We are thrilled to reveal our first two presenters for the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards: Hasan Minhaj and Jessica Williams.
Minhaj and Williams will present the Womenswear, Menswear, Accessory, and Emerging Designer of the Year nominee categories.
“Hasan and Jessica both have incredibly popular shows that tap into the current state of culture,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “We’re excited to have them on stage and look forward to celebrating the best of American fashion.”
In lieu of a traditional host format, the CFDA Fashion Awards will showcase several creative voices in the fashion and entertainment industries to spotlight this year’s honorees and nominees.
Minhaj is the host and creator of the weekly comedy show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj that premiered on Netflix last October. The series, which has won a 2019 Peabody Award, explores the modern cultural and political landscape with depth and sincerity through his unique comedic voice. Minhaj earned rave reviews for his one-hour Netflix comedy special Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King that earned him a 2018 Peabody Award, and for his performance hosting the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The first-generation American joined The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in 2014 as a correspondent and continued in that role after Trevor Noah took over through August 2018.
Jessica Williams can soon be seen in Olivia Wilde’s upcoming directorial debut Booksmart opposite Jason Sudeikis and Lisa Kudrow. Williams recently starred in an episode of CBS All Access’ Twilight Zone, and earlier this year, Williams appeared in Patrick Brice’s comedy Corporate Animals opposite Demi Moore and Ed Helms which made its world premiere in January at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. In 2018, Williams starred in the highly-anticipated Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald written by J.K. Rowling and in 2017 Williams starred in The Incredible Jessica James, for which she received rave reviews. In 2016, Williams launched a podcast, 2 Dope Queens, with her fellow comedian Phoebe Robinson. Based on their live comedy show in Brooklyn, the podcast tackled the struggles of two twenty-something women shaking things up as they discuss everything from sex to romance to hair issues and of course living in NYC. The podcast came to HBO in February 2018 as four, hour long specials. The popular series came back for its second and final season which premiered on March 1st, 2019.
This is the second consecutive year that the CFDA Fashion Awards will take place in Brooklyn at the renowned Brooklyn Museum.
LIFEWTR, the premium water brand from PepsiCo, returns as a partner to the CFDA Fashion Awards for the third consecutive year, promoting the shared mission of supporting creativity and emerging talent.
The official partners of the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards include:
Official Hydration Partner, LIFEWTR
Official Spirit Partner, Maestro Dobel Tequila
Official Carpet Partner, ECONYL® x ege
Official Hotel Partner, The Standard
