Essence Women in Hollywood Luncheon - Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, and More Unite Proving There IS Strength in Numbers

(L-R) Honoree Tessa Thompson, Honoree Lena Waithe, Janelle Monae, Tiffany Haddish, Honoree Danai Gurira, and Yvonne Orji onstage during the 2018 Essence Black Women In Hollywood Oscars Luncheon at Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on March 1, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence)

Last night Hollywood was filled with melanin magic at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel! Notable filmmakers and trailblazers in the industry headed to Essence's Women in Hollywood Luncheon to celebrate respectable women breaking barriers in the male-driven industry.

The 11th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood event kicked off Women’s History Month with a room full of remarkable women, celebrating honorees: Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Danai Gurira, and Tessa Thompson.

Celebrities took to the carpet in eye-catching style! Everyone from Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, to Janelle Monae, Tina Knowles and more walked the carpet looking flawless. The room was filled with strength and powerful moments highlighting highs and lows of careers, and the community as a whole. 

Waithe is most known for her role on Master of None, a role that made her the first African American Woman to take home the Emmy for comedy writing! She has been paving the way for equality in the television realm. She received the Ford Vanguard Award at the ESSENCE event, where she shined a light on the Black LGBTQ community in her speech, "Being a gay Black female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay Black female is."  She's proven that 2018 is HER year as she also announced her critically-acclaimed new Showtime series, The Chi, was renewed for a second season!

As Oscar weekend approaches monumental moves are being made! The event ended on a high note of power, unity, and pure melanin magic!