Oscar nominated actress Taraji P. Henson is the surprise guest at tonight's Summer Sizzle launch. Photo: Provided

Earlier today that secret was let out the box when Mr Terry T. Donovan announced that Oscar nominated actress Taraji P. Henson was on her way to the Virgin Islands.

She will be attending the Welcome Culture & Style Party in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of BVI Festival at Maria’s by the Sea tonight.

Ms Henson will be the specially featured guest at the event which will also be featuring music by DJ Wiz, performances by Devon Callwood, Miss World BVI Kassandra Malone, Ultimate Sky Dancers, Queen Makeisha, BVI Heritage Dancers, Epik & Neekz, Bucks Show Girls and the introduction of Miss BVI contestants.

About Taraji Henson:

Taraji P. Henson earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress opposite Brad Pitt in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Taraji is a 2011 Emmy nominee for Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-series for Lifetime’s Taken From Me. She starred as Detective Joss Carter in the highly rated J.J. Abrams crime drama Person of Interest for CBS and won the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Henson will star in Lee Daniel’s Empire as Cookie Lyon alongside Terrence Howard premiering on Fox in early 2015.

Taraji starred in the Sony comedy hits  Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man Too. She will next star in Sony’s No Good Deed opposite Idris Elba, which opens September 12, 2014. She starred in From the Rough, national release April 2014; the true story of Catana Starks of Tennessee State University who was the first woman coach to win an NCAA Championship.

In Larry Crowne she co-starred with star and director Tom Hanks. She starred in the hugely successful Karate Kid opposite Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and in Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. For her role in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself, she received the 2009 Diversity Award for Best Actress.  She also starred in Peep World playing Rainn Wilson’s love interest; The Good Doctor with Orlando Bloom and Once Fallen with Ed Harris.

Henson received rave reviews for her role in Focus Features’ Talk to Me opposite Don Cheadle. She co-starred in the ensemble action drama Smokin’ Aces with Ben Affleck and Alicia Keys. Henson was named Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Feature Film by the Black Movie Awards and received the BET Best Actress nod for her performance as Shug in the gutsy drama Hustle & Flow, also starring Terrence Howard. She starred in Sony’s Not Easily Broken opposite Morris Chestnut, opposite Forest Whitaker in Hurricane Season, and Kathy Bates in Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys.

Henson made her singing debut in Hustle & Flow and performed the Academy Award-winning song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” on the Oscar telecast. She reunited for the third time with John Singleton to film Four Brothers with Mark Wahlberg. Henson co-starred with Simon Baker in Something New. Henson is well remembered for her role as Yvette opposite Tyrese in Baby Boy. 

Taraji was a series regular on David E. Kelly’s Boston Legal and recurred on ABC’s Eli Stone. Henson starred in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Bernard Weinraub’s new play Above the Fold, and in NY Public Radio’s production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone directed by Phylicia Rashad, as part of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., the Howard University graduate resides in Los Angeles with her son. Henson has a strong dedication to helping disabled and less fortunate children and reveals, “I always stress to kids to have faith in themselves—the greatest recipe for success is self-confidence.”

Activities following tonight’s launch:

Friday, July 25th

It’s the Party of the Year

White Fashion Gala on at Cultureville, adjacent to the Beef Island Bridge on Tortola, Music by BVI top DJ, DJ Bertrum and New York top DJ, DJ Protégé.

Saturday, July 26

Summer Sizzle BVI “Global Glamour” Runway Show on Saturday, July 26th at U.P.’s Cineplex Crystal Ballroom on Tortola, followed by the Official After-Party at U.P’s Sports Bar & Lounge with New York top DJ, DJ Protégé

Sunday, July 27th
Sailing Excursion & Beach BBQ on the island of Virgin Gorda on Sunday, July 27 as the grand finale to the weekend.

Ticket outlets on Tortola: UMI, Bolo’s, UP’s Cineplex Box Office, Bella Blooms, Bob’s Gas, Kristin Frazer, Florencia Cosmetics, Beautiful by Jasanay and Jirah Courier

Virgin Gorda: Speedy’s and Buck’s Food Market and in St. Thomas at New Horizon Clothing and UVI Bookstore.

Summer Sizzle BVI 2014 is sponsored by: VIRGINISLANDSNEWS.COM, Ministry of Education & Culture,  JTV,  BVI Tourist Board, Bob’s Gas & Service Station, Caribbean Pace, RAS FM New York, Delta Petroleum, Game On Inc, BVINEWS.COM, Mystique Charters, Marine Max Vacations,  Caribbean Cellars, Florencia Cosmetics, Horizon Yacht Charters, Tolavibes.com, ZROD FM and Road Town Wholesale.