All photos courtesy of Meredith Gradishar at Zoom Theory Photography

Hollywood celebrities are usually an uncommon sight in low-key Long Beach, but last Thursday, a red carpet was rolled out at Hotel Maya for a star-studded kick-off to the California Women’s Conference.

Some of the most recognizable women from television and film— including featured conference speakers Tippi Hedren, Marcia Cross and Donzaleigh Abernathy—were on hand to help launch the conference, which will be held September 23 and 24 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

As the sun set over Rainbow Harbow, California Women’s Conference Executive Producer Michelle Patterson took the stage and introduced the conference’s history as well as this year’s theme: “The Women’s Economy Starts Here.” Through two days of speakers and panels with humorists, actors, photographers, entrepeneurs and more, this year’s conference will highlight the shifting role of women in both business and the home.

Tickets are available at the CWC website.

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