Paul Tazewell made history at the Oscars, becoming the first Black man to win best costume design. Tazewell won for his design work in “Wicked” at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday.

Tazewell is well-known for his work on "The Color Purple," "Hamilton," which he won a Tony Award for, and "West Side Story."

Wicked,” a movie musical demanding acres of fabric and untold work hours, scored a widely predicted win for costume design. The trophy made costume designer Paul Tazewell the first Black man to win an award in this category.

Oscars nominee list was riddled with Wicked in every category, from Best Sound and Best Score to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who received nods for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

Oscar-award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell brought sketches to life in dozens of theater productions in Minneapolis. “There’s just an energy and a presence in the work that was just recognizable and was just elevated so far above so many of us,

He won for his work on the Broadway musical adaptation “Wicked.”

Gayle Anderson learns from fashion designer Nick Verreos about the costume designers nominated for an Academy Award. This report aired Friday, February 28th, 2025.