The Women Of 'Sinners' Blaze Essence's BWIH Issue In All Black
The Women Of 'Sinners' Blaze Essence's Black Women In Hollywood Issue In All Black
- Costume designer Ruth Carter aimed to reflect Annie's spiritual power and authority through layered, textured garments.
- Hairstylist Shunika Terry-Jennings collaborated closely with actors to protect hair health and honor natural textures.
- Production designer Hannah Beachler created the mystical, nurturing world of Annie's store and the grand yet intimate church.
Essence‘s highly anticipated Black Women In Hollywood issue has arrived starring the women of Sinners, and the ladies are strikingly beautiful in black. The annual cover coincides with legacy brand’s illustrious Black Women In Hollywood luncheon. This year’s theme, “Off Script,” speaks to the Black women blazing unconventional paths in Hollywood. The cover features Zinzi Coogler, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Ruth Carter, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Shunkia Terry-Jennings and Hannah Beachler.
In the cover story, penned by Brande Victorian, the dynamic group opens up about the cultural significance of Sinners and the profound thought that went into production.
For Zinzi Coogler, Sinners was “deeply personal.” She continued, “We knew everyone was pouring so much of themselves into every detail and craft. We needed the environment to enable the cast and crew to feel creative and free, but also safe spiritually and physically.
Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter says it’s her responsibility to “honor the essence of the character as written.”
She elaborated, “Annie was never defined by her size. On the page, she was not described as “plus-size.” She was a hoodoo priest, a spiritual protector, Smoke’s lover, his wife—a woman who carries a profound aura. That is how I approached her. Annie’s power is spiritual. It’s ancestral. It’s rooted in knowing. So her wardrobe had to reflect that authority and that grace. Her garments are layered—cottons, textures, sacred pouches—each element chosen to suggest history, ritual and protection.”
Wunmi Mosaku’s character came to life with Carter’s vision. “The way Ms. Ruth works is such a layered process that I liken to the Michelangelo quote: ‘The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there; I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.’ I felt like we started with so many ideas and layers and chiseled away down to her core, and in that process of chiseling, I found her. She became clearer and clearer the more we took away. Annie’s hair felt really organic using a reference picture of the era. One woman really stood out to us, and she became the basis of where we began with Annie.”
Shunika Terry-Jennings, who was the mastermind behind the Academy Award-nominated hair and makeup team, revealed Michael B. Jordan got a texturizer to soften his hair. Miles Caton combed out his locs for a haircut. Delroy Lindo wore a wig. “Those were some of the most significant transformations that altered natural patterns and silhouettes, and each one required intention and care to protect the integrity of their hair. Everyone valued and respected our approach. The transformations were never about forcing a look. They were about serving character while keeping hair healthy and honoring texture. I was deeply honored by the faith they placed in me and my hair team.”
Jayme Lawson, who came to set a blonde, said she felt deep trust for Jennings’ leadership in the beauty department. “I just knew I was in good hands from the moment we met. I was blonde at the time and was not trying to color my hair! Shunika was so collaborative. She came with so many references, but really gave me a say in helping to create Pearline’s look. I didn’t have to worry about showing up and getting my edges snatched from me, any heat damage—none of that. She made it easy. So, all I had to focus on—which is all we should ever have to focus on—was my job. In this industry, that is still a rare gift.”
Hannah Beachler, who is nominated for a Best Production Design Oscar, revealed that her favorite set from the movie was the church and Annie’s store. “I love Annie’s store, but I love the church as well. I think Annie’s store, for me, was really this mystical place that delved into the spiritual, but she was also a cook and someone the community would go to for healing and nurturing. So, it was a lot of fun to dig into what that could be and how to create her world. The church was special because I wanted it to both look and feel grand while remaining simple and small, and that was a fun challenge to create that juxtaposition.”
The women of Sinners will be honored with the Luminary spotlight award at the 2026 Black Women In Hollywood ceremony.
Read the full cover story, here.
The Women Of 'Sinners' Blaze Essence's Black Women In Hollywood Issue In All Black was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
