Partner Content
November 17, 2023
7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Martin’s West
In only six years of existence, the Black Girls Vote Ball has already become one of the city’s hottest tickets. This year’s sold-out gala drew more than 1,000 gorgeously attired attendees, including a large contingent of movers and shakers, as well as city and state political figures. The Black Girls Vote mission itself—that of empowering Black women in politics and other arenas—provided a crackling excitement that energized the party, as folks mingled, dined, danced, and celebrated the night away.
Left to right: Faith Thomas, Baltimore County Office of Law attorney; Karen Dates Dunmore, University of Maryland Medical Center senior director for community workforce; Kim Mumby Green, Green Consulting partner; Roz Smith, retired corporative executive/community advocate
Left to right: Erin Rivera, Planned Parenthood associate director; Valarie Phillips, CareFirst retired manager; N. Scott Phillips, Maryland State Delegate, District 10
Left to right: “Coach G,” Coach G Academy executive director; Teresa “Dr. T” Morrow, clinical pharmacist
Left to right: Cheryl Stewart, Morgan State University public relations manager; India McCleod, CROSSWORD operations manager; Radience Monique, CROSSWORD creative director
Left to right: Antonio Hayes, Maryland State Senator, District 40; Jheanelle Wilkins, Maryland State Delegate, District 20/Maryland Legislative Black Caucus chair; Normandi Amprey, Teach for America executive director; Stephanie Smith, Maryland State Delegate, District 45/Baltimore City Delegation chair; Kevin M. Harris, Maryland State Delegate, District 27A
Left to right: Marina Cooper, Johns Hopkins University assistant vice president of brand marketing; Sarah Elfreth, Maryland State Senator, District 30; India Whitlock, Madison Mason Homes founder/CEO
Left to right: Event co-chairs: Asya Brandt, Wells Fargo communications consultant; Nakia Mack, federal government scientific health analyst
Left to right: Chris Mfume, The Civic Group managing partner; Granville Templeton, III, Templeton Law Firm managing partner; Kirk Sykes, The Seed School of Maryland head of school; LaRian Finney, The Finn Group managing partner
Left to right: Dominick Davis, DIFFERENTREGARD founder/CEO; Dexter Greene, Greene Allstate Insurance Company owner; Steven White, DIFFERENTREGARD co-founder/COO
Left to right: Maryland Governor Wes Moore; First Lady Dawn Moore in a Ramona Designs gown, styled by Maria Williams
As she made her entrance into the ballroom, Black Girls Vote founder Nykidra “Nyki” Robinson effervesced in her custom-made gown like a glass of Champagne. And that was just the effect designer Steven White was going for.
“She was the inspiration behind the dress; elegant, sexy and classy,” explained White, the co-founder of DIFFERENTREGARD, a Baltimore custom clothier and boutique.
That inspiration resulted in a shimmering Swarovski crystal-embellished mermaid gown that made Robinson feel like “the belle of the ball.”
“I’m a lot more conservative than people think,” she said of her typical style. “For this, though, I wanted to step outside the box…It felt amazing.”
As White summed up: “I wanted the dress to be memorable, just like Nyki, who she is and what she’s brought to the city.”
