Ariana DeBose made history with her best supporting actress win at the Oscars
- Ariana DeBose made history at Sunday's 94th Academy Awards.
- She is the first Afro-Latina openly queer person to win an acting Oscar.
"West Side Story" actress Ariana DeBose made history at the Oscars on Sunday by becoming the first Afro-Latina, openly queer actor of color to win an Academy Award.
"In this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true. And that's really a heartening thing right now," DeBose said in her acceptance speech.
"This queer, Afro-Latina actress who found her strength in life through art," DeBose added when talking about dreaming of this moment as a kid sitting in a white Ford Focus. "To anyone who ever questions your identity, ever ever, or find yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us," quoting a lyric from the "West Side Story" song "Somewhere."
DeBose wowed audiences with her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg's take on the classic musical.
DeBose is the second Latina to win an Oscar. The first was Rita Moreno, who played the same role of Anita in the 1961 film version of "West Side Story."
Check out DeBose's full acceptance speech below.