Ruth Carter became the first Black woman to win in the category for 'Black Panther' in 2019. One of the night’s most poignant moments occurred early in the Oscars 2025 telecast, when Paul Tazewell won the Academy Award for best costume design for his work on Wicked.

Paul Tazewell is flying high and defying Academy Award records. The Wicked costume designer became the first Black male to win in the category after picking up the Oscar for Best Costume Design Sunday night.

Akron's Paul Tazewell won his first Oscar for Costume Design for "Wicked," marking a historic win as the first Black man in the category.