Paul Tazewell has set a new milestone at the Academy Awards, becoming the first Black man to take home the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked.
Tazewell, who had previously been nominated for West Side Story, already boasts an impressive résumé, having won an Emmy for The Wiz Live! and a Tony for Hamilton. This year, he became victorious, beating fellow nominees Arianne Phillips (A Complete Unknown), Linda Muir (Nosferatu), Lisy Christl (Conclave), and the team of Janty Yates and David Crossman (Gladiator II).
His victory at the Oscars follows a dominant awards season, where he collected the BAFTA, Critics Choice Award, and the Costume Designers Guild Award. Tazewell now joins Ruth E Carter as the second Black person ever to win in the Best Costume Design category. Carter made history with her Academy Award win for Black Panther and later repeated the achievement with its sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
For Wicked, Tazewell was responsible for designing over a thousand costumes for the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. Among his most striking creations were Glinda’s signature bubble dress and Elphaba’s distinctive black gown.
With this historic Oscar win, Tazewell cements his legacy in costume design, marking another milestone in an already celebrated career.