Cynthia Erivo, Teyana Taylor & More Set as ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Honorees

Newly minted Academy Award nominee and Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winning actress Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), actress-director Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One), Emmy-nominated industry veteran Marla Gibbs (227) and Emmy-nominated creator, writer and-producer Raamla Mohamed (Reasonable Doubt) are 2025’s honorees for the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. The 18th annual gala will take place Feb. 27 in Los Angeles at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel. Aldis Hodge, producer and star of Prime Video’s Cross, will host.

Underscoring the inspiration behind this year’s event theme — “Scene and Unseen” —  Sundial Media Group and ESSENCE Ventures leadership shared the following statement: “When the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards were first established, our mission was to celebrate and elevate the extraordinary artistry of Black women, both on screen and behind the scenes in the television and film industry. For nearly two decades, this sacred gathering has honored exceptional women who are creating a foundation for the next generation of artistic trailblazers. We remain in awe of the profound depth that our honorees bring to their craft.”

In the wake of the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood is also supporting existing relief efforts in collaboration with organizations dedicated to providing centralized resources to the Los Angeles community. On Feb. 28, ESSENCE will also present its sixth annual ESSENCE Hollywood House: To Altadena With Love. Open to the public, this year’s Hollywood House honors the resilience of this wildfire-impacted neighborhood that was home for many creative professionals in the television and film industries. The day’s offerings will include panel discussions, a community resource hub and networking opportunities. For more information and to register, visit the ESSENCE website.

ESSENCE’s YouTube channel will premiere the awards ceremony pre-show on March 3. In addition to featuring red carpet arrivals and celebrity interviews, the presentation will reveal the winner of the inaugural ESSIES’ Choice Award: Presented by Diet Coke. Chosen by fans, the special honor recognizes an emerging industry leader.