For the third yr in a row, I packed my bag and headed to New Orleans for the ESSENCE cultural competition. Going solo has turn into my custom, and this yr has given me each purpose to maintain it.
I walked into the Conference Middle on Friday and felt it instantly. Longer traces. Extra individuals. A cost within the air. The vibrations had been there. You are feeling excited, able to have fun, and desirous to immerse your self within the magic of the second. I arrived later than anticipated, as I at all times appear to do, however I nonetheless did my rounds. The gang was giant and I used to be so completely happy to be again, a pleasure I really feel at each begin of the competition.
Friday belonged to the women.
I got here early Friday evening for one factor: the dialog between Michelle Obama and Keke Palmer. We all I like our lifelong First Woman, and each girls are from Chicago. So, as a black lady from the South Aspect of Chicago, sitting on this seat to look at them discuss fashion, self-image, and her e-book. The look meant one thing I did not count on to really feel. As a BeautyCon VIP, I even left with a replica of the e-book. Sure occasions you propose. However the dizziness I felt throughout this expertise nonetheless shocked me.
Then the ladies took the stage. This yr I had upgraded to a VIP suite, with free drinks, dinner and comfy membership seats. Latto, Kehlani and Cardi B all took over the stage and celebrated. This lineup attracted a selected sort of viewers, and it was enjoyable, loud, and precisely what was wanted to kick off the live performance collection experiences.
Saturday morning is reserved for BeautyCon.
I at all times save my go to to BeautyCon for Saturday morning. That is my favourite a part of the day ground, and as a lady who loves all issues magnificence, I might spend a whole day there. This yr I bought a VIP BeautyCon ticket for the Luxe Lounge and to get forward of the traces. The goody bag we got didn’t disappoint.
Canvas Magnificence was certainly one of my favourite activations. I discovered the story of its founder, Stormi Steele, and the individuals working the sales space had been as welcoming because the model itself. His Fantasy Field is one other one I look ahead to experiencing in individual yearly. I shopped round SheaMoisture for the Sheaversity picture second, in addition to Bask & Lather, Black Woman Nutritional vitamins, Camille Rose, and Mielle Organics.
At Unbothered and Properly’s At all times sales space, I had my picture taken and had an in-depth dialog with the photographer, who turned out to be from Chicago, like me. That is the issue with this competition. You possibly can discuss to anybody and make a brand new buddy. I additionally did the lengthy Disney line for my Mickey Mouse ears, and the massive child in me liked each second of the expertise.
However the ground is not all stalls and giveaways. I additionally caught conversations on the principle stage, together with head curator Teyana Taylor with Daniel Kaluuya and Coco Gilbert, in addition to a full of life session with Loren Lorosa, DJ Envy and others.
Saturday night, the entire Dome was singing.
I splurged and sat up shut so I might see Brandy and Monica in individual. However the second I hold coming again to is the one which occurred proper subsequent to me, not on stage. To my left was a California lady, older than me, who I talked to all evening, and she or he adopted me as her daughter for the night. When Babyface arrived, she took off her footwear and handed me her bag so she might really get into it. She sang and celebrated with all her coronary heart. To my proper was a girl who advised me her total story with Brandy, how lengthy she had been a fan, and the way a lot these songs meant to her.
That’s what ESSENCE Fest does. So many generations, all in the identical room, all there for their very own causes, all having enjoyable. Ladies of all ages all of a sudden let go.
The live shows had been a bit of late on Saturday, ending round 2 a.m., so by Sunday I used to be too exhausted to do a lot. However that’s the great thing about going solo. You select what you wish to do and while you wish to do it, and I used to be not depart earlier than Brandy and Monica end.
Going alone doesn’t suggest going with out.
Let me make this clear to any lady who’s contemplating organizing this occasion, or another main competition or convention, alone. Going alone doesn’t suggest being afraid. This does not imply intimidating. This does not imply you are lacking something.
The ESSENCE Competition has at all times been a neighborhood, an area the place black girls present up and really feel immediately related. You are feeling the love. You are feeling such as you belong regardless of who you stroll in with. The girl to my left, who known as me her daughter. The girl to my proper, who loves Brandy. My native photographer. Everybody right here may be very welcoming and it is simpler to seek out your self right here alone than you would possibly suppose. Somebody will at all times enable you to discover your method.
So I proceed to introduce myself. If my pals cannot come, it does not matter. I’ll make pals there, as a result of the environment, vitality and pleasure at all times beckon. Any lady who’s contemplating doing it alone: you may. The ESSENCE Competition is the right place to start out.