The Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala Brought an Evening of Black Joy, Excellence, and Creativity to Los Angeles
Last night, The Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala took over Paramount Studios in Los Angeles for its fourth annual gala. Despite a difficult January—which saw many Black-owned homes, churches, businesses, and landmarks reduced to ashes by the Eaton Canyon fires and the Trump administration’s pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion—the mood was jubilant. A dressed-to-the-nines crowd gathered to celebrate Black joy, Black creativity, Black excellence and the start of Black History Month.
The party kicked off with cocktails on the studio’s famous New York Street backlot. Here, guests including Kelly Rowland, Tina Knowles, Precious Lee, Lori Harvey, Keke Palmer, Nia Long, Jesse Williams, Lamorne Morris, Lee Daniels, June Ambrose, and stylists Law Roach, Jason Bolden, and Wayman Bannerman, and Micah McDonald caught up and browsed the Block Party storefront. As artists and DJs including Mickalene Thomas and MAAD kept the music going on the lot, attendees browsed brands like Ghetto Gastro, L’Enchanteur, Diotima, and Christopher John Rogers.
Once again, the dress code for the evening was Black designer and black tie—attendees did not disappoint. Kim Kardashian sported a barely-there black and leather chainmail gown which was custom Balmain by Olivier Rousteing black leather and chainmail gown, while chairwoman and fellow Skims co-founder Emma Grede and Kelly Rowland both opted for Harbison Studio looks. Amber Valletta chose a cream crochet Diotima number, while Teyana Taylor wore a LaQuan Smith tuxedo suit, and Eva Chen sported a red sequined dress by Maximillian Davis for Ferragamo.
After shopping and canapés, golf carts transported the crowd to one of the studio’s iconic sound stages, which had been transformed for the evening’s dinner. They were presented with a vegan menu designed by Ethiopian-born Swedish-American chef Marcus Samuelsson, and hosted by Nigerian-American actress and comedian Yvonne Orji.
As guests took their seats, singer Ciara took to the stage to present the first grant of the evening: The Altadena Honoree Grant and a $50,000 donation. The recipient was Barbara Shay, the owner of Little Red Hen Coffee Shop, which was recently destroyed when the Eaton fire tore through Altadena.
Next up was Sienna Naturals co-founders Hannah Diop and Issa Rae received the second annual Sephora Beauty Grant, a $100K grant created to honor exceptional Black beauty brands and help them reach the next level of success.
Finally, Fifteen Percent Pledge founder Aurora James presented the 2025 Achievement Award alongside Kelly Rowland to three businesses: RedDrop, Brooklyn Tea, and Bernard James, whom the gala attendees had voted for over the course of dinner.
Since its founding five years ago, The Fifteen Percent Pledge has created a pipeline to shift $14 billion to Black-owned businesses. As James addressed the crowd, she acknowledged the guests and supporters of the gala for their contributions. “Each and every one of us. Our stories, our pasts, our cultures, and identities are part of the fabric that makes America great,” she said. “More than great: Spectacular. You deserve to be here. I deserve to be here. We make ‘here’ what it is. Our talent, our tenacity, our drive—that is why we got here. This country in its best form is a product of each of our beautiful and individual contributions. Never let another person tell you otherwise. We belong. You belong.”
Photo: Hunter Abrams1/28
Photo: Hunter Abrams2/28Aurora James, Emma Grede
