LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mary J. Blige is bringing her mission of empowering women beyond music to her hometown – with the help of the singer’s superstar friends.

Taraji P. Henson, Tiffany Haddish and Jill Scott and other stars and experts will join Blige on her behalf Women’s Power Summit and Festival starts on May 10. Her three-day event over Mother’s Day weekend in New York will feature live shows, comedy acts, a gospel brunch, panel discussions and workshops specializing in technology, beauty, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

On Thursday, organizers announced additional speakers including Henson, Marsai Martin, Method Man, Larenz Tate, Tasha Smith, Michael Rainey Jr., Angie Martinez and Pinky Cole. The event will likely be hosted by comedian Jess Hilarious and podcast host Gia Peppers.

“We teach each other, support each other and lift each other up,” the R&B singer said in a recent interview. “We help each other stay in our businesses and maintain our mental health and so on.”

Blige launched the Women’s Power event in 2022 after years of seeing women at her live shows “hanging on every word like my life belonged to them.” The singer felt she was connecting with concert-goers as she told her own deep stories about overcoming pain.

“I thought to myself, ‘Let me do more than just sing for them,’” said Blige, a nine-time Grammy winner who has won an Emmy, two Oscar nominations and will likely be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this 12 months.

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“In the middle of my songs, it just jumps out at me,” she continued. “Some words of inspiration. People love it. My team and I thought, “Why don’t we just create a festival with the same theme?”

After two successful years in Atlanta, Blige moved her festival to her native New York. He will play an enormous concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with guest appearances by 50 Cent, Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Lola Brooke and Muni Long. Robert Glasper will headline a jazz concert at the Blue Note Jazz Club, and Haddish will take the stage for a comedy act at the Apollo Theater.

Blige stated that in addition to entertainment, she wants to provide resources that may uplift and encourage participants to succeed in life.

“I do my job,” she said. “I’m doing what I was sent to Earth to do. I do my job by uplifting women and letting them know you’re not the only one. You can come here as a safe haven and find comfort.”

Brian McKnight has avoided web drama amid backlash over his seemingly non-existent relationship with his eldest children.

On May 1, McKnight shared two videos on Instagram, telling his fans that he was heading to the south of France to spend time with his mom and dad with his wife Leilani.

McKnight publicly disowned his sons Brian McKnight Jr. and Niko McKnight with his ex-wife Julie McKnight. The first couple was married from 1990 to 2003. The “Crazy Love” artist also has a daughter, Briana, whom he described as “out of wedlock” on social media, with his ex Patricia Driver. She was born during his first marriage. The singer also has one other son, Clyde, with an unknown woman.

The “Back at One” singer also described his older children – all of whom have black moms – as “products of sin” and “evil.”

However, McKnight apparently has nothing but nice things to say about his stepchildren and young son with Leilani and fans reacted to the drama on social media and condemned the singer for how he treated his eldest children online.

“So Brian McKnight married Julie McKnight, had 2 sons with her, Brian Jr. and Niko, he cheated on her with Patricia Driver and had a daughter, Briana McKnight, who Julie treated as her own – she disowned EVERYONE – got a new wife and step children and I haven’t looked back. Jesus,” wrote one user.

The 54-year-old singer was also nicknamed “Toxic & Childish” and after announcing his upcoming concert in Detroit on Instagram, fans were delighted with him once more.

Following the backlash, McKnight took to Instagram and in a single of his “weekly replies” announced that he and Leilani were going to France for a vacation.

“Hi everyone. We’re on our way – we’re about to board a plane for a little romantic getaway,” he announced he said. “To the south of France, to the French Riviera – a little time for mom and dad.”

In one other video shared the identical day, McKnight gushed over his wife as she waited for a flight and sipped rosé during lunch at London’s Heathrow Airport.

After swiping at Leilani’s plate to exhibit her lunch and cleavage, the “Find Myself In You” singer giggled and it ejaculated“Mommy and Daddy don’t have to keep quiet tonight.”

The “Still in Love” singer received enormous support from his fans after his posts. “Can’t anyone make me hate Brian McKnight. Especially bitter, hateful mother trolls.” he wrote one. Another echoed this sentiment. “His family drama has nothing to do with me. I love him as an artist and always will.”

It’s unclear whether McKnight will proceed his social media streak while in Europe, but not everyone seems to be on his side.

