she also executive produces. , a brief film produced by The Queen Collective – a Proctor & Gamble and Latifah-owned Flavor Unit Entertainment company that goals to expand opportunities for female and non-binary filmmakers of color – was also nominated for Best Short Film.
“I’m one among those individuals who appears like each time I try to make a movie, I’m doing all the pieces I can to share my vision and make it universally appealing to everyone. It’s nice to have such a prestigious organization that your parents find out about and everybody looks at your project and feels it deserves an award,” says Jenn Shaw, director of the film, which tells the story of a prepubescent girl torn between keeping a gap between her teeth. and the pursuit of a “perfect” smile. All vital measures.
“I’m incredibly impressed,” Shaw adds of the nomination, “but I also think it’s just the start of something for me as a filmmaker. I would like to earn more, I would like to develop and I would like to receive more opportunities.

Latifah is hopeful about Shaw’s future as a filmmaker and other Black creators, despite renewed conversations concerning the forms of Black stories studios proceed to allow to be told in light of the recent cancellation of popular TV series like “Issa Rae” and
“For us in the arts, I think we still have a lot to offer that no one else can do,” Latifah says. “I feel like if we stay on our path and keep doing what we’ve been doing and keep building things like the Queen Collective and other collectives, supporting each other, we’ll start to see these projects progress because there’s nothing different like them.”
He adds that awards shows also play a giant role on this effort. “When one of us wins, we win in a different way. We tend to win, and so does Cord [Jefferson] winning the Oscars in a way that our speeches are designed to promote each other, not just self-promotion or maintaining the status quo.”
This selflessness made it a no brainer for the Queen to return to host the NAACP Image Awards this yr. “It wasn’t a big deal to agree to it,” he says. “It was just a matter of whether I could make it happen within my schedule and, beyond that, whether we could make it well done, properly produced and with a large number of people involved. I’m more than happy to be on this show.”

Shaw is happy concerning the nomination and potential win, but like many viewers, she will be able to’t wait to see what Latifah will wear on the large night. Although the host didn’t reveal any details about her upcoming wardrobe, she did promise that she would dress in front of the audience.
“We’re going to bring it, and I know everyone at home will bring it,” Latifah says. “I like award shows and seeing what everyone wears and the way different they give the impression of being from one edition to the subsequent. I like all this melaninated beauty and I can not wait.
The fifty fifth NAACP Image Awards will air live on Saturday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
Entertainment
Usher to provide the address of the Emory University class start from 2025 graduates

It seems that there will not be much that Usher Raymond IV – Better, known to the world, simply as a USher – no. He can sing. He can dance. He can sing and dance while skating. He works. Sells Las Vegas residences. Performs philanthropic work.
And also performs the completion addresses. Usher was utilized by the University in its own yard. May 12 Usher will provide the address at Emory University 180. Ceremony of graduation and shall be awarded with an honorary doctorate in humanitarian letters from the institution. This will not be the first Usher Rodeo with an honorary doctorate; In 2023 Berklee School of Music in Boston He awarded the International Superstar with distinction. He also gave comments then.
Usher will not be alien to Emory University. His non-profit, New Usher Lookwhich according to the website“He transforms the lives of malnourished youth through a comprehensive program that develops passion, global leaders”, has established cooperation with Emory’s University’s University Goizueta Business School in a 400-hour program helping to prepare teenagers for faculty. Apparently, non-profit influenced over 50,000 students.
“I spent my life following my spark – my passion – and trying to support young people when they find and follow their own passions. I am excited that I have the opportunity to talk to these amazing Emory students who graduate and prepare for imprint in the world – said Usher in Billboard statement.
Usher is one of the most successful musical acts in history, selling over 80 million records, winning many Grammy awards and has toured throughout the world since his profession in the mid -90s. His album “Confessions” from 2004 is the second best -selling album from 2000 and is taken into account by Rolling Stone as one of the best albums of all of all of all.
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Entertainment
The most iconic moments of the beauty of Robert Flack – Essence

