Essence magazine

In celebration of our 45th anniversary, ESSENCE takes a look back at 45 years of iconic covers from 1970 to 2015.

Marsai Martin for Essence #fashion #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlsrock

Some of Hollywood's black elite graced the cover of our 30th anniversary collector's edition

A roundup of various articles and appearances featuring the women of Black Panther

Simone Biles on Instagram: “ESSENCE photographer @chriseanrose stylist @jasonrembert w/ @ww.ilt makeup @jessicasmalls hair @weezydidit nails @thegoatofnailsss”

The largest photo gallery for Beyoncé Knowles with 100,000+ pictures, including photoshoots, appearances, performances, candids and more.

There’s a reason the rapper has made history with her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—and it’s about much more than her music.

The cover follows a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits theaters this month; a lead in Disney's The Jungle Book (2016); and the Broadway announcement for her performance in Eclipse, the story of five women whose lives are impacted by the Liberian civil war.Nyong'o tells Essence, "I didn't grow up seeing African women onstage very often, much less African women in African stories."

September/October cover star Megan Thee Stallion is in good company. Take a look back at these Black women rappers on the cover of Essence.