Inside Teen Vogue ’s Young Hollywood 2020 Party

As Oscars weekend kicks off, lots of pre-Oscar events keep Hollywood and the stars busy during the days leading up to the awards show. One of those events being Teen Vogue’s Young Hollywood celebration. After last year’s massive soiree featuring a three-floor dance party, Teen Vogue decided to tone it down for a more intimate dinner. There was no loud DJ, no dance floor, and no huge Hollywood theater and red carpet. But there were a lot of powerful conversations, delicious food, and a curated safe space for guests to simply celebrate. Young Hollywood cover star Kaitlyn Dever told Fashionista she “craves moments like this,” in the midst of all the parties.

The dinner was held in West Hollywood’s San Vincente Bungalows — the inimitable dining location decorated with modern couches for guests to unwind, a warm fireplace, framed photos on every wall, and a beautiful entrance trimmed with greenery. It was a cozy and alluring atmosphere. The dinner table set for a party of 30 had a chic display of dreamy floral arrangements alongside candles and the tasty menu that had everyone ready to eat. Before the meal, dinner guests got an hour of mingling, catching up with old and new friends, and of course, posing for photos.

Paris Jackson was one of the celebs who stopped by to strike a pose with the AGL team as she is currently fronting their campaign. AGL, purveyor of fully handcrafted Italian shoes made by women for women, was the fashion sponsor of the event, which surprised guests with trendy fanny packs to take home.

Young Hollywood class of 2020 stars in attendance included Sofia Carson, who gave us a sneak peek of her getting ready on our Instagram with Revlon, Millicent Simmonds, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Kaitlyn Dever. Other guests who joined the party were 2019 Young Hollywood alumni Danielle Macdonald, Graham Verchere (Stargirl), Lexi Underwood (Little Fires Everywhere), and more. They were deep in conversation all night as the platters of food went around. It was hard to tell what was better, the discussions or the food.

After cocktail hour, Teen Vogue’s editor in chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner kicked the night off with a special heartfelt message to the guests. The 2020 Young Hollywood class is the second class under Lindsay’s leadership and it continues to be a list full of diverse talent on the rise. She referred to working on Young Hollywood as a “really big honor” in her speech. Adding, “Young Hollywood is really personal to me. It’s always something that I felt was just so important to the industry and knew that it really could change people’s lives and uplift people.” And, that’s exactly what happens; you could feel positive and uplifting energy in the relaxed room.

Once seated, guests enjoyed an array of foods, from a yummy starter salad to salmon and zucchini noodle entrées accompanied by flavorful sides like sweet carrots that were marinated in a secret sauce — a favorite of the night. A platter of desserts made its rounds before the dinner closed out, but guests didn’t want to leave just yet. Everyone remained seated, closing out conversations and sharing laughs until the very last minute and there were nothing but smiles in sight. After the night of festivities it was clear that Lindsay’s goal of “uplifting people” was complete, and it was a much-needed night for this young talent navigating Hollywood.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue