Who is Ariana DeBose?
If you don’t know who Ariana DeBose is, allow me to introduce you. Ariana is quite literally the true definition of a triple threat. She can act, sing and dance as though she doesn’t have a care in the world. Ariana had her breakthrough role in the 2017 jukebox musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical playing Disco Donna. More recently, in 2020 she starred as Alyssa in the screen adaption of The Prom, as well as featuring in the hit stage production Hamilton next to renowned writer, producer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Ariana’s accolades
In 2021, Ariana took to our screens once more in the Oscar nominated adaption of West Side Story. She gave a new life to the Anita we all know and love, gaining herself over 30 award nominations for the role. Possibly the most notable nomination came in the form of ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role’, by The Academy. Ariana came away with the Oscar, following in the footsteps of Rita Moreno, who won the same award for playing Antia in the 1962 adaption of West Side Story.
History in the making!
Winning an Oscar is an amazing feat in itself, but DeBose’s win stands as a historic event. She is the first openly queer person of colour to win an Oscar!
Seeing this kind of representation on TV is exactly what we need more of. Children (and adults for that matter) need to see people who look and sound like them thriving out in the world, so they know it is alright for them to dream of doing the same. As the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in Florida pushes through and the human rights of trans people across the world are being threatened, it is essential that we keep celebrating our uniqueness and using whatever platform we have to try and make a change.