Paul Tazewell just cemented his place in Oscar history!
The 60-year-old costume designer behind the fantastical wardrobe of Wicked won Best Costume Design at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, becoming the first Black man to take home the trophy.
It was his first Oscar win and second nomination. He was previously nominated in the category for his work on Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”
“I’m the first Black man to receive the costume design award for my work on Wicked,” Tazewell said in his emotional acceptance speech, which was met with a couple of standing ovations. “I’m so proud of this.”
“Thank you, everyone in the U.K. for all your beautiful work, I could not have done this without you,” he added, after thanking his family.
“My Ozian muses, Cynthia [Erivo] and Ariana [Grande], 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.”
Backstage, Tazewell said winning the award is the pinnacle of his career. He said he feels humbled to inspire other Black men aspiring to become costume designers.
“I’ve been designing costumes for over 35 years — that has been on Broadway, and now it’s film,” he said. “There was never a Black male designer who I saw that I could follow and see as an inspiration. But to realize now that it’s actually me.”
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Tazewell’s historic win follows in the footsteps of Ruth E. Carter, who became the first Black person to win Best Costume Design for Black Panther (2018) and later won again for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
“She has paved the way for designers of color,” Tazewell said.
Other nominees in the category this year included Arianne Phillips (A Complete Unknown), Janty Yates and David Crossman (Gladiator II), Linda Muir (Nosferatu), and Lisy Christl (Conclave).
Before the Oscars, Tazewell’s work had already earned recognition at the Critics’ Choice Awards, Costume Designers Guild Awards, and the BAFTAs.
Speaking to ABC affiliate KABC earlier this month, he reflected on the significance of his latest honor.
“It means everything,” he said.
His designs for Wicked included Glinda and Elphaba’s iconic looks, along with over 1,000 costume pieces spanning both the film and its upcoming sequel, Wicked: Part Two, per Teen Vogue.
“It really does mean the world to have that acknowledgment, to have that approval by so many greats… it just means the world,” Tazewell told KABC.
“I want to touch hearts, want to change lives, I want to make a difference, and my power, my medium in doing that, is costume design, and I’m passionate about it,” he added. “I hold to that, and I know that I’m good at doing that, and that makes me feel good.”
