Ari Lennox– who will be performing at the 31st annual ESSENCE Festival of Culture next month– has had a firm hold on the music industry since signing to J. Cole’s Dreamville Records in 2015. Whether she’s “leaving her curls in the shower” on records like “New Apartment” or relating to our deepest feelings in her latest singles “Gaslight” and “Soft Girl Era”, Lennox moves her listeners. But, beyond her soulful vocals, her beauty looks have us turning our heads, too.
Just before baring her soul on stage for her Nostalgia tour, the artist gripped her brushed curls with short, stiletto nails while bangs hung over bronze eyeshadow. Other backstage beauty moments have included long barrel curls spiraled half-way down her back and a middle-parted silk press. Meanwhile, her makeup looks are always about turning up the ante on warm metallics (think: Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter in Pink Shimmer).
For her 34th birthday, Solange shared a tribute she creative directed for Lennox, seen in classic black tresses that swayed as she leaned. In her most recent post, she visited the ESSENCE HQ cradling a fish bowl clutch with a holographic manicure. That said, it’s official: her royalty, Ari Lennox, claims the beauty throne as fans can only anticipate the looks she’ll don at this year’s festival.
Until then, take a look at the top 9 times the ESSENCE Festival performer gave us beauty inspiration.
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® will take place July 3-6. For more information and updates on the festival, visit our website and follow us on social media @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram.