Inaugural Event Honors Talented Black Female Artists
Femme It Forward, an organization dedicated to uplifting women of color in entertainment, hosted its first ever Grammy High Tea Party last week. The lavish event, held at a Hollywood Hills estate, aimed to honor several talented Black female artists nominated at this year’s Grammys.
Specifically created to celebrate “multidimensional beings,” the party’s 2024 honorees included singer-songwriters Coco Jones, Summer Walker, and actress/ musician Halle Bailey. These Grammy-nominated women epitomize the layers of artistry that Femme It Forward wanted to highlight.
Founder’s Vision for Elegant, Memorable Experience
The event’s founder, Heather Lowery, envisioned the High Tea Party as the special, feminine party she never got to have growing up.
“I always wanted to have a tea party as a little girl. I’ve never had one. So I thought, what better way to create a unique space to celebrate artists and creatives and visionaries and music than to have a tea party where we get dressed up and look beautiful,” Lowery told Black Enterprise.
With its glamorous daytime dress code, classical musical performances, synchronized swimmers, custom floral hats, and art installations, Lowery curated a distinctly elegant experience where women could feel “seen, valued.”
Uplifting Black Women in Entertainment
The High Tea Party represents the latest way Lowery and her company Femme It Forward have highlighted Black women’s contributions in entertainment. Since starting in 2019, the organization also hosts an annual awards gala and runs a mentorship program pairing industry newcomers with executive role models.
Reflecting on the company’s growth, Lowery said:
“The feeling is rewarding and very clear that it’s just not about me. It’s bigger than me, and it’s about all of us. So to know that I’m walking in my purpose, it’s the most amazing feeling.”
With the successful launch party now wrapped, Femme It Forward plans more mentorship events and a follow-up album to 2021’s Big Femme Energy, Volume 1.
