Halle Bailey and Yara Shahidi both looked incredibly elegant as they arrived at the 2023 Essence Hollywood House at Goya Studios, located in the heart of Hollywood, on Friday evening.
While exchanging a laugh on the red carpet, the 22-year-old singer, who stars as Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid, and Black-ish actress, 23, smiled as they posed for numerous photos together.
For the occasion, Bailey wore a blazer minidress with a plunging neckline, gold open-toed heels, which showed off her red nails, and a pair of large gold circular earrings.
Her long brunette locks were styled in a braided ponytail, and she sported a glamorous makeup look, consisting of a nude lipstick, bronzer for a sun-kissed glow and several layers of mascara for long lashes
Shahidi opted to wear a white tank top under a low-cut corset, tucked into a pair of beige tailored trousers, and silver watch.
Chic: Halle Bailey and Yara Shahidi both looked incredibly elegant as they arrived at the 2023 Essence Hollywood House at Goya Studios, located in the heart of Hollywood, on Friday evening
The performer, who is set to portray Tinker Bell in the upcoming Peter Pan remake Peter Pan & Wendy, sported a radiant, dewy glow, a maroon gloss on her plump pout, winged black eyeliner and wavy updo.
Bailey previously worked with Shahidi on ABC’s hit show, Grown-ish, alongside her sister Chloe, Luka Sabbat, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook and Jordan Buhat.
Later, both women spoke onstage as they sat on a cozy white couch about their experiences as rising stars in Hollywood.
The duo also posed for a picture with actress Teyonah Parris, who has won two Black Reel Awards and been nominated for a SAG Award and NAACP Image Award.
Parris wore a baby blue jumpsuit with a belt, which accentuated her trim waist, and silver hoops.
Essence Hollywood House ‘Black creatives – aspiring and established – with a platform to educate, collaborate and empower one another with a purpose,’ according to the magazine’s website.
Other attendees included singer-songwriter Naturi Naughton, who cradled her baby bump as she posed on the black carpet.
The 38-year-old 3LW alum wore a skintight beige sweater dress and thigh-high black boots.
Polished: Her long brunette locks were styled in a braided ponytail, and she sported a glamorous makeup look, consisting of a nude lipstick, bronzer for a sun-kissed glow and several layers of mascara for long lashes
Oozing glamour: Shahidi opted to wear a white tank top under a low-cut corset, tucked into a pair of beige tailored trousers, and silver watch
Camera-ready: The performer, who is set to portray Tinker Bell in the upcoming Peter Pan remake Peter Pan & Wendy, sported a radiant, dewy glow, a maroon gloss on her plump pout, winged black eyeliner and wavy updo
Former costars: Bailey previously worked with Shahidi on ABC’s hit show, Grown-ish, alongside her sister Chloe, Luka Sabbat, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook and Jordan Buhat
Former costars: Bailey previously worked with Shahidi on ABC’s hit show, Grown-ish, alongside her sister Chloe, Luka Sabbat, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook and Jordan Buhat
A massive success: Bailey rose to fame a singer as half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle with her sister Halle
Once inside as she spoke to the audience, Shahidi spoke about what it meant to her being cast as Tinkerbell, who is depicted as a white-skinned fairy with blonde hair in the original film.
‘I mean it’s really an honor,’ she gushed, before marveling at how this is going to be the new precedent and standard.
She then noted audiences will learn they will still love and invest in characters portrayed by Black men and women.
Bailey said it feels like a ‘dream’ and ‘surreal’ to be cast as Ariel and represent Black and brown women and men.
When asked what she hopes viewers will walk away with after watching her portray as Tinkerbell, Shahidi said: ‘First and foremost I hope they love the film. I hope they love the story.
Former costars: Bailey previously worked with Shahidi on ABC’s hit show, Grown-ish, alongside her sister Chloe, Luka Sabbat, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook and Jordan Buhat
Over a decade on screen: Shahidi began her acting career as a child star, when she was cast opposite Eddie Murphy in the comedy Imagine That, at age nine
One degree hotter: In May, she officially graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
High achieving: Her other accomplishments include landing a place on Time’s The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016 and a film credit in 2018’s Smallfoot
Stunning: The duo also posed for a picture with actress Teyonah Parris, who has won two Black Reel Awards and been nominated for a SAG Award and NAACP Image Award
Stylish: Parris wore a baby blue jumpsuit with a belt, which accentuated her trim waist, and silver hoops
Expecting: Singer-songwriter Naturi Naughton cradled her baby bump as she posed on the black carpet
Mom-to-be: The 38-year-old 3LW alum wore a skintight beige sweater dress and thigh-high black boots
In January, Bailey admitted she was ‘just so scared’ and ‘just so nervous’ before auditioning for the lead role in The Little Mermaid.
During Facebook’s Talks With Mama Tina, she said: ”Even when I was asked to audition, I looked at it and I was like, ‘Me? For Ariel? That just doesn’t…’ ‘Cause you know, my image of Ariel that I’ve had is the red hair, the pale skin, and the tail, and she was amazing to me. I loved her, like we all did. But that’s what I’ve seen her as for so long.’
After she auditioned and ultimately received the role, the young star received a lot of backlash from critics online who were comparing a picture of Ariel to Halle, who doesn’t possess the same features as the animated princess does.
The young star even went on to mention in the interview that her dad helped her run through her lines.
‘So even the auditioning process, I remember being so scared and so nervous,’ she continued. ‘I think my dad, he one time was like, ‘Let’s run through the lines.’ And I started reading them and I just started sobbing. He’s like, ‘Halle, what’s wrong? What’s wrong?’ I’m just, ‘I can’t believe I’m even gonna go for this.”
Halle even got a shout-out from the other Halle, Halle Berry, on Twitter back when the announcement of her casting was announced in July 2019.
The Catwoman star tweeted a picture of Halle next to an animated picture of Ariel and said, ‘In case you needed a reminder… Halles get it DONE. Congratulations Halle on this amazing opportunity, we can’t wait to see what you do!’
Inspiring: Essence Hollywood House ‘Black creatives – aspiring and established – with a platform to educate, collaborate and empower one another with a purpose,’ according to the magazine’s website
Representation matters: Once inside as she spoke to the audience, Shahidi spoke about what it meant to her being cast as Tinkerbell , who is depicted as a white-skinned fairy with blonde hair in the original film