The Melanin Was Overflowing At Our Women To Know Dinner

Swanky Brooklyn hotspot Aliya was the scene for HelloBeautiful x MadameNoire’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks diner and panel. Guests and honorees pulled up to Hotel Indigo for a curated evening of cocktails, bites, music, and good conversation. Before taking the elevator to the fourth floor, guests stopped by the backdrop for a photo op. The evening began with a panel featuring HB x MN’s Modern Mavericks — Murjoni Merriweather, Latoya Hobbs, and Jewel Ham — from our latest Women To Know cover. As Black women artists, they’re using their canvas to capture the beauty of Black existence. Each woman’s unique personality shined as they answered questions from the moderator and Managing Editor of MadameNoire, Danica Daniels. Jewel Ham’s larger-than-life personality was magnetic. She is as unapologetic as her artwork, which depicts everyday life for Black people. She is able to capture the vulnerability and authenticity of Black womanhood in her prints.

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Murjoni’s smile was captivating as she gushed over her love for clay, the material she shifts and shapes to create lifelike sculptures. Hobbs’ artwork is all about creating a legacy. At one point in the panel, she boldly stated, She’s not making pieces to fit in your living room, she’s making pieces to fit in the museum. Mic drop.

Women To Know Dinner

Following the panel, we assembled at the lobby bar for signature drinks like the Dusse-spiked Hello, Madame. Waiters passed around Lobster and oxtail dishes, served over plantains. Finally, the night ended with us overlooking the pool while we dined, listening to the DJ who provided the vibes. Keep scrolling for the beautiful faces at our Women To Know dinner and panel.

1. LaToya Hobbs, Murjoni Merriweather, Jewel Ham

LaToya Hobbs, Murjoni Merriweather, and Jewel Ham pose for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

2. LaToya Hobbs and Family

Latoya Hobbs and her family pose for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

3. Jewel Ham

Jewel Ham poses for a photo in front of the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

4. Allison McGevna

iOneDigital SVP of content, Allison McGevna, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

5. Shamika Sanders

HelloBeautiful Style & Beauty Director Shamika Sanders poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

6. Cliché Wynter

Director of Sponsor & Affiliate Content, Cliché Wynter, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

7. Victoria Fleary

Vice President of Social Media, Victoria Fleary, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

8. Krystle Homes

Senior Editorial Project Manager, Krystle Homes, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

9. Tiffany Smith

Social Media Manager, Tiffany Smith, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

10. Tanya Hoffler-Moore and Naima Simmons

VP of Video, Tanya Hoffler-Moore, and Naima Simmons pose for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

11. Naima Simmons

Director of Production, Naima Simmons, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

12. Keyaira Kelly and TJ Kelly

Modern Mavericks cover story writer Keyaira Kelly and her sister TJ Kelly, pose for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

13. Abigail Bazile

Abigail Bazile, Associate Director of Integrated Marketing, poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

14. Aramide Tinubu

Journalist Aramide Tinubu poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

15. Charise Frazier

Journalist Charise Frazier poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

16. Women To Know: Modern Mavericks Dinner + Panel

HB writer Keyaira Boone poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

17. Charlise Rookwood

Charlise Rookwood from ‘The Black Vegan Cooking Show,’ poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

18. Women To Know: Modern Mavericks Dinner + Panel

A guest poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

19. Christine Miller

Christine Miller poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

20. Women To Know: Modern Mavericks Dinner + Panel

Jewel Ham poses with her friends on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.

21. Hirut Sheta

iOneDigital’s Hirut Sheta poses for a photo on the floral backdrop at our HB x MN’s Women To Know: Modern Mavericks dinner + panel event at Aliya, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025.