By ESSENCE Staff ·Updated June 7, 2024
Where would you be without your girlfriends?
These star BFFs have been by each other’s side through a lot — the good, the bad, the scandals. We’ve been compiling this list for years in honor of National Girlfriends Day and National Best Friends Day. Take a look back at the celebrity friendships that go way, way back.
01Stylish SistasIn addition to Misa dressing Mary in some iconic fashions over the years as a go-to stylist, they’re also good friends who go waaaay back. Misa’s eldest child, son Justin Combs, is Mary’s godson. 
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for 2019 TriBeCa Film Festival 02Childhood FriendsYou can’t see Rihanna without seeing her with her longtime best friend Melissa. The two are friends from back in Barbados and have seen it all together. We love their friendship! 
Kevork S. Djansezian/Getty Images 03Closer Than MostCiara and Lala Anthony are always supporting one another, whether it’s on stage, at events or through the ups and downs of life. 
Cindy Ord/Getty Images 04Way Back When FriendsJada Pinkett Smith and MC Lyte have been by each other’s side since they were 19. “You have loved me thru and thru!” Jada wrote about her BFF in 2019. “Thru the best of me and the worst. You are a sincere friend and I love you to death for it!” 
Rochelle Brodin/Getty Images for Haute Living 05The Original BFFs
Gayle King has been Oprah Winfrey’s best friend for more than 30 years. The two met early in their broadcasting careers and remained close.
Getty Image 06Children of Destiny
They’re more than besties, they’re practically sisters. Kelly even lived with Beyoncé’s family when they were kids.
Getty Images 07Kandi Burruss and Tameka Harris
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss has been friends with singer-songwriter Tameka “Tiny” Harris since their Xscape days. The group plans to reunite for the first time in more than a decade during the 2017 ESSENCE Festival.
getty images 08LeToya Luckett and Eudoxie Bridges
Bridges, who is married to rapper Ludacris, has known former Destiny’s Child member, Letoya Luckett for quite some time now. A few years back, Luckett teamed up with singer Monica to throw her a baby shower.
getty images Sanaa Lathan and Reginal Hall navigate Hollywood together.
Getty Images Lala has been there for Kelly every step of the way, including the birth of Kelly’s baby boy!
Getty Images LeToya Luckett and Monica Brown are always out and about.
Instagram 12Christina Milian and Karrueche Tran
Actresses Christina Milian and Karrueche Tran have been spotted together on numerous occasions including having lunch or simply having a fun night on the town. Most recently, they attended a GQ party together.
Araya Diaz 13Terry Lynn Ellis and Holly Robinson Peete
Author-actress Holly Robinson Peete first met En Vogue’s Terry Lynn Ellis on the set of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. The two have been inseparable since.
@hollyrobinsonpeete/instagram 14Growing Together
From Set It Off to The Queen Latifah Show, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah still have a super strong friendship. Pinkett Smith was recently the executive producer behind Queen Latifah’s succesful daytime TV talk show.
Sherri Shepherd’s circle of friends includes Niecy Nash and Yvette Nicole Brown. Here the besties celebrate Sherri and Niecy turn on TV Land’s Soul Man. “Love when friends like @YvetteNBrown come to support!” wrote Sherri. “Love you ’Vette!”
T-Boz and Chilli have been besties since back in the day. The group just released their first album in more than a decade.
Getty Images 17Kindred Spirits
Tisha and Tichina: Besties on Martin and besties in real life.
Getty Images 18Electric Ladies
Solange even had Janelle in her wedding. That’s as real as friendships get.
Prince Williams/Getty Images 19Singing Sisters
Brandy and Jazmine Sullivan were caught showing off their amazing vocals in their hotel. That’s how real friends support each other.
Getty Images 20A Trio of BFFsToo much talent in one photo! Actresses Naturi Naughton, Teyonah Parris and Danielle Brooks have grown close over the years, even taking a trip together for Naughton’s 40th birthday with their respective spouses. It’s always smiles and vibes when these ladies come together! 
Paras Griffin/Getty Images 21Ab-solutely FabulousStylish and sculpted starlets Teyana Taylor and Lori Harvey have been close long before they became “It” girls. They’ve talked about love on camera, have hung out courtside, and been each other’s plus-ones to major red carpet events. You love to see the love between them. 
Dave Benett/Getty Images for amfAR 22Before the Fame BestiesGen Z faves, entrepreneur and influencer Jayda Cheaves and rapper and fashionista Dess Dior, are thick as thieves. “We don’t play about each other,” Cheaves said in 2023. “We’ve been friends for 10-plus years. Before [The Impact] show ever came about, before we had all these followers on social media, we had an understanding.” 
Paras Griffin/Getty Images TOPICS: National Best Friends Day
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