Day 1 at Essence Fest felt like a reunion—the place you reconnect with acquainted faces and the cultural icons who formed your world. I began the weekend at a brunch hosted by Bevy Smith and H&M, with visitors like Tisha Campbell and Residing Single stars Erika Alexander and Kim Coles, who simply launched a brand new podcast, Re-Residing Single. It was a full-circle second that jogged my memory why that present nonetheless resonates: it’s good, humorous, and forward of its time.
Exhibits like Residing Single weren’t simply entertaining—they confirmed what was potential. Watching assured, career-driven Black girls on display helped form my imaginative and prescient and, in some ways, impressed my transfer to New York and the creation of Vogue Bomb Each day. That form of visibility issues. It crops seeds and opens doorways.
After the brunch, I ended by the Conference Heart to discover the cubicles and take within the type. One standout was Camille Rose Naturals. Their setup was lovely, and the product line was simply as spectacular—wealthy textures, clear components, and a robust sense of id. Remember to cease by as we speak without spending a dime samples and $10 merchandise all weekend lengthy!
It was a fantastic instance of what makes Essence Fest distinctive: it’s an area the place tradition and commerce meet on our phrases.
I’ll be out and about in New Orleans once more as we speak—in the event you see me in my new BWT Good Hair wig, be at liberty to say hello. Essence Fest is simply getting began, and the vitality is unmatched.
Look: Stella Yedia
Hair: Becky with the Good Hair
Footwear: Femme LA
Photos: Chastity Morgan
