The annual Black Girls Rock! awards show aired on BET last night after being taped on Aug. 25th, and you could feel a sense of liberated authenticity oozing from the screen.
The attendees, mainly some of our most well-known and deeply loved entertainers, like India.Arie and Angela Bassett, seemed so free in how they interacted with one another and celebrated one another, and in the looks and hairstyles they wore.
At the Oscars or Emmy’s, or most other major awards shows, a black woman choosing to wear waist-length cornrows or bantu knots or combed-out-curls can be seen as a political act, a statement, as opposed to a black woman simply just being.
Black Girls Rock! has become a formal place for black women to be acknowledged for their contributions to the world, but also gives black women the space to show up fully and freely themselves — in mind, body, spirit and aesthetic.
Here’s a glimpse of the best black hair, beauty and style at the 2019 Black Girls Rock! show.
Erykah Badu always brings originality to any scene she hits. Her oversize turtleneck sheath dress and fresh-flower crown paired with a bold lip is what Black Girl Magic is made of.
Singer Crystal Waters was giving us summertime vibes with these honey brown straight-back, waist-length cornrows.
Singer and performer Mumu Fresh brought the bold with her long, burgundy twisted ponytail. The gold string wrapped around her hair was the perfect embellishment.
Rapper Rapsody was fun and sexy in her bantu knots.
All hail the queen. Angela Bassett, who received the Icon Award for the night, was a vision in her metallic, flapper-esque jumpsuit with big, combed-out curls.
Brandy’s long, pale pink rope twists proved that any color goes well with melanin.
Activist Winter BreeAnne’s frohawk was edgy and glamorous.
Songstress India.Arie proved all the naysayers wrong by showing just how versatile and elegant braids can be.
