Black Panther stars Danai Gurira, left, Angela Bassett, center, and Sydelle Noel were among the black A-listers attending the 11th Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills on Thursday. Other bold name stars in attendance included Janelle Monae, Lupita Nyong’o, Amandla Stenberg and Gabourey Sidibe.
Photos by MediaPunch / BACKGRID
Janelle Monae, 32 (pictured right), and her rumored lover Tessa Thompson, left, shared a laugh before attending the 11th Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon. Tessa was featured prominently as Janelle’s lover in the music video for Janelle’s single “Make Me Feel”.
Tessa, 34, addressed the rumors that she is Janelle’s longtime girlfriend on Thursday.
“It was so fun to get to collaborate with her. Janelle is somebody who is interested in really empowering not just women, but people to be who they are in the full expression of who they are,” Thompson told ET.
Expectant couple Tia and Corey Hardrict posed for photos at the 11th Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon on Thursday. Tia, 39, and her husband of 10 years are expecting a baby girl. They already have a 6-year-old son Cree Hardrict.
Photos by Leon Bennett/Getty Images, Randy Shropshire/Getty Images
