Celebrity Coverage
Debbie Allen gives a lesson on harnessing your power at the Hillman Grad Women On The Rise event

Photo: Chris Lowe
“Having power doesn’t mean you can be mean or make people feel lesser; having power empowers people,” Debbie Allen told a crowd of eager listeners at the Hillman Honors Women on the Rise event in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. The April 14 meeting was the brainchild of Hillman Grad Productions’ head of cultural marketing, Marquis Phifér, and a full-circle moment for Lena Waithe, who named her production company after a fictional college from a sitcom on which Allen served as showrunner and producer 122 episodes.
it felt like an escape for me,” Waithe said during a panel discussion moderated by Allen. “When I watched this movie, I obviously wasn’t in highschool yet, but I used to be experiencing college life and what that meant. And that meant community. It meant a chosen family. It also meant involvement in the politics of the time. It taught me a lot; not only about who I used to be as a person of color, but in addition about what it meant to be a good friend. What does it mean to be not only a good student, but in addition a good teacher?

Waithe was joined on the panel by Jojo T. Gibbs, star of her BET coming-of-age series, D. Smith, producer and director of the Sundance Audience Award-winning series, and AV Rockwell, winner of the Independent Spirit Award.
During the event, hosted by NAACP Image Award nominee Gia Peppers and featuring aspiring creators in addition to actresses Ashley Blain Featherson-Jenkins, Christina Elmore Duke and Aisha Hinds, each woman spoke about her entry point into Hollywood and key takeaways that they carry with them when reaching the next level of success.
Smith, a former Grammy-nominated record producer, opened up about her experiences sleeping on friends’ couches for 3 years after being shunned by the music industry when she discovered her identity as a transgender woman.

“When I passed, people just stopped coming. They stopped calling. And truthfully, I lost the whole lot,” she said.
Looking for a way out of her difficult situation, Smith asked someone to purchase her a camera, after which made her debut documentary about 4 black transgender sex employees.
“The best thing I’ve learned is that you can’t be creative and jealous at the same time,” Smith told the audience. “You have to stop your ego to move because God, the universe literally activates itself by how you act, and you have to humble yourself.”

Gibbs, who began in stand-up and currently stars in , also talked about the personal responsibility that comes with growing fame. “I have been praying and asking God about where I am now for years, since I was a child, and I think it was only recently that I realized the duality of asking God to be a pioneer in the family and the responsibility and expectation and entitlement that comes from some people to that you are able to do what you do,” she said. “Something is going on in your family, they will pay attention to you. Things come up for your friends and you are seen as the one who can handle them. There may be a lot of expectations placed on your shoulders, so you have to learn to set boundaries, but also to put yourself in front of these people, because you were the person appointed to this position and if God puts you in this position, then you are capable of doing it.”
It’s this reality that led Rockwell, who’s currently writing her next screenplay, to redefine her definition of strength, especially as a woman who has needed to be self-sufficient for much of her life.
“Being an artist outside the corporate space doesn’t require routine visits every six months where someone asks, ‘Hey, how are you?’ so I’ve learned to constantly check myself in all the ways that everyone shares. How am I? What do I need to work on? Especially limiting beliefs,” she said. “Yes, there may be a fight going on for our people, but I don’t discover with it. I’m aware of it, I navigate because it appears, but it surely isn’t my identity.

At the end of the panel, Allen received a framed playbill of the musical through which she began her Broadway profession in 1970, and a framed commencement program for Howard’s graduation ceremony in 1971. Receiving her gifts, Allen said, “I’m 74 years old and busier than ever.” before. I’m working on two movies, a Broadway show, and trying to jot down a memoir.
“I say these things to say that the road goes on and you just have to stay on it,” Allen continued. “Stay in the light and keep going. Keep plowing and stay curious. The things I do not know, I would like to know, and that can keep you perpetually young.
Celebrity Coverage
Exclusive: Anok Yai on the new Extrense Extrense Mugler campaign – Essence

Anok Yai Walking in Mugler’s SS24 Show by Krysty Sparow/Getty Images
Two years ago, the supermodel Anok Yai closed the historic SS24 Mugler show during Paris Fashion Week. Sheer mask covered her face and her dress formulated her bust. Both ended with a train that opposed gravitational laws – making a form in the air. The same program, a new fragrance was born in the Mugler line – and Yai will soon turn into a face.
After the debut with Hiperzense Eau de Parfum last 12 months, Yai claims that the latest iteration of the fragrance, Foreign persistentIt’s something different. “This is another chapter in the history of Alien,” says only Essence. “It is more intense, more sensual – campaign, but also the smell itself.”

