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Whether you’re a diehard boho braids lover or a queen of crochet, the innovation in braiding hair has been little to nonexistent. But Ruka, a Black-owned brand , is completely flipping the industry upside down.
Courtesy of Coca-Cola® At the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola®, Dr. Virginia W. Harris, National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women , reflected on how the organization’s decades-long commitment to advocacy has transformed sisterhood into a powerful leadership m…
When women think of their earliest beauty memories, their mothers often come to mind. From watching them put on their lipstick (then sneaking some when they’re not looking) to stealing their favorite perfumes off their vanity, a mother’s beauty rituals are too tempting to not try out ourselves.
While United States Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joined the Global Black Economic Forum’s (GBEF) Business Summit and Public Convention during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, helping shape conversations about politics, democracy and economic justice, his reflections on love revealed what h…
Domestic violence organizations are raising the alarm over a proposed federal rule change that policy analysts say politicizes the federal grantmaking process and clears the way for officials to cancel funding without cause.
Approximately two weeks after the final opinion of the 57 argued cases decided by the Supreme Court in the October 2025-26 Term was filed, this column presents an overview of the “pure” criminal law decisions the court issued.
The summer months are a perfect time to lose yourself in the pages of a juicy page turner . Even if your bank account or PTO balances are coming up short, the right book allows you to easily escape without ever leaving your zip code.
The fear of losing their lives is precisely what many pregnant Texas residents say they’ve experienced after four young women died in the state when they were unable to access medically necessary abortions. Three died while doctors delayed their care for hours as they miscarried.
Misinformation about abortion care is rampant and being weaponized at state and federal levels to justify wide-ranging restrictions across the United States. Ensuring awareness of these narratives, and combatting them with rigorous data and evidence, is critical both for preventing them from becomin…
Editor’s note: This story contains sensitive content, including depictions of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments and transphobic extremism, conversion practices, and discussions of suicide. If you or a loved one need mental health support, you can call or text one of these hotlines .
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors gala. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The rich and famous who filed into the Kennedy Center’s opera house in December were there to enjoy one of the nation’s most exclusive celebrations of the performin…
In the first appearances by members of the Supreme Court before Congress in seven years, Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified on Tuesday in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Havaianas may have laid the groundwork, but they’re no longer the only flip-flops defining the category. Once reserved for beach vacations and poolside afternoons, the simple sandal has evolved into one of fashion’s most essential summer shoes.
This story was reported in partnership with LA Public Press , an independent nonprofit newsroom advocating for a better Los Angeles. When Areli Ramos arrived for her appointment at the women’s health clinic Tia in June 2022, she was showing signs of pregnancy.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is so staunchly anti-abortion that his office observes June 24, the anniversary of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, as a holiday. The Republican’s actions to block abortion stand out.
I’m cold. Freezing in fact. I’m on a flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans and Delta insists on keeping the cabin temp at a balmy 58°. But my teeth-chattering, frigid plane flight will be soon worth the while, as I’m headed to the Essence Cultural Festival with my older sister, my only sibling, Tra…
Guttmacher Institute Opposes Proposed Federal Funding Rules That Threaten Reproductive Health Programs and Research July 14, 2026 jloewenberg July 14, 2026 News Release Homepage featured title Guttmacher Opposes Federal Funding Rules That Threaten Reproductive Health Programs and Research Use link O…
Preschoolers with disabilities in New York City will gain access to an unprecedented set of programs and services thanks to a major expansion in special education announced Tuesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.
Judges, lawyers and sexual abuse survivors have raised very strong reasons why it would be reckless and unconscionable for the Senate to confirm Todd Blanche to the post of Attorney General of the United States.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserve high praise for the pivotal role they played at the end of the just-concluded term in two key cases. One is Trump v. Barbara , the monumental decision confirming that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment guarantees birthri…
“I got plummeted into Hell and realized I was in perimenopause,” Halle Berry tells ESSENCE exclusively. Without warning, the rest of her body felt the changes, too. “I had vaginal dryness and it felt like I had razor blades in my vagina and my sex life just came to a screeching halt,” she says.