Two other people said: “I listen to Brian McKnight and I’m disgusted by his actions, hmm… but I won’t turn it off slap” and “Brian McKnight drives straight to where it’s hot and there isn’t any sun shine“

I listen to Brian McKnight and I’m disgusted by his actions, smh….but I won’t turn off that slap. 🫠

— Bad Lil Vibe (@ayyethats_bri_) May 3, 2024

McKnight will perform on June 9 in Detroit on the MotorCity Casino Hotel.

This Monday, Hollywood’s favorite stars will fly to New York for the biggest ball of the 12 months: Met Gala 2024. Aesthetician, including Sofia Richie and Kelly Rowland, Shani Darden attached. “I love coming to New York and was excited to have the opportunity to prep some clients’ skin before heading to the Met Ball,” she tells ESSENCE. Darden is sticking to this 12 months’s “The Garden Of Time” dress code, bringing out the skin of the evening’s most blooming guests. “It’s a big weekend for us and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Below, Darden shares her celebrity skin-approved secrets, the importance of prepping your skin, and how one can recreate your signature facial have a look at home.

ESSENCE: Why did you choose to maneuver your beauty services from Los Angeles to New York this weekend?

Shani Darden: In addition to the Met Ball, we’re also hosting an event throughout the weekend at the Sephora store in Soho where people can enroll for a mini-massage with my Triple acid peeling. It’s the next smartest thing to getting one in every of my peels in my studio, and I’m so excited that everybody can experience the red carpet glow at home.

Can you tell us which celebrities you will likely be giving facials to?

You’ll just need to wait and see! I’m incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to arrange the skins of the most amazing actors, actresses, artists and lots of others. I do know that the Met Ball is a giant red carpet event and I never assume that I’m a small a part of that have.

How do you prepare your clients for the red carpet? Can you give us the most significant steps for a mask?

All my clients receive my Signature Facial Face, which is tailored to the needs of every client’s skin. I like to supply clean skin that’s taut and sculpted with an easy glow. My facial treatments include vibration therapy, light chemical peeling, oxygen therapy, microcurrent, extractions when needed, LED light therapy, cryotherapy, and just a few other things.

Before an event, I like giving my clients a lactic acid peel since it’s great for all skin types and is not too harsh. It doesn’t dry you out, you literally leave glowing. This is the best. Customers liked it a lot that I created a version for home use, my Triple Acid Signature Peel, during the pandemic. It is a terrific skin regenerator that leaves your skin glowing and your pores clear between visits.

We know that stars will most probably be wearing full makeup for the Met Gala. Why is it necessary to arrange the skin before applying makeup?

Preparing the skin before applying makeup is amazingly necessary. You need to create a clean, smooth canvas and a moisturized base before your heavy red carpet makeup. Before applying makeup, I like to recommend using a cleanser like mine Cleansing serumto scrub away all dirt and impurities out of your face. After cleansing, use my Facial shaping wand stimulate circulation and firm and tighten the skin.

The last step before applying makeup is moisturizing. This is one in every of the most significant steps to be certain that the makeup blends well into the face and doesn’t create a sticky or crease effect. I like mine Firming and moisturizing serum since it not only moisturizes but in addition helps protect the skin’s protective barrier. After a moisturizing serum, I go along with a moisturizing cream like mine Moisturizing peptide cream. It provides 72 hours of hydration, but can be non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog pores.

How can we recreate the Met Gala face at home?

Triple Acid Peeling is the perfect homemade facial scrub that means that you can recreate the glow of the red carpet in the comfort of your personal home. The treatment consists of a 2-stage peeling powered by three acids to renew and brighten the skin, in addition to a neutralizing mask to deeply cleanse and tighten pores.

Step 1: Use a peeling based on lactic, glycolic and mandelic acid, which immediately removes dead skin cells from many layers. You apply it with the included brush and leave it for 2 minutes.

Step 2: Apply a soothing kaolin-bentonite clay mask that neutralizes the 1st step. You will feel a fast, intense tingling sensation – that is the neutralization of the peeling. Deeply cleanses and tightens pores by removing dirt and sebum without excessively drying the skin. The skin stays renewed, smooth and radiant. I like to recommend doing this every few weeks for optimum skin refreshment.

What are you most enthusiastic about this weekend?

I can not wait to see these amazing creations and I’m very curious how everyone will interpret this 12 months’s dress code: “The Garden Of Time”.