Paul Tazewell Becomes The First Black Man To Win The Oscar For Best Costume Design

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: Paul Tazewell, winner for costume design "Wicked," poses in the press room during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images)

Paul Tazewell has made history at the Oscars!

The costume designer has become the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design for the movie Wicked. Tazewell joins Ruth E. Carter, who made history by being the first Black person to win in this category for her work on Black Panther. 

The costume designer beat out Arianna Phillips (A Complete Unknown), Linda Muir (Nosferatu), Lisy Christl (Conclave), and Janty Yates and David Crossman (Gladiator II). This isn’t the first time that Tazewell was nominated in this category; he was nominated for his work on West Side Story. 

Paul Tazewell created over a thousand costumes for the film and drew inspiration from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. Two of his most notable designs in the movie are Elphaba’s black dress and Glinda’s bubble dress. 

Congratulations to Paul Tazewell.