Anthony Barboza/Getty Images
Robert Flack, a valued singer, songwriter and pianist, died on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. The legendary singer, whose velvety voice again defined the soul and R&B, stays a everlasting icon of elegance, emotions and artistry. With timeless classics, resembling “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and “The First Time Ever and Wis See Your Face”, the singer died the audience captivated the audience along with her ability to weave delicacy and power in every note. Not only will we take heed to her repetitive music, but we won’t stop eager about its most iconic moments of beauty.
In the 70s Robert seriously swayed Afro – a daring statement of being black and proud – during performances at live shows, including the famous Newport Jazz festival. Two years later, she honored the scene of Ronnie Scott in London along with her hair drawn into the band, combined with dramatic long eyelashes, which defined her characteristic appearance. Always to experiment with hair, she also accepted braids decorated with beads, without effort combining style and cultural pride.
Just a few many years quickly forward, and Robert was still turning her head. While playing in Gillette Civil Rights 2010 between Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, she stunned the navy blue eye shadow, a dark light highlighter and daring red lipstick. The following yr, she performed at Bideawee Ball from 2011 with full rhythm – eyeliner, mascara, highlighter and its characteristic red lips. And in 2020 she performed unforgettable during the 62th annual Grammy Awards, wearing a beautiful curly crown and the same red lipstick that we met and loved.
In honor of her everlasting legacy, we glance back at some of the most iconic beauty moments of Roberta’s incomparable flack.
Entertainment
Joe Freshgoods X New Balance 992 “Starn Well” is celebrating cooperation

Joe Freshgoods selects five years and counts with New Balance because of his latest version 992 “Arged Well”, a tribute to his creative partnership with a characteristic brand of sportswear, which still supports his design talents and a contagious passion.
After Debut On the Joe Freshgoods New Balance 992 website, Chicago Creative is preparing for a wider version of February 28 via newbalance.com and chosen retail sellers. The new edition of the sneakers means the fifth anniversary of Joe of New Balance, milestone after almost stood before closing his now widely beloved and known brand.
The document coming in June 2025 is shared within the history of Joe’s success, from his start as an area Streetwearus brand in his hometown of Chicago to providing New Balance partnership in 2020, when he wasn’t sure find out how to keep his business.
“He examines how the partnership influenced the global culture of sneakers and development transparency”, Joe common In the announcement on Instagram, “which was more important to me than just doing it about tennis games. This is a real life. ”
The trailer of the documentation offers access to Joe’s journey, presenting his modest approach to success and its influence on the Boston brand of sportswear founded in 1906. Since joining New Balance, Joe Robinson (higher referred to as Joe Freshgoods), a champion with a young history.
Five years later, with 20 Sneakers Publishing House and counting the most recent cooperation of New Balance Joe Freshgoods is a love letter for his creative journey with the Boston brand.
“Sometimes I feel that I shouldn’t be here. But I am here and say, “Oh, I’m good at what I do,” he says within the film.
Project 992 “Agnish well” attracts the inspiration from the primary cooperation of Joe Freshgoods from New Balance – the edition of New Balance 992 “No Emotions”, also referred to as “heart anatomy”. It was a right away hit and celebrated in the course of the NBA All-Star weekend, and now charges resale prices around $ 3,000.
While the explanations for the New Balance revival may vary, many consider the primary release of Joe 992 to be a catalyst that enlivened the brand. Sneakers have pink and red suede silhouettes placed on an olive mesh base and accented saddle skin on the tongue and rear card.
Four sets of lace are attached, and the box is decorated with unique details reflecting the theme “aging well”. In addition, Joe Freshgoods designed the “Championship Dreams” leather university jacket to commemorate his five -year success as a designer.
“I wanted this jacket to capture the essence of the last five years – each project was a milestone, another closed chapter, another dream,” Joe signature Post on Instagram. “Over time, I had the honor to tell culturally important stories, and this jacket reflects this travel project according to the design.”
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