Introducing the New ESSENCE.com

NEW YORK, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ESSENCE.com, the daily online destination for African-American women, unveils a bold new design. The new ESSENCE.com promises to offer even more of what its audience craves — celebrity news, beauty, fashion, hair and relationship content. In the spirit of the ESSENCE brand, the site will feature engaging commentary and user-generated opportunities on topics that affect Black women and the African-American community. Offering its audience up-to-the-minute exclusive access to celebrities, experts and thought-leaders, the new ESSENCE.com will provide a daily experience that is "fierce, fun and fabulous!"

Debuting with exciting guest editors — including R&B star Kelly Rowland and legendary supermodel and businesswoman Iman — users can expect to see several exciting new features, exclusive content and get the inside scoop on music, fashion, beauty and more. Additional contributors will include author and TV producer Susan Fales-Hill and life coach Lisa Nichols. ESSENCE.com will also integrate its successful Makeover Magic as well as its Hot Hair tools; comprising an extraordinary interactive beauty platform.

Also launching today is the "Fierce, Fun and Fabulous Giveaway", where ESSENCE.com will offer users a chance to win several amazing freebies via the website and its Twitter page from brands such as: Coach, Old Navy, Carrera, Diesel and more.  Users can also expect to see an exciting content–sharing partnership with People.com.

"We are extremely excited about the re-launch of ESSENCE.com as it is the ultimate go-to site for African-American women who are interested in celebrity, style and relationships and who want to connect with other Black women and share information," said Emil Wilbekin, managing editor of ESSENCE.com. "With our new look, voice and design we hope to expand upon our unique online experience while inspiring our users and continuing to provide them with what's now, new and next."

With over 40 years of experience servicing African-American women, the ESSENCE brand thrives on being the digital authority on Black beauty, hair and relationships and giving Black women a voice online through blogs, commentary and social media. ESSENCE.com will continue to be a thought-leader; driving the cultural conversation and engaging its users by creating and curating content that is entertaining, journalistically sound, thought-provoking and interactive. To experience the new ESSENCE.com, log-on to www.essence.com, follow us on Twitter @essenceonline, and join in the discussion on Facebook.

As an extension of the redesign, be sure to stop by The ESSENCE.com Live stage at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during the 17th annual ESSENCE Music Festival (July 1-3 in New Orleans) where the brand magically comes to life. ESSENCE editors, experts, authors, and celebrities engage each day with the audience via interactive panels, speed dating, ambush makeovers and a "Street Style" fashion show. Visit www.essencemusicfestival.com for more information.

About Essence.com:

ESSENCE.com is the daily online destination for African-American women which informs, entertains, inspires and connects. The expansive web destination delivers fresh daily content, engaging and compelling blogs, robust photo galleries, a substantial online community, and original video programming across seven channels that include: Celebrity, Fashion, Beauty, Hair, Love, Point-of-View and Video. ESSENCE.com is the largest and fastest growing African-American magazine website. The site currently reaches more than a million monthly unique visitors. In September 2008, ESSENCE.com was one of the first projects to come from the partnership between The Warner Bros. Television Group and Time Inc.'s ESSENCE Communications Inc.

SOURCE ESSENCE Communications Inc.