THE BOMB LIFE

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Claire’s Life: The 12 Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards Featuring Diddy, Kelly Rowland, Eva Marcille, and More!

Happy Friday, folks!

Yesterday, I was blessed to be in the building for the 12th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards! The ceremony, which recognizes the accomplishments of an esteemed group of black women who have made strides in film and television in the past year, has been going on for 12 years–I’ve been lucky enough to have attended 4.

The star power and energy in the room is real! While most of the afternoon feels like a family reunion, it’s also a moment to shake hands and network with celebs you admire. While there, I said hey to Diddy, Kelly Rowland, Iyanla Vanzant, Meagan Good, and more (duh, and got their outfit deets so that we could post about it on Instagram).


Powerhouses Eva Marcille, Funa Maduka, Yaya DaCosta, Bozoma Saint John, June Ambrose, Bevy Smith, Angela Rye, Luvvie Ayaji, Tai Beauchamp, Jovian Zayne, Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Cari Champion, and Aisha McShaw were also in attendance.

I actually found out that I was able to join the AT&T table just a couple days before the event, so I was scrambling (and distraught) trying to find something to wear. I ultimately made an easy choice, plucking something from designer Sai Sankoh, which we stock at FashionBombDailyShop.com. I added Versace accessories to make it more ‘red carpet’ vs. ‘resort wear’, then got my twirl on!


@KingofHair and @GoldenKenDoll got my red carpet glam on point, so that I could get my glow on for the day.


It was, as always, a great time! We’re looking to do more with Essence in the future. Keep it locked here for details and visit Instagram.com/fashionbombdaily for all the looks from the red carpet.
What do you think?
*Thanks to Aisha McShaw and Tonya Lombard for the invite!
**Just a quick note about my outfit…
I found out I was going to Essence BWIH two days before the event. I did outreach to see if anyone would dress me. Nothing. A designer said he had something for me that I was supposed to pick up a few hours before I boarded the plane to LA…but then told me he left it in LA…deconstructed (?). I was CRYING. I asked my friends what they thought of this look and one of my friends called it ‘cheesy and awful.‘ I put it on anyway, got my face beat, and got compliments all day:

Don’t let the devil derail you. Don’t listen to negativity or have an emotional reaction to negative circumstances. Just be resourceful, put a smile on your face, and SHINE.


Did I also mention that my Versace belt broke an hour before the event? Yes the Medusa head right in the center fell off. I got some crazy glue, put it back on in the car driving to the event, and kept it pushing.

Don’t chase perfection. Noone is perfect! I was crying about my outfit (I might have just been stressed out), but when I arrived at the event, I saw women with very simple looks. It’s just not that serious! As Ty Hunter always says, the best thing you can wear is confidence.
Love & Light!

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