Award-Winning Actress, Rapper, Singer and Newark Native Queen Latifah Hosts 2018 "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)" Awards on Sunday, August 26 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center

2018 "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)" Awards Returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, Taping on Sunday, August 26 and Premiering Sunday, September 9 at 8:00 PM on BET

#BLACKGIRLSROCK

NEW YORK -- BET Networks and BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM) are thrilled to announce Academy Award(R) nominated actress, world-renowned rapper, songstress, and producer Queen Latifah as the host of the 2018 "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)" Awards. The Newark, New Jersey native will return to her hometown as this year's host on Sunday, August 26 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ. Created by executive producer, celebrity DJ, and women's empowerment advocate Beverly Bond, the 2018 "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)" Awards honors the groundbreaking and extraordinary achievements of Black women. The 2018 "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)" Awards will premiere on Sunday, September 9 at 8:00 PM/ET on BET.

"Queen Latifah is the epitome of black excellence, hip-hop royalty, and black girl magic! She has been a longtime supporter of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and has been honored at both our televised and pre-televised shows. I'm so thrilled to welcome her back to the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! stage as host," says Beverly Bond, BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM) CEO, Founder and Creator.

The televised special is a BET Networks, B.G.R. Enterprises Inc./BONDVISION MEDIA and Jesse Collins Entertainment production. The executive producers are Beverly Bond, CEO, founder and creator of "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)", Connie Orlando, Head of Original Programming & Production for BET Networks, and Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan - Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment.

For updates or more information about BLACK GIRLS ROCK! (TM) visit http://www.BET.com/blackgirlsrock and www.blackgirlsrock.com

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ABOUT BLACK GIRLS ROCK! (TM):

Founded by celebrity DJ, model and executive producer Beverly Bond, The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards show was created to celebrate the nexus of achievements of exemplary women of color who break boundaries, blaze trails, and set trends across sectors. Since 2006, the annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards has honored an outstanding range of accomplished and inspiring women across generations and genres. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! has been committed to empowering women through media and enriching girls through leadership, education, and positive identity development programs. For additional information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, visit http://www.blackgirlsrock.com.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS:

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT:

Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran and multi-Image Award(R) winner Jesse Collins. Collins has played an integral role in producing many of television's most memorable moments in music entertainment. Most recently Collins was the executive producer of the critically-acclaimed film, The New Edition Story, a biopic on the boy band that aired as a 3-part mini-series on BET in January 2017 and posted record ratings for the network and attracted nearly 30 million viewers. Collins has also produced award-winning programming including the BET Awards, BET Honors, UNCF's An Evening of Stars, ABFF Honors, Soul Train Awards and the BET Hip Hop Awards, is a consulting producer for the iconic GRAMMY Awards and executive producer of BET's hit TV series, Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart and VH1 shows Dear Mama and Hip Hop Squares with Ice Cube. Will Smith, Beyonce, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Prince and Mariah Carey are a few of the myriad of superstar talent that Collins has worked with through the years. Follow Jesse Collins Entertainment @JesseCollinsEnt on Twitter and Instagram and go to http://www.jessecollinsent.com/ for more information on the company.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER:

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey -- where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey's Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State's and the world's best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over seven million visitors (including more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit http://www.njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.