1 / 22

Putting on the Lips - Actress Joyful Drake of the BET original series Let's Stay Together preps for her first-ever BET Awards red carpet: "I'm wearing Into The Red from Queen Latifah's My Black Is Beautiful line by Covergirl. She has so many good products." Click here to watch video of her first BET Awards ever.

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

2 / 22

In the Red - "Queen Latifah has so many good shades, but we thought the lip color In The Red with a white gown would be a very good look."

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

3 / 22

Covergirl's Queen Collection - "I did a BET spot for Queen's makeup line, My Black Is Beautiful, at my first BET Awards. She has some amazing colors."

4 / 22

Ready For The World - "People seem to love Let's Stay Together," said Joyful Drake after working her way through the BET Awards Radio Remote Room. "To get that love from the press was amazing."

5 / 22

Getting Her Glamour Girl On - "I had a really, really good team. From smoky eyes, red lips, hair and all, it took about 90 minutes to get ready. I even had time for a mimosa."

6 / 22

Before the Ball - Joyful Drake, the co-star of BET's original series Let's Stay Together, puts on her best "Cinderella Before the BET Awards Ball' pose. The 2011 BET Awards was the actress' first-ever trip to music's biggest night.

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

7 / 22

Stopping the Presses - Upon reaching The Shrine Auditorium in L.A., Joyful Drake's first stop was the Radio Remote Room, where media and bloggers from all over the country gathered, hungry for access to the BET Awards talent. "I was on a high," said Joyful, "an energetic rush that people wanted to talk to me."

8 / 22

On to the Gifting Suite - Coming off of her media bonanza, Joyful was ready for a break. What better way to revitalize yourself than a trip to the Celebrity Gifting Suite? Joyful stepped in the room and soon got swag-happy from all the fun giveaways.

9 / 22

Bejeweled Boxes of Beauty - Inside the Celebrity Gifting Suite, Joyful found all sorts of cool products.

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

10 / 22

Chilling in the Social Media Lounge - "I was up at 5 a.m. in the morning and I didn't get home till 1 a.m.," said Joyful, who was ready for a breather after all that action. After unwinding in the Social Media Lounge and checking her tweets at @joyfuldrake, she had time to reflect on her day: "The experience was fun; it didn't feel like work at all."

11 / 22

Getting Red-Carpet-Ready - After a whirlwind trip behind the scenes at The Shrine Auditorium, Joyful conferred with her glam squad on the right look to walk the BET Awards red carpet.

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

12 / 22

Which Red Carpet Look to Pick? - "I had a whole rack of clothes to choose from; they made it it very hard."

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

13 / 22

The Joyful Lady in Red - Red on red? Could this be Joyful's red-carpet look?

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

14 / 22

Making Final Diva-Look Decisions - Joyful and a member of her styling team go over the final details of her perfect look, and executive decisions are made.

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

15 / 22

Joyful Works It in White - "I feel good, I feel classic, and I feel like a lady. This works!"

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

16 / 22

Queen Latifah's My Black Is Beautiful Makeup Line by Covergirl - "Queen Latifah is the executive producer of my show, Let's Stay Together," says Joyful. "What better way to come my first BET Awards [than] wearing her makeup?"

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

17 / 22

Coming Up Roses - "I woke up this morning and felt like I needed a dozen roses. I got them and took this one with me."

18 / 22

The Story Behind Joyful's Side-Swept Coif - "This is a Larry Sims special. He went for old Hollywood glamour and pulled it off. He also does Keri Hilson's hair."

19 / 22

Joyful's Glam Squad Goes to Work - Touching up Joyful one last time to let her white heat shine.

20 / 22

Ready for Her BET Awards Closeup - "My look is classic Hollywood glamour."

Photo By Photographer: Brian Dowling

21 / 22

Joyful Pulls Off Angelic White - "My dress was designed by Douglas Hannant and it was designed beautifully. I like to make the dress, I don't like the dress to make me."

22 / 22

Lights, Camera, Showtime - "Being at the BET Awards is huge. Anytime we can celebrate ourselves and people who look like us, we should. It feels amazing to be a part of the BET Awards family."