ESSENCE Declares April 13th as Girlfriends Appreciation Day in Honor of "Besties" Everywhere!

NEW YORK, April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- She's the one who always has your back. Whenever you need her, she's always right there to cheer you on. In honor of "besties" everywhere, ESSENCE declares April 13th as "Girlfriends Appreciation Day." Join women around the world in this celebration of sisterhood as we encourage women to do something extra special for their "besties"—whether it's a spa treat, a mall shopping trip, or dinner at her favorite restaurant—all in honor of this day. Be sure to log on to ESSENCE's Twitter and Facebook pages to upload a picture of your bestie and tell us why she's special to you, for a chance to win a "Girlfriends Appreciation Day" T-shirt!  As part of the day, ESSENCE will also celebrate the launch of its first-ever "Girlfriends Issue" dedicated to friendships—featuring talk show queen and "girlfriend in our head" Wendy Williams on the cover. In this issue, Williams talks about friendship, her family—and Dancing with the Stars! Williams will also be feted by ESSENCE at a party sponsored by Essie and Swarovski Elements as part of the "Girlfriends Appreciation Day" celebration.

ESSENCE's "Girlfriends Issue" showcases real stories of amazing friendships that have survived the good and the bad. In the article Tried & True, ESSENCE features quotes from celeb besties who share an unbreakable bond—including Beyonce and mom Tina Knowles; Sherri Shepherd and Niecy Nash; Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah; Kelly Rowland and Brandy; Monica and Keyshia Cole and more. It also features seven essays from award-winning writers—including Terry McMillan and more—who describe the resilient connection between "sister friends."

"ESSENCE is chronicling one of the most important relationships in a woman's life—the bond between best friends. This connection has helped many of us celebrate life's greatest joys, as well as weather our heart-wrenching moments," said Karen Williams, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, ESSENCE. "We know that women everywhere will be able to relate to this issue, so please join us in celebrating your girlfriends. Upload your  story to Essence.com and tell us how much your  best friend means to you!"

The "Girlfriends Issue" hits newsstands on April 13th. For more details on how to celebrate your bestie, visit: www.essence.com.

SOURCE ESSENCE Magazine