Source: Kai Byrd
This past weekend, hundreds of thousands of people made their way to New Orleans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Essence Festival. Trell Thomas, founder of Black Excellence Brunch, made sure to be part of the festivities in a major way. On Sunday, July 7th, Black Excellence Brunch, powered by L’Oreal, hosted a private brunch at The Cannery, a premier luxury venue in the heart of the Crescent City. The event’s theme was “Black hair, Equity and Black beauty,” celebrating black creatives in the beauty industry, both in front of and behind the camera.
With over 150 guests in attendance, the Black Excellence Brunch kicked off in the most New Orleans way. Thomas led a second line dance featuring a local New Orleans line dancing band and two vibrant dancers in gold satin uniforms. The festivities continued with a one-hour cocktail reception, displaying models wearing wine skirts and large human-sized Black Excellence boxes. The boxes were adorned with sponsor logos and were actually encased with real models. Guests were able to mix and mingle before the dining area, which was elegantly draped in fuchsia and purple décor and a vibrant stage set for two, was unveiled. Attendees enjoyed sophisticated southern cuisine that included shrimp and grits, bacon, and specialty drinks, adding to the luxurious atmosphere.
Following the unveiling and guests being seated, they were treated to a hair show featuring beautiful melanated models, who were styled by heralded fashion stylist, J. Bolin. The models also showcased intricate hairstyles, emphasizing the theme of black hair and black beauty, orchestrated by the L’Oreal Group and Salon Centric. Legendary hairstylist Johnny Wright had the pleasure of doing the models’ hair.
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The Black Excellence Brunch is dedicated to celebrating black professionals, who make significant impacts in their industries, but are often under-recognized. Honorees included Angela Rye, who was presented with the Truth Seeker Award, Maude Okrah Hunter, who was named the Beauty Icon Award recipient and Marsai Martin, who was honored with the Cultural Icon Award. Trell Thomas also gave special recognition to Carol’s Daughter founder, Lisa Price, for her dedication to the black hair and beauty industry. Other notable attendees included Jotaka Eaddy, Liliahn Majeed, Raheem Devaughn, Claire Sulmers, Amber Raspberry, Taja Simpson, Laila Pruitt, Sydney Mitchell, Erica Culpepper and That Chick Angel.
Speaking on the brunch, founder of Black Excellence Brunch Trell Thomas said, “Bringing Black Excellence Brunch to Essence Festival is so special to me. The festival is one of my favorite gatherings, because it feels like a big family reunion and you get a piece of home no matter where you are coming from. This year I wanted to be even more intentional about celebrating Black People and Black Culture, because I see the brunch as an extension of home for people attending. So I make sure it feels warm, inviting and celebratory for all guests.”
The phenomenal event celebrated Black culture and gave flowers to Black people in hair, make up and the beauty space. Check out some photos from the brunch below!
