Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson and Sergio Lopez-Rivera, the makeup and hairstyling team for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, took home an Oscar for their work on the film last night, a historic moment. Neal and Wilson are the first black artists to win an Oscar in the category.
This was the first Oscar nomination for all three artists. Neal was the hair and wig designer and makeup department heads; Wilson is the personal hairstylist for the film's star Viola Davis; and Lopez-Rivera is Davis' personal makeup artist.
The film won for makeup and hair at the BAFTA Awards, the Critics Choice Awards and the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards.
Neal created over 100 wigs for the film; Wilson, who has been working with Davis since 2008 when she was hair department lead for How to Get Away With Murder, applied and styled wigs.
“I also stand here, as Jamika and I break this glass ceiling, with so much excitement for the future, because I can picture Black trans women standing up here. And Asian sisters. And our Latina sisters. And Indigenous women," Neal said while accepting the award. "And I know that one day, it wont be unusual or groundbreaking, it will just be normal.”