ESSENCE HONORS BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD

HONOREES INCLUDE CICELY TYSON, QUEEN LATIFAH, ZOE SALDANA, MARY J. BLIGE AND GABOUREY SIDIBE

LOS ANGELES, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Essence.com audiences will have the chance to experience what happens when the best and brightest of Black Women in Hollywood come together to celebrate the legendary achievements of some of the greatest American actresses of our times during Oscar Week. Featured exclusively onESSENCE.com, the third annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, being held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, will honor Hollywood royalty such as: Cicely Tyson (Legend Award); break-out star Gabourey Sidibe (Best Breakthrough Performance); versatile A-Lister Queen Latifah (Power Award); Tinseltown darling Zoe Saldana (Star to Watch Award); and Hip-Hop turned starlet, Mary J. Blige (Songstress of the Year). You will only find complete coverage of this star-studded event honoring the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine on http://www.essence.com. Today Essence.com will upload images live from the red carpet starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time -- with additional red carpet video tonight.

Essence.com will also feature exclusive glitterati shots from the red carpet of celebrity attendees including: Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Steve Harvey and more. The audience can find live updates from the parties, after-parties and behind-the-scene peeks of the event on Twitter at Twitter.com/essenceonline. Viewers can also stay on the pulse with minute-to-minute coverage from the party at essence.com/entertainment.