# @essence on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DPOrNEgjWmb
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35065671-essence-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e9e0d0a145.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-09-30T14:12:30.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** essence (@essence) — https://gondola.cc/essence

## Caption

When we talk about legacy, Brandy and Monica’s voices sit at the heart of innocence of Black girlhood and the strength of Black womanhood. But the true gift isn’t just the music—it’s the connection.

ESSENCE: Your music has been the soundtrack to generations of Black girlhood and womanhood. What does it mean to know that your voices raised so many of us? 

Monica: I enjoy that more than music and melody, to be honest. Being connected to my people, if you look at my background, makes total sense. My connection to humanity, my connection especially to Black women—it is written in everything that I am. It’s written in everything that I’ve experienced. My mom has been the wife of a Methodist minister for almost five decades. And so all I saw her do was help people. When they couldn’t feed themselves: Go feed people. Stop by their homes. We sang to the sick and shut-in. Everything was about helping your people, and that was something that I kept with me. 

Read our Fall/Winter cover story at ESSENCE.com 

Photographer: myeshaevon
Writer: shelbylnstewart
Stylist: jasonrembert
Brandy Hair: jstayready_
Brandy Makeup: makeupartistgaby
Monica Hair: iamhairbyhe
Monica Makeup: eva_thediva_kim
Set Design:sssinclaire
Tailor: msshanitad
Production:themorrisongroup
Post Production:camerin.stoldt
Location: mediaproductionstudios
Special Thanks: thecandlerhotel

ESSENCE, VP, Content: itsnandibby
ESSENCE, Head of Social: mentionme
ESSENCE, Art Director:so.lit
ESSENCE, Creative Operations:hashtag_bre
ESSENCE, Consulting Design Director: bibbygregory

Tour: blackpromoterscollective #TheBoyIsMineTour

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 0
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 32

## Tags

theboyisminetour

---
Copyright (c) Gondola