I’m Your Official Target Red Carpet Correspondent For 2014’s Essence Black Women in Hollywood!

In 2012, when I attended my first Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, I felt so nervous, and so out of place. I felt underdressed and unprepared and awkward, while surrounded by Hollywood’s elite. Luvvie and I were in awe of everything. I expressed that feeling of awkwardness and not belonging to awesome actress Yvette Nicole Brown and she gave me some warm, honest wisdom – “you belong here.” Those three little words have lingered with me ever since. Whenever I find myself feeling out of place, I remind myself.

In 2013 I returned to the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event as part of my wonderful relationship with Target, and it was such an honor and delight to be back in the room. This time I came with my dear friend Felicia Leatherwood and it was so cool to drink in the experience with her! I met so many amazing people and had an absolutely fabulous time. It’s the kind of experience where you have to pinch yourself to keep remembering it’s all real and not some incredible dream. This year, I get to live the dream AGAIN.

I am so beyond blessed and thankful to say, that this will be my third year going to the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event. And this time around, I get to bring you with me to share in the amazing red carpet experience. YES! I’ll be working the red carpet and interviewing all of the fabulous attendees, as your official Target red carpet correspondent!

This year, Target is proud to partner with Essence to celebrate the contributions of the community of black women in Hollywood. Target will be honoring the 2014 honorees – Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Ava DuVernay, and Lupita Nyong’o! Target’s history of giving is impressive, and their commitment to the cause goes even further than this event – during this year’s Black Women in Hollywood event, Target will be making a sizable donation to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which will be opening in Washington DC in 2015. This museum is going to be absolutely incredible, a mecca for culture that will offer a window into our journey as a people. So inspiring!

I’ll be on hand in Beverly Hills to share all of the incredible happenings with you, live on Twitter. Also, this year for the first time, you can watch the red carpet LIVE online at Essence.com and live the experience with me!! Please follow me @afrobella, @Target, and @EssenceMag and use the hashtag #CelebrateSisterhood to share your favorite red carpet looks and suggest questions for me to ask your favorite celebrities as I interview them on camera! @Luvvie will be there too, as my Twitter party co-host! YAY!

We’re going back to Cali!

During the Target Essence Black Women in Hollywood Twitter party, I’ll also be giving away four highly coveted items from the latest Peter Pilotto collection. TRUST ME, you won’t want to miss this!

There needs to be a bigger word for HONORED. I am flattered, thrilled, delighted and excited to be chosen for this opportunity and I can’t wait to share it all with you! Follow me, bellas! We’re going to Hollywood! Now…what should we wear?

YOU can gain exclusive access to the red-carpet action of the 2014 Black Women in Hollywood event through a live-stream hosted on ESSENCE.com, on Thursday February 27th at 1:30 p.m. 
This post was sponsored by Target, but the excitement and opinions are all mine!