LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� has made history once more.
With her for 鈥淪inners,鈥� Carter has become the most-nominated Black woman in Academy Awards history across any category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed Thursday. The trailblazing costume designer was recognized for her work on set in the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta.
鈥淚t鈥檚 … pride, gratitude, responsibility,鈥� Carter told The Associated Press. She previously won Oscars for 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� in 2018 and 鈥淏lack Panther: Wakanda Forever鈥� in 2023, becoming the first
Carter is now a five-time nominee, surpassing Oscar-winning actor She is tied with longtime collaborator and Morgan Freeman for the third-most nominations among Black creatives, behind the late and
鈥淭his is a major step in the development of our voices in Hollywood,鈥� she said.
Over her career, Carter has shaped the visual language of some of Hollywood鈥檚 most influential films. She earned Oscar nominations for her work on Spike Lee鈥檚 鈥淢alcolm X鈥� and Steven Spielberg鈥檚 鈥淎mistad,鈥� and received acclaim for period ensembles in projects including 鈥淭he Butler,鈥� 鈥淪elma鈥� and the reboot of 鈥淩oots.鈥� Her designs have also been worn by Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy and Jerry Seinfeld, including for the original 鈥淪einfeld鈥� pilot.
鈥淢y trajectory has been about telling the story of culture,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淥ur history is being erased as we speak. So to have this responsibility of telling our stories 鈥� and being as authentic as I can 鈥� and being awarded for it, is a celebration.鈥�
In 鈥淪inners,鈥� Carter said she approached costume design as an act of protection rather than embellishment, determined to safeguard the visual truth of Black working-class life, particularly sharecroppers and migrants of the early 20th century.
鈥淲e made something out of nothing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here were hand-me-downs. There were patches. If the pants were long, we turned them up. If the hem was crooked, we left it. We wanted to show how we took things for what they were and still found a way to celebrate.鈥�
The nomination marks another collaboration with whom Carter credits as a vital voice for the future of Black cinema.
鈥淚 thank the Lord that Ryan Coogler was born,鈥� she said with a laugh. 鈥淏ecause he continues to tell stories that are important to the culture.鈥�
Carter said the nomination also reflects staying power in an industry often defined by reinvention.
鈥淚 was the first to be nominated. I was the first to win. And I鈥檓 still in the game,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f my being here tells young designers anything, I hope it鈥檚 that this isn鈥檛 a fluke. It鈥檚 hard work. It鈥檚 voice. It鈥檚 vision. And it鈥檚 staying.鈥�
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