Neicy Nash And Teyana Taylor

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00:00Good afternoon, Essence, friends, and invited guests.

00:06When I was asked to introduce the Deonna Taylor, I was the one who felt blessed.

00:13Fierce and fabulous is the title she will bear, but let's all take a minute and talk

00:19about how she got there.

00:22Going through a public divorce, it's hard, it's true.

00:26I know firsthand because I've been there and done that too.

00:30It's easy to be labeled a villain when God don't let you look like what you've been through.

00:41High cheekbones, abs galore, a body we all could only hope for, and fine for no reason.

00:50Baby girl lives in cuffing season.

00:54But let's talk about what we don't see.

00:56There's nothing to hide because transparency, that's where the blessings reside.

01:03See, I've seen her beyond the veil.

01:07I've seen the tears, heard the wails.

01:11My advice, keep your head to the sky.

01:15Let your spirit soar with the birds.

01:19One tear to God is like a thousand words.

01:23Hold your head high and straighten your back, because in the words of Sweet Brown, baby,

01:28ain't nobody got time for that.

01:31Here's the real one.

01:32You got two little girls looking up at you saying, Mom, what are you going to do?

01:39You tell them move with grace, baby girl, and choose you.

01:45And when you rise into your own stardom, always remember you came from a rose in Harlem.

02:01Her heart is open, her conscience is clear, and because of that, love is near.

02:10Mind your business, Essence.

02:12Mind your business.

02:16Tiana, the world is watching.

02:20Stand flat-footed in your truth.

02:23Don't discount the reach, because when it comes to you, it's better to see a sermon

02:28lived than it is to hear one preached.

02:34At this time, y'all, Essence, y'all know what we going to do.

02:38Tiana, they're going to roll the tape to show you just why we love you.

02:46Tiana Taylor.

02:48Her name evokes the essence of raw Harlem energy wrapped in pure talent gold.

02:53Dancer, singer, actress, director, entrepreneur.

02:59This uptown queen emerged with the kind of swag that demands attention and the divine

03:03gifts to back it up.

03:05At just 15, she was already choreographing for Beyoncé's Bring the Alarm video.

03:11Her electrifying fade performance earned an MTV VMA for Best Choreography, displaying

03:17resplendent power in motion, and birthing her fade-to-fit empire.

03:21Tiana is a force of nature who refuses to fit in anybody's box.

03:25A regal lynx moving through our zeitgeist with commanding grace, transforming everything

03:30she touches.

03:32The creative process for me, for sure, is definitely a lot of spitball and a lot of

03:36discussion, a lot of healthy dialogue, a lot of healthy debate.

03:41All I gotta do is make a couple of ugly faces.

03:46It sounded better being ugly.

03:49Sometimes I also dream about it.

03:51Known as Spike T, behind the scenes, she directs visuals with such soul and sophistication

03:57that she's claimed multiple BET awards.

04:00Her acting journey soared from memorable roles in Coming to America to her breakthrough

04:05in 1001, earning critical acclaim and the National Board of Review's recognition.

04:11Tiana Taylor does it all with a kind of unapologetic Black excellence that makes your heart swell

04:16with pride.

04:17She embodies the spirit of our ancestors, who knew we could be anything and everything

04:22we wanted to be.

04:24I just always want to see people win, you know?

04:27And I think that's where the auntie coin kicks in, too, because I just want to help

04:31everybody.

04:32I just want to coddle and say, OK, baby, we got it.

04:34You know, like, you ain't gotta be discouraged about this.

04:36You ain't gotta be discouraged about that.

04:38We gonna get through it.

04:41You know what I'm saying?

04:42Like, you can go into it.

04:43But like on some jazzy ish, you know what I'm saying?

04:45I think that would just be, it would be so cinematic.

04:48It's like helping others heal me in a way.

04:51Tiana Taylor stands as a legendary talent who proves that when you're truly blessed

04:56with gifts, you should use every single one of them.

05:00She's the blueprint for what happens when you take your dreams, multiply them by your

05:04talent, and refuse to let anybody dim your shine.

05:12Essence, please stand to your feet for my fierce and fabulous friend, Tiana Taylor!

06:25You couldn't let me, like, do my speech first and then you...

06:31I love you so much.

