NAACP Image Awards Event with African Pride and Walmart

naacp-image-awards-african-pride-lovebrownsugarThis past weekend I was invited by the team at African Pride to attend a screening of the NAACP Image Awards presented by Walmart. This special TV One screening of the NAACP Image Awards took place in Bentonville, Arkansas where Walmart’s headquarters and corporate offices are. I’d never been to Arkansas so it was my first time taking a trip there. And like I always do when I go on an out of town trip, I brought multiple outfit options!

Before The Big Day

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On the day I arrived, I checked into our hotel and proceeded to get ready for dinner with the African Pride team. I bought two options for dinner and you guys, like the wonderful folks you are, helped me pick my dinner outfit on Instagram haha.

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The first option was a floral dress – fun and flirty but perhaps a little more brunch-appropriate. The second option was a python top and leather leggings – a little more casual and “night on the town” appropriate. I ended up going with the python look. I love wearing a long blouse/tunic with sleek leggings or skinny pants. This silhouette flatters my curves really well and balances me out.

The Big Day

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The blue carpet for the 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards was really loads of fun. In addition to getting to dress up, get my makeup done and walk the carpet like a celebrity (thanks African Pride!) I also saw some pretty awesome people.

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Before I prepped, I had to ask you guys which black tie dress to adorn. I snagged both of these babies from ASOS.com. They always have amazing dresses that fit my shape AND they offer 2-day express shipping that is pretty reliable, even though it snowed in my area the day before. I was overjoyed. Nothing like having options for a red carpet event.

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After a resounding response, I went with the ‘Green Goddess’ ASOS gown. It was so regal and I thought it was different and looked great on my skin. The gold detailing at the neckline had me at hello.

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It also allowed me to play around with a fun and vibrant makeup look, which I’ll go into detail about in tomorrow’s post about my hair and makeup look.

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I paired the look with neutral accessories because I really wanted the dress to stand out. So I did gold jewelry, nude sandals and a lucite clutch to complete the look.

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Everything flowed together so smoothly and after hair and makeup were complete, I did the tootsie roll in the mirror before heading down to the NAACP Image Awards Blue Carpet presented by Walmart & African Pride.

So here was my final look:

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Dress: ASOS | Shoes: ALDO | Bracelets: Fashion To Figure | Watch: Caravelle by Bulova | Extensions c/o Vixxenn Hair | Hair styled with African Pride products

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While on the carpet, I was interviewed by African Pride social correspondent Melanie Yvette Martin.

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And OMG guys, we got to meet Charlie Wilson! All us girls snapped photos with him on the carpet.

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And Uncle Charlie greeted me with a smile and allowed me to take a selfie with him!

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Also on the carpet was style correspondent and the event hostess of the night Tai Beachamp. She is so incredibly sweet and absolutely stunning! Every time I see Tai she greets me with a big smile and a “hey girl hey”! I was so ecstatic to see her on the blue carpet.

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I spent my time behind the blue carpet with these lovelies – Danielle Young of Hello Beautiful, Jamie Foster Brown and Jonnell Whitt of Sister 2 Sister Magazine, Deena Campbell of Essence Magazine, Vaughn Moore of YouTube channel MsVaughnTV and Melanie Yvette Martin who handles social media for Strength of Nature. We’re joined above by Charlene Dance, Global Marketing Director for Strength of Nature. She expressed how important it was for African Pride to sponsor an event like the NAACP Image Awards with Walmart.

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This awards show is so incredibly inspiring. Its purpose is to highlight people of color who are making tangible changes in the perception of blacks in the media. And I’m all for it.

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I had a great time both at the screening and at the after-party featuring Charlie Wilson and Doug E. Fresh (so amazing!)

Big thanks to African Pride for bringing me to this epic event!

What was your favorite part of the NAACP Image Awards this weekend? Did you watch it?

 

Christina Brown

Lifestyle influencer and digital mompreneur Christina S. Brown is a New York native, LA resident, and the founder of LoveBrownSugar.com and BrownGirlsLove. She's an award-winning storyteller, a motivational speaker and an advocate for confident millennial black women.

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