Outstanding was the only word that kept coming to my mind the moment I stepped into the Beverly Hilton for The Annual Ebony Power 100 Gala. There was something different in the air that night something warm, familiar, and full of pride. You could literally feel the excitement. Not the loud kind but the soft hum that comes from people showing up as their best selves. Everywhere I looked there was beauty. Real beauty. Not forced or exaggerated. Just people wearing fashion like it meant something to them.
The first person that completely stole my attention was Iman. I don’t know how she does it but she walked into the room like she was floating. Her deep red satin gown held the room for a full minute. The way the fabric caught the light felt like watching a movie scene unfold. Her corseted waist, the old Hollywood structure, the burgundy fur resting across her shoulders, and the diamonds that sparkled like tiny reflections of her legacy made her look unreal. And yet she still felt human. She still felt warm. When she accepted her Icon of the Year award, it made perfect sense. She didn’t even need to speak for us to understand why she deserved it.
Tracee Ellis Ross showed up in the most joyful shade of yellow I’ve seen in a long time. You could tell she loved it. The Mugler dress wrapped around her in this sculptural way that made the whole thing feel playful and intentional at the same time. Her black Louboutin pumps and diamond drop earrings tied it together without making the look feel heavy. Tracee always has this way of dressing like she’s both in on the joke and in full control of the moment. Her Pathbreaker of the Year honor sat perfectly on her shoulders because she genuinely looked like someone who wasn’t afraid to be seen.
Then there was Taraji P Henson, who took the room in a completely different direction. She wore a black and white gown designed like a tailored suit but softened with crystal panels that shimmered only when she moved. It had a white collar, clean lines, and a slit that wasn’t doing too much yet still made a statement. She looked powerful. Sharp. Fully aware of her own presence. Taraji always brings theater into her looks but this time it felt softer like she was letting us see the woman and not just the star.
Meagan Good looked like she’d been dipped in gold. Her crystal covered gown sparkled from every angle and it didn’t feel over the top at all. It felt like a celebration. Jonathan Majors beside her in a clean all black outfit made the contrast even better. Together, they had this almost cinematic presence not forced, just natural chemistry that made the cameras follow them.
Usher came in wearing one of the simplest outfits of the night and somehow still managed to look incredibly refined. His Ferragamo and Hermès pieces fit him with the ease of someone who has been famous long enough to know exactly what works. He didn’t need glitter or dramatic cuts. His confidence carried the look entirely.
Teyana Taylor, Shaq, Lonnie Bunch III, Olandria Carthen everyone walked in wearing versions of themselves and that’s what made the night feel real. No one looked like they were trying to impress the room. They looked like they were trying to honor the moment. Olandria especially felt emotional. Winning the People’s Choice Award is one thing but standing on a stage like that wearing something that reflects who you are inside is another. Her outfit felt soft and proud at the same time, like she dressed for the version of herself she always wished to meet.
As the night went on, the fashion no longer felt like clothes. It felt like conversation. The bold reds, the soft nudes, the deep greens, the sharp blacks all of it seemed to speak to one another across the room. Every gown had a story. Every suit had a quiet confidence behind it. The textures, the crystals, the velvets, the satin, the clean tailoring nothing blended into the background.
What I loved most was how fashion here didn’t need to scream. It simply existed with meaning. Everyone looked comfortable in their own skin and I realized how rare that is at events like this. You could tell the stylists understood the weight of the night. You could tell the designers wanted their work to be seen not just photographed.
The shoes played their own role too. Louboutins, sculptural heels, minimal strappy sandals they all added little boosts of personality. Not one shoe felt like an afterthought.
By the time the awards wrapped up, the room felt full in the best way. Not crowded. Full. Full of presence. Full of history being honored. Full of people who understood that celebrating Black excellence means showing up with your chest high and your heart open.
The Annual Ebony Power 100 Gala didn’t just give us fashion. It gave us atmosphere. It gave us warmth. It gave us moments that didn’t need perfect lighting or exaggerated drama because the truth of the night was enough. And that is why every detail from the bold gowns to the quiet smiles made the evening unforgettable.
And when people finally started leaving and the energy softened, it still felt like the room was glowing. It felt like the night had added something to everyone who stepped through those doors. Something grounded. Something proud. Something deeply heartfelt.
