Few can hold their own alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, let alone on their first feature film. But rising star Chase Infiniti, whose name foretold her ascent, has proven she is in a league of her own. The Fierce and Fearless Award honoree shares how she went from a musical theatre standout to the heartbeat of one of 2025’s most-talked-about and nominated projects in just a few short years, and how Black women have shaped and inspired her rise.

Since Kerry Washington was first honored at ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood in 2012, the one-of-a-kind talent has evolved from TV starlet to storyteller and changemaker in every sense. She launched her own production company, delivering Emmy-nominated projects, expanded her impressive resume as a director, and extended her influence through a foundation promoting civic engagement, all while remaining one of the industry’s most coveted leading ladies. Washington reflects on the personal turning point that inspired bolder professional leaps, and having the privilege of shaping which stories are told in Hollywood—and who gets to tell them.

How much do you really know about LaTanya Richardson Jackson? Chances are, not nearly enough. That’s about to change.

This year’s Black Women in Hollywood honoree is finally receiving her flowers for a career that shines brilliantly on both screen and stage. A Tony Award nominee, Jackson has proven herself just as formidable behind the camera, directing powerful works by August Wilson and, soon, Pearl Cleage. Now, in this long-overdue moment, she’s opening up about her journey: growing up during segregation, honing her craft at Spelman College, finding love with Samuel L. Jackson and standing as the backbone to his rise, navigating the AIDS epidemic that took loved ones, and dedicating herself to nurturing the next generation of artists through philanthropic work. She’s here to speak her truth, and it’s time we all listen.

Sinners was the most groundbreaking film of 2025, not only for the visionary way it was shot, its incredible box office success, or the 16 history-making Oscar nominations it has since earned, but for the extraordinary Black women who helped bring it to life, both in front of and behind the camera.

Director Ryan Coogler steered the project with his signature precision and heart. But the film was also shaped by his creative and life partner, Zinzi Coogler, whose leadership helped cultivate a set grounded in collaboration and care. This year’s Black Women in Hollywood honoree, alongside Luminary Spotlight recipients Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Ruth E. Carter, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Hannah Beachler, and Shunika Terry-Jennings, reflect on the safe, empowering, and familial environment fostered on set, thanks in no small part to Zinzi’s presence, and the lasting impact that spirit had on the finished product.