On Friday night, Tatyana, Kimberly and I went to the 41st Annual NAACP Image Awards. Chrysler sent us a 300 stretch limo to ensure we got there in style.
Chrysler 300 Stretch Limo
To up the style ante, Tatyana decided to bring back Hollywood glamor. She wore a couture Jean Fares gown and accessorized with vintage jewelry.
Tatyana Arrives at the 41st Annual NAACP Image Awards
Nominated for her work on The Young and the Restless, Tatyana went head-to-head against some incredibly talented Daytime actresses: Debbi Morgan, Daphnee Duplaix, Eva Marcille and Tonya Lee Williams. Though Tatyana did not win (the award went to Debbi Morgan), she was honored to have been considered.
Lenny Kravitz's Head
Later on, Tatyana presented, and I went with her backstage. There, she got some hair and make-up touch-ups and met Chiwetel Ejiofor, her presenting partner. They practiced the lines quickly and waited to go on. I observed quietly as Quentin Tarantino and Kimberly Elise chatted before hitting the theatre stage. I saw Cicely Tyson. I took a photo of the back of Lenny Kravitz’s head. I was all too nervous to introduce myself or even say hello with a smile!
We watched Jill Scott perform on the monitors. Her number one fan (one moment away from a stalker), Tatyana approached her and the two talked for a while. Then we ran into LL Cool J, his manager and his wife. I was kind of freaking out because he said, “Hi Anastasia.” I tweeted about it in excitement.
Tatyana and Chiwetel went on soon after to present the award for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” to Mo’Nique for Precious.
Tatyana Ali and Chiwetel Ejiofor
Tatyana gave Mo’Nique a big hug.
Mo'Nique accepts her award
After the awards, we went to Crustacean, a fabulous Euro-Vietnamese in Beverly Hills. When we got there, Tatyana and Kimberly went to the restroom. I decided to sit at the bar. To my left were Quentin Tarantino and Harvey Weinstein! I just watched them in amazement.
The whole night–being surrounded by such beauty and talent–reminded me of…Contact. No words. No words!
