Home breadcru News breadcru Announcement breadcru US' Paul Tazewell first Black man to win Oscar for Costume Design

US' Paul Tazewell first Black man to win Oscar for Costume Design

03 Mar '25
2 min read
US' Paul Tazewell first Black man to win Oscar for Costume Design
Paul Tazewell. Pic: Matt Sayles/The Academy/X

Insights

  • Paul Tazewell made history at the 97th Academy Awards, becoming the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design for Wicked.
  • In his speech, he expressed pride in the achievement and gratitude to his colleagues and cast.
  • His win follows Ruth E Carter's historic victories for Black Panther.
  • Tazewell has also won multiple prestigious awards, including an Emmy and a Tony.
American costume designer for theatre, dance, film, opera and television, Paul Tazewell, has made Oscars history with his stunning costume design for Wicked. At the 97th Academy Awards, held Sunday night, Tazewell became the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design.

“This is absolutely astounding. Thank you, Academy, for this very significant honour,” Tazewell said in his acceptance speech. “I’m the first Black man to receive the costume design award for my work on Wicked. I’m so proud of this.”

The award-winning designer expressed his gratitude to his colleagues and loved ones. “Thank you everyone in the UK for all of your beautiful work, I could not have done this without you,” he said. He also extended his appreciation to his Wicked cast, highlighting stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande: “My Ozian muses, Cynthia and Ariana, I love you so much – all the other cast, thank you, thank you, thank you, for trusting me with bringing your characters to life. This is everything. Director Jon M Chu and producer Marc Platt, thank you.”

Tazewell’s historic win follows in the footsteps of Ruth E Carter, the first Black person to win the Best Costume Design Oscar for Black Panther in 2018. She won again for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022.

This year’s Best Costume Design nominees included Arianne Phillips for A Complete Unknown; Janty Yates and David Crossman for Gladiator II; Lisy Christl for Conclave; and Linda Muir for Nosferatu.

Tazewell’s work on Wicked has already garnered multiple accolades, including wins at the Critics Choice Awards, Costume Designers Guild Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and the BAFTAs. His previous achievements include an Emmy for The Wiz Live! and a Tony for Hamilton. He was also previously nominated for his work on West Side Story.

The 97th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KD)

Get Free Weekly Market Insights Newsletter

Receive daily prices and market insights straight to your inbox. Subscribe to AlchemPro Weekly!