New York City became the backdrop for a landmark evening in Black women’s excellence on March 17, 2026. The inaugural Gyrl Wonder Women of Impact Gala took place at the LVMH Tower, bringing together some of the most influential melanated women across media, beauty, sports, and culture for a night of celebration, community, and purpose.
Gyrl Wonder Launches Inaugural Women of Impact Gala at NYC’s LVMH Tower
Gyrl Wonder founder Tola Lawal set the tone for the evening immediately, greeting every guest with her signature warmth — hugs, smiles, and genuine gratitude for their presence and support of the fundraising cause. The space itself spoke volumes. The LVMH Tower, set against the glittering New York City skyline, provided a backdrop that matched the magnitude of the women being honored inside it.
The event, presented by belif Skincare, opened with a cocktail hour that set a luxurious but welcoming atmosphere. Guests chose between signature drinks, cocktails crafted with Sir Davis Whiskey, or Hennessy, while Moët champagne flowed freely throughout the evening. A live artist made fashion sketches of guests on demand, and an elegant floral backdrop provided the perfect setting for photos and conversation. It was the kind of event where every detail felt intentional — because it was.
Honorees Gayle King, Danessa Myricks, and Asia Milia Ware mingled with guests throughout the cocktail hour, making the evening feel less like a formal ceremony and more like a genuine gathering of community — which, of course, is exactly what Gyrl Wonder was built to create.
Honorees Gayle King and Danessa Myricks Share Powerful Words on Black Women and Visibility
The awards presentation brought the evening’s most resonant moments, with honorees speaking to the deeper meaning behind gatherings like this one. Gayle King, one of the most recognized names in American media, connected the evening to something far larger than the room itself.
“They say in order to achieve it you have to see it,” King said. “So I think when you have events like this and celebrate what Black women do and who we are, it sends a message to other young people that this is possible. Nothing is out of reach — that’s what this is.”
Beauty industry powerhouse Danessa Myricks echoed that sentiment, drawing on her own experience of what it means to be seen and celebrated by a community of peers. Her words captured the spirit of the evening with precision.
“Events like this are incredibly important,” Myricks said. “Sometimes you need to see it to know you can be it. To be in a room like this with powerful Black women cheering me on with excitement. Seeing people who inspire me, different industries. People who I can learn from. That’s what I need. Our entire brand was built on the idea of community and so this is what we all need.”
What the Gyrl Wonder Women of Impact Gala Means for Black Women’s Community Building
The Gyrl Wonder Women of Impact Gala was not simply an awards night. It was a deliberate act of community investment — a fundraising experience designed to pour resources and visibility back into the lives of Black women and girls. That mission ran through every element of the evening, from the caliber of women honored to the conversations happening between courses.
The decision to hold the inaugural event at the LVMH Tower signals that Gyrl Wonder is not operating on the margins of influence. The organization is planting its flag squarely at the center of culture, insisting that Black women belong in every prestigious space — and building those spaces themselves when necessary. Tola Lawal’s vision for the gala reflects a generation of Black women founders who understand that representation without infrastructure means very little.
Furthermore, the presence of honorees spanning media, beauty, sports, and public life underscores the intentional breadth of Gyrl Wonder’s definition of impact. Excellence among Black women is not confined to one industry or one kind of achievement — and this gala reflected that truth beautifully.
Why the Gyrl Wonder Gala Is an Important New Tradition for Black Women’s Excellence
First editions matter. They set the standard for everything that follows. By choosing the LVMH Tower, centering Black women’s voices throughout the program, and pairing a fundraising mission with a luxury experience, Gyrl Wonder has established a template for what this gala can become — and the bar it set on night one is high.
Events like this one also serve a function that goes beyond the people in the room. They create images, conversations, and records of Black women being honored at the highest levels — images that travel across social media, into homes, and into the imaginations of young girls who need to see what is possible. That is not a small thing. It is, as both King and Myricks articulated, the whole point.
As Gyrl Wonder looks ahead to future editions of the Women of Impact Gala, the foundation laid at the LVMH Tower provides something valuable — proof that when Black women gather with purpose, the results are powerful, lasting, and worthy of the grandest stages the city has to offer.