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Ruth E. Carter won Best Costume Design trophy at the 91st Academy Awards for her work on superhero film Black Panther, becoming the first black woman in history to win in the category.
According to ew.com, Carter is the first African-American woman to take home an Oscar in this category. She was competing with Mary Zophres for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Sandy Powell for The Favourite and Mary Poppins Returns and Alexandra Byrne for Mary Queen of Scots.
Carter, a previous Oscar nominee for Amistad and Malcolm X, worked on the costumes for the entire fictional nation of Wakanda in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, crafting everything from Chadwick Boseman’s superhero suit to the Dora Milaje’s colourful armour. The award is also the first Oscar won by Marvel Studios.
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“Marvel may have created the first black superhero, but through costume design, we turned him into an African king,” Carter said in her acceptance speech.
“It’s been my life’s honour to create costumes. Thank you to the Academy, and thank you for honouring African royalty and the empowered way women can look and lead on screen.”
Carter also thanked Spike Lee, also a nominee this year for BlacKkKlansman, for giving her start with Malcolm X.
“I hope this makes you proud,” she added.