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ESSENCE Festival weekend is officially underway in New Orleans, bringing thousands of attendees and some familiar faces to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Friday’s daytime programming began with Keke Palmer leading a Pilates class before Octavia Spencer, Sanaa Lathan, Lynae Vanee, Loren LoRosa, Kimberley A. Martin, LaToya Luckett, and others made appearances throughout the day. Destin Conrad also performed at the Coca-Cola Stage.

Later, the celebration continued inside Caesars Superdome for the opening night of the Evening Concert Series. Hosted by Kenny Burns and Danielle Brooks, the show featured performances from Cardi B, Latto, and Kehlani.

The energy was booming at the Convention Center, with the ESSENCE Stage, BeautyCon, Global Black Economic Forum, ESSENCE Food & Wine, and several other experiences welcoming Festival attendees. Before the weekend continues, take a look at some of the celebrities spotted during the opening day of the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

Keri Hilson

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Keri Hilson speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Blake Newby

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Blake Newby speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Joy-Ann Reid

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Joy-Ann Reid attends the Global Black Economic Forum Stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Lynae Vanee

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Lynae Vanee attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Keke Palmer

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Keke Palmer speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Sanaa Lathan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Sanaa Lathan speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Keke hosts a pilates class.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Keke Palmer speaks during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Peter Forest/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Loren Lorosa

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Loren Lorosa speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Octavia Spencer

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: (L-R) Maria Sten and Octavia Spencer speak onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Melissa Mitchell

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Melissa Mitchell speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kenny Burns and Danielle Brooks

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Kenny Burns and Danielle Brooks perform on stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)

Kenneth Temple and Nina Compton

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: (L-R) Kenneth Temple and Nina Compton speak onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Peter Forest/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

LeToya Luckett attends the Global Black Economic Forum Stage.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: LeToya Luckett attends the Global Black Economic Forum Stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Obio Jones

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Obio Jones attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kimberley A. Martin

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Kimberley A. Martin speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Destin Conrad

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Destin Conrad performs onstage at the Coca-Cola stage during the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage)

Jamila Mustafa and Charles Beloved

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: (L-R) Jamila Mustafa and Charles Beloved Kuykendoll attend the 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® – Caesars’ Superdome at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kehlani performs onstage.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Kehlani performs during 2026 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Teyana Taylor

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Teyana Taylor performs during 2026 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Luke James

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Actor Luke James attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)

Danielle Brooks

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Actress Danielle Brooks speaks on stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once

The former home secretary has co-authored a major report that has found the running of forces in England and Wales needs a “fundamental overhaul”.

The former home secretary has co-authored a major report that has found the running of forces in England and Wales needs a “fundamental overhaul”.

As America marks its 250th birthday this Fourth of July, one of the best ways to celebrate is by honoring the natural wonders of the United States’ national parks.

President Donald Trump is set to cap a weeks-long celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary with a hyped political rally speech on the National Mall Saturday, coming off his wind-up at Mount Rushmore, where he railed against communism.

Trump has boasted that his July 4 nighttime address in front of the Washington Monument would be “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.” It was certainly guaranteed to be hot. Temperatures are forecast to hit above 100 degrees and festivities included seven scheduled hours of flyovers by military planes — including the new Qatari-gifted jet serving as Air Force One. 

The president said on his social media platform Saturday afternoon that “crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE!” But extreme heat postponed entry to the National Mall until 5 p.m. ET and caused the District of Columbia to cancel its annual parade as the city faced a severe thunderstorm watch.

His speech at the national memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, on Friday night hewed more closely to a Cold War-era campaign address than one meant to unify the country around its 250th birthday.

He framed the midterm elections as a battle against the “resurgence of the communist menace in our land.” He portrayed an America under siege by communism, which he described as a “mortal threat to American liberty” and one being revived by “newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success.”

