At the nation’s largest celebration of global Black culture, two creative forces partnered together to raise the bar for creators. ESSENCE GU® (ESSENCE Girls United) and Kensington Grey, the premier talent agency for Black digital storytellers, partnered during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® to present a weekend of high-impact, content-forward experiences built by and for today’s most influential voices.
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At the heart of this collaboration was a shared mission: elevate Black creators not just as talent—but as industry leaders, cultural architects, and the future of storytelling.
The ESSENCE GU® x Kensington Grey Creator Mixer: A Cultural Convergence
On Saturday, July 5th, the invite-only, #KGxGUHouseMixer, the crown jewel of the partnership, brought together a dynamic networking experience designed to spark collaboration across industries with an elite roster of Kensington Grey talent, creators on the rise, brand partners, and ESSENCE GU® tastemakers for an afternoon of curated conversation, intentional connection, and content creation featuring J.C. Carter, Scot Louie, and Justine’s Camera Roll.
“The ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® has become a rite of passage for creators, on par with New York Fashion Week and Coachella. It’s one of the largest and most culturally significant festivals in the world, and brands are increasingly turning to creators as the primary source of on-the-ground amplification. Whether it's a chance celebrity sighting, a standout culinary moment, or capturing the city’s stunning architecture, the opportunities for viral storytelling are endless because there really is no place like New Orleans.” said Shannae Ingleton, co-founder of Kensington Grey. “Partnering with ESSENCE on the GU® Creator Mixer was an easy ‘yes’ for us at Kensington Grey. For starters, the ESSENCE brand is iconic, and our missions are perfectly aligned when it comes to celebrating creators, art, community, and culture. We’re confident this is the first of many collaborations like this one.”
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CREDITS: GETTY FOR ESSENCE
ESSENCE GU® Creator House & Kickback: The Full Weekend Vision
The ESSENCE GU® x Kensington Grey alliance extended beyond one moment. Throughout the weekend:
- The ESSENCE GU® Creator House was a content hub where creators could shoot, edit, and connect in real time. With brand vignettes and social-ready spaces, it doubles as a working studio and cultural sanctuary.
- The ESSENCE GU® Kickback held at The Fillmore on Friday, July 4th was the weekend’s exhale, fusing day party vibes with live music, surprise performances, and cultural celebration, proving that joy is just as powerful as strategy, featuring a stacked lineup of KenTheMan, Moliy, T99zy, and Chxrry in a genre-crossing live experience designed for a new generation of cultural disruptors. Hosted by Zoe Spencer.
“Black women are forever the blueprint — and at ESSENCE Girls United®, we build for us, by us, because we love us. By joining forces with a visionary agency like Kensington Grey, we’re stepping beyond creating content to cultivate long-lasting legacy, connection, and joy, said Rechelle Dennis, co-founder and brand lead of ESSENCE Girls United®. “Together, we’re designing a new pathway where creativity flourishes, culture leads, and the next generation of storytellers can rise unapologetically.”
Through ushering in a new generation, this partnership between ESSENCE GU® (ESSENCE Girls United) and Kensington Grey activates a powerful truth: when Black creators are centered, supported, and seen, the results are unforgettable.
ABOUT SUNDIAL MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) is a human connections company — the signal powered by culture, scaled by technology, and built for community. SMTG connects, elevates, and empowers the most influential consumer segment in the market: HER, the Chief Influence Officer. With over 100 years of community knowledge and insights, SMTG is redefining the media model into a next-generation platform. Powered by proprietary intelligence and AI technology, it activates an ecosystem that scales HER influence and economic power. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic, purpose-driven brands and experiences shaping culture today—ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture®), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™ (including NaturallyCurly), the Global Black Economic Forum, the Academy for Advancing Excellence, and the New Voices Fund. Through storytelling, products, and platforms, SMTG delivers the tools and technology to shape the future of media, commerce, and community—on HER terms.
ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA GROUP INC.
ESSENCE Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand's multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture®.
ABOUT KENSINGTON GREY
Founded in 2019, Kensington Grey’s mission is to invest in the moments that matter and advocate for groundbreaking opportunities, turning visionary talents into lifelong changemakers. Through expert influencer casting, talent, strategy, and campaign management, Kensington Grey creates impactful legacies, delivering exceptional results and supporting its clients in driving lasting social change. Kensington Grey commits to empowering the underrepresented voices of tomorrow by providing the platform and support needed to turn revolutionary ideas into reality. The agency’s distinctive promise lies in its tailored approach to brand and influencer management, which focuses not just on growth but on inclusive and meaningful impact.
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On Saturday, July 5th, the invite-only, #KGxGUHouseMixer, the crown jewel of the partnership, brought together a dynamic networking experience designed to spark collaboration across industries with an elite roster of Kensington Grey talent, creators on the