For the first time fired in 2005, the fragrance line of Thierry Mugler opened the portal mysteriously invented aromas invented as a “dimension bomb”. The original aroma, exhausted from the history of shaman women, was an overdose of amber and cough, and in the new apparent smell it became much more charming and charming. “Foreign extraintense examines captivating and sensual aspects of femininity,” says Master Perfumer Dominique Ropion.
While there are numerous versions of the aroma, feeding the line with new facets helps Mugler continues to inform this story. From Hesperidic to fruity dimensions: “There are no restrictions on the intensity of raw materials, without hesitation in taking synthetic innovations,” says Ropion. “We can overdose, contrast and create Zlfel shocks that seem almost unearthly.”
Translation of bodily attraction, magnetism and deepening desire, Ropion claims that the smell is mature with a flower that refuses unnoticed: tuberosis. Meanwhile, vanilla notes are aimed toward pouring a whole lot of heat that lasts long after leaving. “It’s really magnetic Eau de Parfum, which exudes fierce women’s and saturated floral smell,” says Yai. “Although I am naturally introverted, this fragrance allows me to make contact with others at a passionate level. It is as if my energy precedes me, attracting people before talking.”

The unexpected Yai introversion is overshadowed by its strange and charming presence, as is a saturated floral aroma. “Being from the Migrant family has strengthened my work ethics since I was a child,” he says as The first black open model Prada Since Naomi Campbell in 1997. Looking at the great ones, equivalent to Michael Jackson, Nina Simone and Bette Davis: “I always believed that I could do everything and I was always very resistant. I am very confident, and fear of failure is less than ever.”
These facets of her history of origin are what extraintense is about. From introversion and immunity, to fearlessness and romanticism, “it is important to find beauty in everything you do,” he says. By creating an intimate combination with every little thing that affects, Yai distracts a bodily, hypnotic trail into on a regular basis objects. “I spray bedding, hotel bed, aircraft seats with a smell, so I always feel at home; I have flowers everywhere, I go to sleep in perfumes, the list is long,” he says. “It seems to me that I can say that I am exaggerating my life, but I believe that this makes life worth life.”
Celebrity Coverage
The approved expert looks to try the Beyoncé “Cowboy Carter” trip – Essence

Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Beyoncé had a busy yr. During the 67th annual Grammy Award she was the first black woman in history who won the best album of the village yr of the yr. Now he goes to his 32-stop (and naturally, Brings Cécted on the road).
As an official cosmetic brand of the route, the hair care brand Beyoncé Cécred will host windows at stadiums across the country, but there’s one query: what beauty do you seem like?
From wild ponies to rustic eye makeup and jeans manicure, cosmetics experts break the best appearance of beauty during the trip below.
Hair
“The appearance of Cowboy Carter hair can be described as a mixture of durable and without efforts”, a brand of Wella professionals and a hair stylist Dereq Clark Essence says. Think: Tornel waves with a sunny tone embedded in the ranch. “He is not very refined and stylized,” he says. By throwing approved cowboy accessories, akin to hats, bandans and rustic hairpins, Clark predicts the revival of natural, without effort of styles.
Classic cowboy hair: “This appearance is perfectly combined with a stylish cowboy hat,” he says. “The key is to create volume in the roots while maintaining the length.”
How-to: Start with clean, dry hair. Use a volumetric mole, such Wella Professionals Eimi Extra Volume Mussse At the roots and pull your hair the other way up. After this lift, barely pull the sides and let the length fall naturally. For a pleasant natural gloss and gloss, which it recommends Wella Professionals Ultimate smooth wonderful oil serum To smooth your hair and epidermis. The hat will do the rest, adding talent, while keeping the hair perfectly on the spot.
Tusled braids: “The braids are not only practical, but they can also be very stylish,” he says, suggesting that you just are leaning into raw, tonal hair colours. “This appearance gives adventure at climate.”
How-to: After parting with Cécred tail farewellTake a part of the hair on either side and wrap it loosely. Leave several facial fragments to get additional softness. Protect the braids at the back or allow them to hang over their arms to get a boho turn. Using Virus restoring the edge and drops of cécred hair AND Nourishing hair oilFinish the edges, scalp and braids with healthy hydration.
Wild West pony: This appearance is a “classic pony, but Tom is a large invoice key,” says Clark.
How-to: Start with the splash of texturing as Wella Professionals EiMI Sugar Lift Sugar Spray To add sand to your hair. Collect your hair right into a high ponytail, but gently stretch the hair crown to create volume against protecting them. Wrap a small section of the hair around the base of the pony to get a elegant finish. You may even add a handkerchief around the base to get much more fun.
Makeup
“Cowboy Carter as makeup is brave, stuffy and powerful,” says a star makeup artist Year. “He taps a classic western grit with glam.” Think: smoked pad, deep shades of earthy, radiant brown skin and a bit rebellious edge. “It is the fashion cowboy that meets the southern girl,” he says.
At the Yeik stadium, it provides soft matte finishes, daring eyelashes and metallic accents, akin to gold and silver to catch the stage lights. “Western fashion is about statement, so this makeup reflects: dramatic eyes, sunny skin and strong moments of lips,” he says.
Bronzed Smokey Eye & Nude Lip:
How-to: Start with brown eye shadow mixed with crushing, deep brown smoke along the eyelash and pop gloss lines on the lid. Connect it with a bare lip and soft contour to concentrate on your eyes. More natural, but warm appearance, the make -up artist of the glory Salo banks She says that this look is her most suitable option. “My absolute favorite is golden brown, shadows of gold and amber,” he says. Meanwhile, a makeup celebrity Wendi Tolkin San George He says that Smokey Eye will be done with silver shine, as a substitute of bronze, which is well connected with the cowboy denim Beyoncé.
Monochrome berries:
How-to: Use the wealthy tones of berries on the cheeks, lips and eyes to get a fresh but romantic western atmosphere. “It gives a rode-glam without being too exaggerated,” says Yeika, recommending cream products for a refined finish. Based on the appearance, Banks suggests a bushy brow for the moment of “uncontrollable, wild, free and nervous”, while artificial freckles add unexpected details.
Graphic Liner + Bold Lip:
How-to: A pointy wing or double liner in deep brown or black will be connected to a thickened red or oxblood lip to give a drama cowgirl. “This is a nod to the fearless form of Beyoncé and southern heritage,” says Yeika. According to Banks, the characteristic stain of red or coral lips also gives “the appearance of a vintage rodeo”. To achieve this, Tolkin San George recommends products akin to Mac retro matte lipstick In the historic shade of “Ruby Woo” and with the help of eyelash glue for sticking dhinstones on the face and eyes, supplemented with full eyelashes.
Nails
“I would describe my nails as a” black cowgirl order “, says nails Gayaya Haug. Imaging the white basic color with blue and red accents, he suggests the decorativeness of Lassos, hats, shoes, belts, horseshoe, cow print – all Western things. Oh, and “a variety of jewels”. “I’d join many pearls and flashy gems to give the western atmosphere of pop,” says a haug, crowned with a famous sash.
Silver/golden decorations with turquoise:
How-to: Silver and golden accents are at all times added to western nails and typically go to the turquoise background. The best way to get a turquoise stone is to select the best turquoise color, add some wigl lines and a few mixing them into turquoise, after which add more final black lines upstairs to add a further detailed layer.
Jean Nails:
How-to: Jean Nails is totally Kowboja Carter, especially since she cooperated with Levi’s. I’d select darker blue in denim color, I added in the middle a painfully blue airbrush or powder to give a dimension in a denim style, after which added lines around the nail outline for the seam. If you wish to really go crazy, you’ll be able to stick pieces of real nail jeans to make them look realistic. And as well as, you’ll be able to even fold them.
Nail star:
How-to: Finally, to make the perfect nail stars, which for my part are so coded cowboy, you wish to pull the nail brush and draw a 5 -point star, after which fill it. They are so funny, but they require a variety of patience.
Celebrity Coverage
Coachella Victoria Monét’s hair was a golden dream that comes to life – essence