“The Communist Party is made up of illegal immigrants, criminals, and everybody that doesn’t want to work,” Trump said, seemingly aiming his remarks at the MAGA base that elected him president for a second time in 2024.

His dark warnings come on the heels of stunning election victories by democratic socialist candidates in New York and Colorado. He said it was imperative that Republicans win the midterms in November and retain control of the legislative branch — and he demanded Congress pass a bill to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

“We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms, if we are foolish, stupid, and unwise,” Trump said. “But if we terminate the filibuster, as we should do, and immediately vote for the Save America Act, then we will not lose an election for 100 years.”

The president’s highly politicized speech on the eve of the Fourth of July highlighted the deep political divisions that he himself has sown. Recent polls show many Americans have a pessimistic outlook on the country’s trajectory and broadly distrust each other and institutions.

As he spoke loftily of America’s singularity, Trump also hit some familiar notes. He touted U.S. military campaigns in Venezuela and Iran that international affairs and human rights groups have called illegal, and claimed that the Middle Eastern country is “dying to settle” to end the war.

But he repeatedly suggested Americans have something bigger to fear than the Islamic Republic that he began waging war against on Feb. 28.

“Communism is the exact opposite of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “It’s death, tyranny and the pursuit of evil.”

The post ‘Communist menace in our land’: Trump’s July 4 rallying cry to America appeared first on MS NOW.

Last night, Cardi B headlined her first-ever ESSENCE Festival of Culture on the first night of the Evening Concert Series. After a panel discussion on the BeautyCon stage about her haircare brand, Grow-Good Beauty, she switched from a black bob into yellow curls. And, from an all-white manicure to something much more dramatic. 

“For a festival beauty look, my top tip is to do something eye-catching,” her nail artist and OPI global ambassador Coca Michelle tells ESSENCE exclusively. “There’s always a place for neutral looks,” she says, like Cardi B’s panel mani. “But, when you’re performing, a manicure that catches the eye just makes sense.”

Her long, stiletto nails on the festival’s “Ladies First” night was all about chrome, graffiti, and wig-matching paint splatter. To achieve the look, Michelle used a sponge to create a patchy, black ombré effect with OPI Gel Color in Black Onyx for a grungy feel. 

Then, using a chrome marker, she graffiti’d her nails with abstract lines from cuticle to tip. In similar lines, the bright orange crème Shrimp Cocktail (a shade inspired by Cajun Shrimp) was splattered all over her nails. To make her nails even more hardcore, Michelle completed the look with piercings—bull rings, barbells, and spikes—glued on to match the hooks on her bodysuit.

While her look was seriously cutthroat, “one of my favorite things about working with Cardi is that the whole team is so unserious—we have so much fun together,” she says. “ESSENCE Fest always brings together so many incredible experiences, and the fact that it’s in New Orleans every year makes it even better. I love it here.”

Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembelé y Michael Olise lideran a una poderosa Selección de Francia que llega como amplio favorito ante Paraguay, han tomado camino hacia la casa de los Philadelphia Eagles para un duelo decisivo ante la utópica Paraguay de Alfaro.

As Canada exits the World Cup, Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X: “Today, we feel nothing but pride … An incredible journey that bodes well for great things to come. Thank you to our team, the fans, and everyone who contributed to our best performance to date at the World Cup.” Canada is the first host nation to be knocked out of the 2026 tournament. Mexico plays England on Sunday evening and the U.S. takes on Belgium on Monday.

Madonna hit the town Friday night in a lacy black dress as she threw a major party in London on the same day she released her 15th studio album, “Confessions II.” Check it out — the Queen of Pop dressed in a sexy short dress fitted with lace and…

Brahim Díaz asistió al delantero, quien quedó mano a mano frente al arco y sentenció este partido de Octavos de Final de la Copa del Mundo 2026.

The nuptials, which drew some of the most famous people in the world to Madison Square Garden, promised a kind of narrative closure for Swifties: after the pop star spent years singing about imagined weddings, her life was finally catching up with her art.