Celebrate Kerry Washington’s achievements as a 2026 Black Women in Hollywood Honoree. The 2026 awards show is available to stream: Watch Here
In just over one week, ESSENCE’s 19th annual Black Women in Hollywood ceremony, honoring the Black women shaping the future of film and television, will honor the trajectory of none other than Kerry Washington. The acclaimed actress is known for going “Off Script” (this year’s theme) with acting, directing, and activism. And, the same goes for her natural approach to beauty over the years.
Her evolution began in 2001, when she attended the Sundance Film Festival in natural curls and a red lip to match her fuzzy sweater as she promoted her film Lift. From then on, her beauty and style has reached from baby pink lips and blush at the Hollywood Life’s 4th Annual Breakthrough of the Year Awards in 2004 to smoky eyeliner and a Chanel-esque layered necklace at Emporio Armani’s Fall 2008 show.
By the 2010s, she pulled back on blush, but went forward with crop cuts. For example, at a Jimmy Choo & Esquire party in 2013, Washington wore an ear-length micro bob (which we saw again bone-straight in 2022) and a green Ralph Lauren polo. Then, in 2019, she revisited her 2000s light pink tones with a little black pixie cut adorned with a dangling head piece. In one of her most recent looks, at the 2026 BAFTA Awards, it was her wet side bangs and deep blue nails—which matched the pleated train on her gown—that stole the show.
Ahead of ESSENCE’s Black Women in Hollywood on March 12, take a look at how honoree Kerry Washington’s beauty has evolved over the years.
NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Kerry Washington arrives at the New York Women in Film & Television Annual Gala Holiday Luncheon at the Hilton Hotel December 10, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Kerry Washington at the Pegasus Suite of the Rainbow Room in New York, New York (Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 26: Actress Kerry Washington poses during a photo session at the Hotel Maria Crsitina to promote “Mother and Child” during the 57th San Sebastian Film Festival on September 26, 2009 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: Actress Kerry Washington attends the 2010-11 season opening night performance of “Das Rheingold” at the Metropolitan Opera House on September 27, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage)
Kerry Washington (Photo by Carley Margolis/FilmMagic)
Kerry Washington at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah (Photo by Fred Hayes/WireImage)
Kerry Washington attends the 8th annual New Yorkers for Children Spring Dinner Dance at Mandarin Oriental Hotel on April 12, 2011 in New York City.
Kerry Washington during Macy’s Passport 2005 Gala with Movado’s Kerry Washington at Herbst & Festival Pavilions – Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, CA, United States. (Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage for Movado Group PR)
*EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE* Actress Kerry Washington attends Emporio Armani runway presentation hosted by Roberta Armani at Emporio Armani boutique on September 11, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Casey Rodgers/WireImage)
Kerry Washington during Hollywood Life’s 4th Annual Breakthrough of the Year Awards – Arrivals at Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Kerry Washington arrives at the 2012 ABC Disney Winter Party at The Langham Resort on January 10, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 16: Kerry Washington attends a party hosted by Jimmy Choo & Esquire during the London Collections SS14 on June 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 07: Actress Kerry Washington attends the Alexander Wang show during Spring 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Pier 94 on September 7, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/WireImage)
Kerry Washington during Bad Company World Premiere at Loews Lincoln Square Theater in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 02: Kerry Washington attends the Glamour Women of the Year Awards on Berkeley Square gardens on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Fred Duval/FilmMagic)
SANTA MONICA, CA – DECEMBER 11: Actress Kerry Washington attends The 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on December 11, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Kerry Washington arrives at “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MARCH 04: Kerry Washington attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 06: Kerry Washington attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes On Fashion – Arrivalsat The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 09: Kerry Washington attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic,)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Kerry Washington attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 18: Kerry Washington attends the premiere of Netflix’s “The School for Good and Evil” at Regency Village Theatre on October 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 01: Kerry Washington attends the 2023 Costume Institute Benefit celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Kerry Washington attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: Kerry Washington attends the Thom Browne fashion show during the February 2025 New York Fashion Week on February 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Udo Salters/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Kerry Washington attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Carlo Paloni/BAFTA via Getty Images)
