Bio

Essence Magazine was created in 1970 to provide black women between 25 and 49 years of age with news and information on Entertainment, Social and Business topics. Covers Health, Beauty, Entertainment, Travel and Lifestyle updates, as well as reporting on the financial, political and social issues pertaining to Black women today. Please direct all initial editorial inquiries to the Editorial Business Manager via email or phone. The print magazine is published 10 times per year, with a combined July/August issue. The magazine has covered topics from family, to social issues in the African-American community, to African-American women in the military, to being HIV positive. Celebrities including Michelle Obama and Whitney Houston have graced the cover and been featured in the magazine through interviews and photo spreads. Originally launched primarily as a fashion magazine, Essence has grown to be a guideline for African-American women in many aspects of life. Editorial departments include: People, celebrity coverage; Beauty & Style, products, beauty tips, fashion updates; Health; Relationships; Personal Growth; Arts and Entertainment; Money and Careers, a career and finance section with consumer news and technology as well as a Q&A advice column called Working It! and a personal finance section called Your Money; Food, Home and Travel; and Parenting. Media Alert: January 23, 2018 Essence Magazine, as well as its website and events businesses, have officially been sold by Time, Inc., to an investor group headed by Richelieu Dennis, founder of Shea Moisture. Dennis confirmed that Michelle Ebanks will remain president of the magazine, and gain an equity stake in the business. At Time, Inc., Ebanks had served as president of both Essence and People en Español since 2001; however, she has left the latter to focus more on Essence's new ventures.