The Black Excellence Brunch Brought Good Vibes, Eats & Style To Essence Fest 2024

Nobody does an all-white affair like Trell Thomas.

The social media influencer and host brought his Black Excellence Brunch to the Essence Festival this year. Over 250 guests gathered in New Orleans to celebrate at the luxurious Black Excellence Brunch founded by Trell Thomas. Thomas started the party in true New Orleans fashion by leading a second-line dance with live music and energetic dancers.

In partnership with L’Oreal, this year’s Black Excellence Brunch celebrated Black hair, equity, and beauty. Upon entering the venue, beautiful models were seen posing in life-sized doll boxes and mimosa towers, with their hair styled in intricate Afrocentric styles. Guests enjoyed a sophisticated menu with southern cuisine, including shrimp and grits, bacon, and specialty drinks.

“Bringing Black Excellence Brunch to Essence Festival is so special to me,” Trell said in a press release. “The festival is one of my favorite gatherings because it feels like a big family reunion and you get a piece of home no matter where you are coming from. This year I wanted to be even more intentional about celebrating Black People and Black Culture, because I see the brunch as an extension of home for people attending. So I make sure it feels warm, inviting, and celebratory for all guests.”

Past brunches have honored Black trailblazers and tastemakers making strides in entertainment, business, politics, and other industries. Honorees have included Kelly Rowland, Meagan Good, Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and more.

This year’s honorees were Angela Rye, who received the Truth-Seeker Award, Beauty Icon Award-winner Maude Okrah, and HelloBeautiful cover girl Marsai Martin, who received the Cultural Icon Award.

Check out our recap, below:

The Black Excellence Brunch Brought Good Vibes, Eats & Style To Essence Fest 2024 was originally published on hellobeautiful.com