Mariah The Scientist Sets The Stage Ablaze At Essence Fest 2025

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

R&B IT-Girl Mariah The Scientist set the Coca-Cola stage ablaze at the beverage giant’s bustling booth during this year’s star-powered Essence Festival in NOLA.

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

The hitmaking hottie stunned in a curve-caressing dress while performing smash hit single ‘Burning Blue’ and other jams in front of a massive crowd and seas of phone lights at the buzzy booth.

Source: Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE

Taking full advantage of her chart-topping momentum, Mariah teased her upcoming album Hearts Sold Separately (August 22) in an Instagram post featuring a saluting toy soldier in her likeness on a pink carpet.

With ‘Burning Blue’ blazing the trail, we expect the sultry singer’s first album since 2023’s To Be Eaten Alive to be on heavy rotation this upcoming Cuffin’ Season.

Celebrating 30 years as the presenting sponsor at ESSENCE Fest, Coca-Cola went all out with its ‘Summer of Uplift’ activation that treated guests to other standout performances by Lloyd, Lay Bankz, and Reginae Carter & the OMG Girlz, along with dynamic panels and immersive experiences.

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Hosted by Jamila Mustafa and Charles “Beloved” Kuykendoll, the dynamic 3-day activation had (literally) everything: karaoke, custom charm bracelet making, Southern University’s Human Jukebox Marching Band, Instagrammable photo ops, Smartwater with Alkaline and Simply booths, and a double-dutch performance by GameOva Skip and Jump DC Superstars.

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Source: Dorothy Hong/Team Epiphany

Guests were also treated to a sneak peek of If Not For My Girls Season 7 featuring Reginae Carter and the OMG Girlz, an empowering “Who’s On The Block” panel on entrepreneurship and business in the Black community, an insightful panel featuring Disney’s Toya Johnson and Undefined Beauty’s Dorian Morris spotlighting Black-owned businesses and cultural leaders, and hip-moving sounds by DJ Sky Jetta and DJ Mars.

Overall, the buzzy activation experience was an epic celebration of community, culture, and connection, bringing people together to uplift, inspire, and shine.