06:33Thank you for listening.

06:35Thank you for seeing me.

06:36Thank you for hearing me.

06:38I appreciate you so much.

06:40Thank you so much.

06:42I had a cute speech.

06:45It was supposed to be funny.

06:50And now I'm, like, ugly.

06:52Like, this is crazy.

06:54Heavenly Father God, I thank you for who you are.

06:58Let me tell you something about your favor.

07:01Your favor cannot be stopped or destroyed.

07:05Now listen, y'all got some things to give, so let me cook.

07:09Lord, you told me in John 12 that you are the light of the world, and if I followed you,

07:14I wouldn't have to walk in the darkness because you would have the light that leads to life.

07:19You promised to protect me from evil in the face of adversity, and you rescued me,

07:23so I humbly submit to you with a thankful heart.

07:27Thank you for reminding me that your blessings, your love, your grace, and your patience with me

07:33doesn't come with conditions.

07:35Because, baby, I know I get on your nerves sometimes.

07:40I know I get on your nerves sometimes.

07:42At all times, you take your time with me.

07:47Thank you for seeing me.

07:48Thank you for accepting me in every form I've come to you in.

07:52Thank you for wiping every tear away when I thought the weight was punishment

07:55because you've made it super clear now that the weight wasn't punishment.

07:59It was just preparation for what was already written for my life.

08:02Thank you for never letting my crown fall because you keep my head high.

08:06Thank you for teaching me the power of grace as I continue to walk in it fiercely.

08:12Thank you for blessing me with the village who has shaped me into the woman that I am today.

08:17Father God, I thank you for my beautiful baby girls.

08:20I never knew how fierce I was until you put the strength in my body to have both them babies on the bathroom floor.

08:27Yeah, we had to have a conversation after that.

08:29However, my two babies are by far the biggest blessings and highlights of my life.

08:35That was a day I really became fierce and fearless.

08:40Them babies showed me what the purest form of love feels and look like.

08:44To my mother, the fearless and fierce queen you are.

08:50Always that girl, forever that girl, still that girl.

08:54Hey girl, what's going on?

08:56I can't thank you enough for what you pour into me.

08:59You are truly a rare gem.

09:01And I will not be the woman that I am today.

09:03And I could not continue the journey of this greatness without you.

09:06And to my favorite people, my pop's beau.

09:10Look at that little handsome man right there, little handsome boy right there.

09:13Little turtleneck, I see you handsome.

09:19And my uncle Derek, I love you guys.

09:21Every time I feel like it's me against the room,

09:24or when I'm being dramatic and feel like it's me against the world,

09:27it will suddenly be me plus two.

09:29But these two, I feel right behind me, always in my corner.

09:33No matter what path I choose in my career, they ride in regardless.

09:37I want to thank my whole tribe, my village, my supporters,

09:42as there would be no me without you all.

09:44I would say that I'm lucky, but I'm not.

09:46I'm absolutely blessed and highly favored in the name of Jesus.

09:49Father God, thank you for having me in this room

09:52full of amazing, fierce, and fearless women.

09:55Thank you for using me to affirm every single last one of them in this room tonight.

09:59The fellas too, but it's about the ladies today, but y'all too.

10:02That we belong here because this moment was already written in your palm pilot.

10:07Thank you for telling my sister Cynthia, yes, when a naysayer said no.

10:12My sister Ramala, yes, when a naysayer said no.

10:15Miss Marla Gibbs, yes, when a naysayer said no.

10:19My sister Niecy, yes, when a naysayer said no.

10:22My sister Kiki, yes, my girl, when a naysayer said no.

10:27My sisters Masa and Miyati, yes, when a naysayer said no.

10:31Oh, and Father, thanks for telling all this hodge.

10:34Yes, Lord. Yes, for hosting in essence,

10:38black women in Hollywood tonight, because he has kept this room alive

10:41and he's poured so much into us since the moment he walked on the stage.

10:43So brother, we thank you. Thank you.

10:47You should never be shocked as to why you are up here.

10:52And for every hardworking person in this room, when the naysayers told us no,

10:57God said yes, and I'm filled with so much gratitude.

11:02So Father God, I thank you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

11:06Thank you so much, Essence, for the amazing honor. I love you so much.

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