Popsugar Celebrity Crowned Essence Festival of Culture 2022 Celebrity Photos See All the Celebrities at the Essence Festival of Culture 2022 4 July 2022 by Sabienna Bowman Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin The stars came out in a big way for the Essence Festival of Culture this year. After two years where the event was held virtually, the Essence Festival returned to New Orleans as an in-person celebration of Black culture across all spheres. The four-day festival ran from June 30-July 3, and was a joyful celebration featuring musical performances, talks with public figures like Vice President Kamala Harrisand Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and appearances from stars like Ashanti, Issa Rae, Lauryn Hill, and Nicki Minaj. From a mini Fugees reunion to an in-depth interview with Harris, the Essence Festival served up plenty of unforgettable moments. Among them was Harris answer to the question of what she would tell her past self if she could. "Surround yourself with a community of people — it doesn't have to be a big group — who love you and who will cheer you on and who will sometimes push you out the door to go and do," she said. "Those people who love you and you trust enough that when you fall down, they'll be there to laugh with you because you fell, but to help pick you up and keep you going. So, choose — especially to the young leaders, I'd say, but to all of us have every generation — choose who is in your life based on loving yourself and requiring that from other people." It was powerful advice that spoke to the heart of the Essence Festival, and a sentiment that was echoed by the many celebrities and public figures in attendance. Check out the gallery to see all of the stars who joined in the celebration. Lauryn Hill Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 1 / 41 Stacey Abrams Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 2 / 41 Ashanti Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 3 / 41 Tamron Hall, Marsai Martin, and Keke Palmer Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 4 / 41 Kelly Rowland Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 5 / 41 Vice President Kamala Harris Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 6 / 41 Lori Harvey Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 7 / 41 Patti LaBelle Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 8 / 41 Ambré Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 9 / 41 Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 10 / 41 Machel Montano Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 11 / 41 K. Michelle Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 12 / 41 Yvette Nicole Brown Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 13 / 41 Brittney Spencer Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 14 / 41 Mickey Guyton Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 15 / 41 Sherri Shepherd Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 16 / 41 Angelica Ross Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 17 / 41 John Forte Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 18 / 41 Keke Palmer and Vice President Kamala Harris Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 19 / 41 LaTosha Brown Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 20 / 41 Arian Simone Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 21 / 41 Jesseca Harris-Dupart Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 22 / 41 Carl Thomas Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 23 / 41 Stephanie Mills Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 24 / 41 Summer Walker Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 25 / 41 Akin Omotoso Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 26 / 41 Romeo Miller Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 27 / 41 Tamar Braxton Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 28 / 41 Dayo Okeniyi Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 29 / 41 Jazmine Sullivan Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 30 / 41 Ariana Taylor Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 31 / 41 Tank Image Source: Getty / Josh Brasted 32 / 41 Baby Tate Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 33 / 41 Issa Rae Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 34 / 41 Kim Fields Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 35 / 41 Tabitha Brown Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 36 / 41 Lucky Daye Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 37 / 41 Marsai Martin Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 38 / 41 Tamron Hall Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin 39 / 41 Machel Montano and Ashanti Image Source: Getty / Bennett Raglin 40 / 41 Wyclef Jean Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring 41 / 41 CrownedCelebritiesMusic Festivals