For the third year in a row, I packed a bag and headed to New Orleans for the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. Going solo has become my tradition, and this year gave me every reason to keep it.
I walked into the Convention Center on Friday and felt it right away. Longer lines. More people. A charge in the air. The vibes were there. You feel excited, ready to celebrate, and eager to get into the magic of the moment. I got in later than planned, the way I always seem to, but I still made my rounds. The crowd was thriving, and I was so happy to be back, a delight I feel every time the festival starts.
Friday belonged to the ladies.
I came early Friday night for one thing: the conversation between Michelle Obama and Keke Palmer. We all love our forever First Lady, and both women are Chicago natives. So, as a Black woman from the South Side of Chicago, sitting in that seat to witness them talk about style, self-image, and her book The Look meant something I did not expect to feel. As a BeautyCon VIP, I even walked away with a copy of the book. Some moments you plan for. But the giddiness I felt during this experience still caught me by surprise.
Then the women took the stage. I had upgraded to VIP suite seats this year, with complimentary drinks, dinner, and comfortable club seating. Latto, Kehlani, and Cardi B all took over the stage and brought the party. That lineup pulled out a specific kind of crowd, and it was fun, loud, and exactly what it needed to be to kickoff the concert series experiences.
Saturday mornings are for BeautyCon.
I always save my visit to BeautyCon for Saturday morning. It is my favorite part of the daytime floor, and as a girl who loves all things beauty, I could spend a whole day there. This year, I bought a BeautyCon VIP ticket for the Luxe Lounge and to get ahead of the lines. The goodie bag we were given did not disappoint.
Canvas Beauty was one of my favorite activations. I learned the story behind its founder, Stormi Steele, and the people working the booth were as warm as the brand itself. Her Fantasy Box is another I look forward to experiencing in person every year. I made my rounds to SheaMoisture for the Sheaversity photo moment, and to Bask & Lather, Black Girl Vitamins, Camille Rose, and Mielle Organics.
At the Always booth in Unbothered and Well, I got my picture taken and fell into a full conversation with the photographer, who turned out to be from Chicago, like me. That is the thing about this festival. You can talk to anyone and make a new friend. I also stood in the long Disney line for my Mickey Mouse ears, and the big kid in me loved every second of the experience.
The floor is not just booths and swag, though. I caught the main stage conversations too, including chief curator Teyana Taylor with Daniel Kaluuya and Coco Gilbert, and a lively session with Loren Lorosa, DJ Envy, and others.
Saturday night, the whole Dome was singing.
I splurged on seats up close so I could see Brandy and Monica in person. But the moment I keep coming back to is the one that happened right next to me, not on stage. To my left was a woman from California, older than me, whom I talked to all night, and she adopted me as her daughter for the evening. When Babyface came on, she took her shoes off and handed me her bag to hold so she could really get into it. She sang and partied her heart out. To my right was a woman who told me about her whole history with Brandy, how long she had been a fan, and how much those songs meant to her.
That is what ESSENCE Fest does. So many generations, all in one room, all there for their own reasons, all having a good time. Women of every age letting go at once.
The concerts ran a little late on Saturday, ending around 2 a.m., so by Sunday, I was too worn out to do much. But that is the beauty of going solo. You pick what you want to do and when you want to do it, and I was not leaving before Brandy and Monica finished.
Going solo does not mean going without.
Let me say this plainly for any woman weighing the idea of doing this event, or any big festival or conference, alone. Going solo does not mean scary. It does not mean intimidating. It does not mean you miss out.
ESSENCE Festival has always been a community, a space where Black women show up and instantly feel connected. You feel the love. You feel like you belong, no matter who you walk in with. The woman on my left, who called me her daughter. The woman on my right, who loves Brandy. The photographer from home. Everyone here is that welcoming, and the city is easier to navigate alone than you would think. Someone will always help you find your way.
So I keep showing up. If my friends can’t make it, that’s okay. I’ll make friends there, as the atmosphere, energy, and joy always invite it. Any woman thinking about doing this on her own: you can. ESSENCE Festival is the perfect place to start.
