Loni Love At Gracies Awards Celebrates Women In Media

Host honors female industry leaders, applauding Jasmine Forus’s interview during the gala.

By Poulami Nag

Poulami is an associate editor. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.

Read full bio of Poulami Nag

May 22, 2025

Host honors female industry leaders, applauding Jasmine Forus’s interview during the gala.

Image: Instagram

Comedian and daytime talk star Loni Love used her Instagram platform to reflect on a milestone night for women in media. The 50th annual Gracies Awards, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, gathered industry figures in New York City to honor outstanding female voices in radio, television and digital media. On her @comiclonilove account, Love wrote, “What a great night celebrating women in media… thank you @jasmineforus for the #thegracies50 winning interview!!! So great to see @fortunefeimster (great host!!) and other great women!! @cafemocharadio.”

Loni Love at Gracies50 Celebrates Women in Media

The Gracie Awards Honors Women Across Media

The Gracie Awards have been recognizing women’s achievements since 1975, spanning hard-hitting news to entertainment. This year’s 50th edition featured categories for news reporting, talk shows, podcasts and digital series. Winners included station teams from major networks alongside independent creators whose work championed equity and representation.

Loni Love Shares Behind-The-Scenes Moments

In a series of Instagram photos, Love posed on the red carpet with host Fortune Feimster, who kept the evening light with her trademark humor. Another shot captured Love congratulating Jasmine Forus of Cafe Mocha Radio, who took home the honor for Best Interview in a Radio/Podcast category. The images reflect a spirit of camaraderie—smiles, hugs and the occasional cheeky pose under event lights.

Celebrated Interviews And Hosts

Jasmine Forus won for her in-depth conversation on Cafe Mocha Radio, where she explored career journeys of women working in front of and behind the camera. “It was an honor to be recognized,” Forus told reporters. Feastures like this underscore the Gracies’ mission: to elevate women’s achievements and inspire new voices. Fortune Feimster, a popular comedian and actress, served as emcee, weaving jokes between awards and spotlighting nominees with good-natured ribs.

A Look At Love’s Career And Advocacy

Loni Love (born Sharlene Love on July 21, 1971) rose to prominence with stand-up specials and her role as co-host of the syndicated talk show The Real. A graduate of Prairie View A&M University with a degree in electrical engineering, she has blended technical savvy with sharp wit throughout her career. On film, Love appeared in features such as Precious (2009) and Soul Plane (2004). Her advocacy extends to amplifying women’s voices—an effort she continues through public speaking and her Café Mocha Radio segments.

Industry colleagues and fans alike praised Love for using her platform to spotlight emerging talent. “Loni is all about lifting others,” says entertainment reporter Natalie Goodman. “Her post brought attention to so many deserving winners.”

Organizers reported a record number of entries this year, with nearly 1,000 submissions across categories. Judges evaluated entries on criteria including journalistic integrity, storytelling quality and impact on audiences.

The evening closed with a standing ovation for the Lifetime Achievement recipient, a veteran broadcaster whose career spanned radio news and television anchoring. Love’s Instagram feed ended with a final group photo thanking fellow attendees and reaffirming her commitment to mentorship.

Looking Ahead

As the 50th Gracies Awards wrapped, Loni Love’s social media recap underscored the power of celebration and solidarity. With new talent on the rise and established figures continuing to break barriers, the night served as both a recognition of past milestones and a launchpad for future achievements.

Love’s closing words—”Here’s to another fifty years of telling women’s stories”—resonate with her fans and peers, setting a positive tone as the media landscape evolves.