# @essence on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C1CYqZHM6Dj
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/10378846-essence-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/5b10454c4c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-12-19T14:03:27.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** ESSENCE (@essence) — https://gondola.cc/essence

## Caption

Before they became ‘American Fiction’s’ leading ladies on the big screen, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross and Erika Alexander were queens of the small screen who showed Black women just how powerful sisterhood can be. 

It’s only right to give these women their flowers as the cover stars of our Jan/Feb Black love issue — because Black sisterhood is Black love.

‘American Fiction,’ out in select theaters now and directed by Cord Jefferson, is a story of America in all of its dysfunction.

“It is not easy as a Black actress to find roles where you are not written in the context of something else—where your identity is not because of something, or you’re just the setup for someone else. And what Cord Jefferson did in these moments that we appear on the screen, is ensure that we are whole people,” says Ross. 

During the Jan/Feb cover shoot, ESSENCE helped the ladies realize the connection of Black sisterhood they share through their mega-hit shows ‘Girlfriends,’ ‘Insecure‘ and ‘Living Single.’ 
 
Maxine Shaw. Joan Clayton. Issa Dee. For many of us, these women have been some of our first “girlfriends.” They were honest about our insecurities, even as they made living single look like a damn good time. 

Read the full Jan/Feb cover story on ESSENCE.com now and on newsstands December 26! #ESSENCE 

Credits:
Talent: @erikaalexanderthegreat, @issarae & @traceeellisross
Photographer: @micaiahcarter
Writer: @kimberlynatasha
Stylist: @solangefranklin
Creative Movement Director: @stephengalloway 
Erika Alexander Hair & Makeup: @fred4face Erika’s NRAY Locs by Debra Hare-Bey
Issa Hair: @felicialeatherwood
Issa Makeup: @joannasimkin 
Tracee Hair: @marciahamilton 
Tracee Makeup: @mollygreenwald 
Nails: @nails_by_yoko
Set Design: betteradams
Tailor: @costumer.shirlee 
Retouching: @phtsdr
Location: @nyastudios
Visual Direction: @_mq______ 
Production: @themorrisongroup

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## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESSENCE | @essence | https://gondola.cc/essence | Media Company |
| Gabrielle Moise | @gabbymoise | https://gondola.cc/gabbymoise | Director of Social Media |

## Tags

essence, movies, americanfictionmovie

## Events

cover rollouts

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