At the end of a recent talk on the Supreme Court’s latest term I was asked what surprised me most about the term. I was not surprised by the results in the most high-profile cases of the term, such as tariffs , presidential removal power , birthright citizenship , and restrictions on transgender ath…
Watch on YouTube Please note that this transcript has been edited for clarity. Zachary Shemtob: [00:00:00] So first of all, thank you so much to Amy. I’m really excited to have this conversation. There’s so much to talk about.
This story was originally published by CalMatters . Sign up for their newsletters. U.S. Navy sailor Chase Humes is moving back to his dad’s house in Texas. Last month, the 25-year-old was notified that his “voluntary separation” from the Navy, which he’d applied for in May 2025, had been approved—he…
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing to consider his official nomination to a post he has held since April. President Donald Trump fired Blanche’s predecessor , Pam Bondi, in April and appointed Blanche in the …
Illustration by Vanessa Saba for ProPublica. Source images: The Washington Post/Getty Images, Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images, Onondaga District Attorney, County of Onondaga, State of New York, Courtesy of Alice Sebold, New York Times.
If you spent any time scrolling through your feeds this past weekend, you already know that Beyoncé and Rihanna completely dominated the internet during JAŸ-Z’s historic concert. While their presence alone was enough to cause a stir, it was their coordinated style choices that truly set the fashion …
The politicians who have spent years claiming to "protect women's sports" have been remarkably absent when it comes to enforcing the law that actually guarantees women equal athletic opportunities. W hile the Trump administration has devoted enormous energy to policing transgender participation, Tit…
“Precocious” is probably the word I would use to describe Samara Cyn . At just 27 years old, the rapper is a sponge of everything Hip-Hop. With co-signs from Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Denzel Washington (“I didn’t believe it when I first heard it,” she said of the praise she received from the Osc…
Idaho voters will weigh in on their state’s abortion laws this November. The secretary of state’s office certified a ballot measure that could, if passed, overturn one of the strictest bans in the country, the campaign to restore abortion rights in Idaho confirmed on Monday.
True crime brain is easy to slide into, experts say, especially for women.
Click to expand Image Plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detain an immigrant leaving their scheduled court appearance at a Federal immigration court in New York City, June 4, 2025.
Mona Scott-Young ’s selection as one of the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Music honorees reflects a career spent opening doors, creating businesses, and helping steer the direction of music and television.
Few teenaged talents have emerged on the scene with the presence, voice, and staying power of Monica. With a career spanning decades, the musical alchemist has solidified herself as an industry titan, transforming raw emotion into powerful performances, relaying narratives of heartbreak, true love, …
I love Brandy. I love that raspy, textured voice. The tone of it, the warmth of it, the way it wraps around a lyric and gives it life. I love that we’ve grown up with her, “Sittin’ Up in My Room” blasting from our old CD players.
Before building an audience in reality television, becoming a restaurateur, lighting up screens both large and small, and establishing herself as a multidimensional entrepreneur, Kandi Burruss first cemented her legacy as one of the music industry’s most prolific talents — both on the charts and beh…
There are artists who make hits, or even, define an era. And then there are the rare few who permanently change the language of music. Missy Elliott belongs to the last category. Before “creative visionary” became the industry’s favorite buzzword, Missy was already showing us what one looked like.
To address the maternal health crisis in America, Washington must invest in a proactive agenda of healthcare access, affordability and equity. American healthcare was fundamentally reshaped a year ago with the passage of H.R. 1.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has welcomed a new group of honorary members into its sisterhood, adding several notable women from entertainment and public service to its Alpha Omega Chapter. The Class of 2026 was inducted on July 11 during the sorority’s International Grand Boulé in Nashville…
Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, is getting national attention following the death of her Republican opponent, Sen. Lindsey Graham, over the weekend. The Democrat, who handily won her primary in June, was expected to face off Graham in the November 3 midte…
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