Paul Tazewell Makes History with Oscar Victory

Paul Tazewell becomes the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design at the 97th Academy Awards, adding to his accolades which include an Emmy and a Tony. He designed for 'Wicked' and has been recognized with several awards throughout the season.

Paul Tazewell has made history, becoming the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design at the 97th edition of the Academy Awards. Known for his previous nominations, including one for 'West Side Story,' Tazewell is no stranger to recognition, having already claimed an Emmy for 'The Wiz Live' and a Tony for 'Hamilton.' His victory was noted among peers including Arianne Phillips, Linda Muir, Lisy Christl, and the duo of Janty Yates and David Crossman, according to Variety.

Tazewell's triumph at the Oscars crowns a spectacular awards season, in which he also collected accolades from BAFTA, Critics Choice, and the Costume Designers Guild. He earned a spot as one of Variety's '10 artisans to watch in costume design' and was celebrated with the Variety Artisan Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. His work on 'Wicked' for the big screen, where he crafted over a thousand costumes, including Glinda's bubble dress and Elphaba's iconic black dress, received widespread acclaim.

Drawing inspiration from the 1939 classic 'The Wizard of Oz,' Tazewell explored thematic depth in his costumes, particularly focusing on Elphaba's black attire played by Cynthia Erivo, to signify her mourning for her mother. He successfully balanced aesthetic richness in his designs by overcoming the challenge of detail absorption into black fabric. The Oscars 2025 were hosted by Conan O'Brien, reported ANI.

(With inputs from agencies.)