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella
Victoria Monét gave us all of the energy of the goddess, which we could advise during her performance Coachella 2025 – and yes, the vocals were fire, the choreography was tight, but let’s take a moment to discuss these hair. Floating, soft and glowing, as if it were kissed by the desert sun, the looks of Monét was a pure festival fantasy. Master after magic? Hairstilist Detard Washingtonwho used something spiritual, effective and undeniably feminine.
“We were inspired by the goddess of the desert’s energy and the charm of the festival,” says Washington Essence. “We wanted something soft, luxurious and radiant that would flow with the desert wind and are still a bold statement.” And yes. Hair danced with every move – it never overwhelm, all the time strengthening. “The appearance celebrates the natural beauty and power of Victoria, while covering these dreamy, golden-hour vibrations,” he adds.
To revive this vision, Washington began with a moisturizing vacation to keep the monét silky bands, after which a chic explosion with DREAM ARTYLE PRO. Then appeared waves-created from one inch curling wand and directed for perfection for a soft, experienced consistency. “The art is that the curls will position themselves and cool before their feat,” he advises. “In this way you get this effort, a condemned look.” And seal the contract? Color wow dream coat For a glow resistant to moisture and light-weight gloss fog to catch the sunshine on every bend.
For anyone who wants to recreate the view, Washington suggests ranging from the silk press or blowjob to get smoothness. “Use a small barrel, wrap your hair from your face and don’t touch them until it’s fun. It’s the key,” he says. Then finish with a light oil or shiny spray to direct your personal moment of the primary character.
But other than glam there’s a real artistry in constructing a look that can handle all this. “I absolutely love the thrill associated with creating something that not only looks breathtaking in the light of the headlights, but also withstands the heat, movement and energy of the full performance,” says Washington. “It’s about hitting the perfect balance between beauty and durability.”
What in regards to the monét itself? “Her spirit is as beautiful as she looks,” she says with a smile. “She is grounded, creative and trusted in this process. She knows who she is, and this confidence makes my work so funny.”
Monét was not enough – she crossed. And thanks to the touch of Washington, her hair was together with her, blowing within the wind like a love letter to black beauty, craftsmanship and desert divinity.
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