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The 10th anniversary of Time Inc.’s Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards & Gala will air as a primetime television event tonight, Sunday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN. For the past decade, the star-studded celebration has been at the forefront of spotlighting Hollywood’s most creative and accomplished African American female visionaries both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
This year’s event, held at the famed Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, will shift from a daytime luncheon to an evening gala for the first time. Actress/producer Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane”) will serve as the program’s host.
Airing for the third year on OWN, the celebration will honor Hollywood’s “Next Generation,” young women who are excelling and elevating their crafts. Triple-threat actress/musician/entertainer Janelle Monáe (“Hidden Figures,” “Moonlight”) receives the Breakthrough Award; groundbreaking actress/writer/producer Issa Rae (“Insecure”) receives the Vanguard Award; standout actress Aja Naomi King (“How to Get Away with Murder”) receives the Lincoln Shining Star Award; and dynamic actress Yara Shahidi (“Black-ish) receives the Generation Next Award.
The special is produced by Time Inc. Studios for the Oprah Winfrey Network. Visit Essence.com and Oprah.com/Essence for more information and join the conversation on social using #BlackWomenInHollywood.