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LifestyleTranscript
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.