Best ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Looks 2026

It’s a sunny day in Los Angeles and even sunnier at Fairmont Century Plaza where entertainment’s biggest stars were shining (like Harold Loomis, as Viola Davis would say) at ESSENCE’s 19th Annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards. Hosted by Marsai Martin, attendees and honorees—including Zinzi Coogler with a Luminary Spotlight for the women of Sinners—are using this year’s theme “Off Script” to take back ownership over the film and television industry. But, before the show began, they all owned the blue carpet first. 

Washington arrived in a pale pink slip dress and leather jacket to match her sexy, edgy updo. Infiniti vowed to not drag her dress. Instead, she put her knit gown on a gold chain leash which held up her short train. Richardson Jackson had a similar updo to Washington’s,src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2266175280-scaled.jpg" alt="The Best Blue Carpet Looks From ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood 2026" width="400" height="600" />LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Marsai Martin attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Kerry Washington LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Kerry Washington attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Chase Infiniti LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Chase Infiniti attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) LaTanya Richardson Jackson LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: LaTanya Richardson Jackson attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Ryan Coogler & Zinzi Coogler LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler attend the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Ruth Carter LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Ruth E. Carter attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Wunmi Mosaku & Tash Moseley LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Wunmi Mosaku and Tash Moseley attend the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Shunika Terry-Jennings & Chinaka Hodge LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Shunika Terry-Jennings and Chinaka Hodge attend the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Hannah Beachler LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Hannah Beachler attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Jayme Lawson LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Jayme Lawson attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Delroy Lindo LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Delroy Lindo attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Jurnee Smolett LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Jurnee Smollett attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Mýa LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Mýa attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Sheryl Lee Ralph LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Zendaya LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Zendaya attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) LeToya Luckett LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: LeToya Luckett attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Coco Jones LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Coco Jones attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Laverne Cox LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Laverne Cox attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Jessica Betts & Niecy Nash-Betts LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Jessica Betts and Niecy Nash-Betts attend the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Kandi Burruss & Riley Burruss LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Kandi Burruss and Riley Burruss attend the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Chole Bailey LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Chlöe Bailey attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Halle Bailey LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Halle Bailey attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Chelley Bissainthe LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Chelley Bissainthe attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Serena Page LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Serena Page attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Olandria Carthen LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Olandria Carthen attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Eva Marcille LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Eva Marcille attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Kyla Pratt LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Kyla Pratt attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Karen Pittman LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Karen Pittman attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)TOPICS:  best red carpet looks ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood

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