01
Oprah Winfrey and Ava Duvernay
Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey hug on the empowerment stage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
02
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey makes a grand entrance during the 2016 2016 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca Cola.
03
Andra Day
Andra Day hangs backstage at the 2016 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca Cola.
04
Phaedra Parks
Phaedra Parks enjoys the Superdome performances during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca Cola
05
Soledad O’Brien and Misty Copeland
Soledad O’Brien and Misty Copeland speak onstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
06
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks speaks onstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival presented By Coca-Cola.
07
Estelle
Estelle poses for a photo backstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival .
08
Omari Hardwick
Omari Hardwick attends a screening of “Queen Sugar” at Theaters in New Orleans.
09
Grace Gibson
Grace Gibson sings onstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival presented By Coca-Cola in New Orleans.
10
Michelle Ebanks, Oprah Winfrey, and Vanessa K. De Luca
Michelle Ebanks, Oprah Winfrey, and Vanessa K. De Luca backstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
11
Ta’Rhonda Jones and Serayah McNeill
Ta’Rhonda Jones and Serayah McNeill pose for a pic backstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival
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12
Tai Beauchamp
Tai Beauchamp attends a screening of “Queen Sugar” at Theaters in New Orleans.
13
Common
Common attends a screening of “Queen Sugar” at Theaters in New Orleans.
14
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae rocks the stage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
15
Jeremih
Jeremih rocks the stage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
16
Tink
Rising rapstress and songstress Tink also rocked the ESSENCE Festival stage in 2016.
17
Common
Common rocks the stage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
18
Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson rocks the stage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
19
Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri
Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri rock the stage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival.
