Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks glittered her way down the red carpet on Sunday evening. She wore platinum and diamond jewelry — all of which matched the boning on the corset of her gown — but what really caught our eye was her manicure, which features dozens of crystals that form French tips, and one statement nail studded with the number 26.
Brooks, who is up for a Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Sofia in “The Color Purple,” shared the symbolism behind the number in a red carpet interview: she’s the 26th Black woman to be nominated for Best Supporting (#25 is Da’Vine Joy Randolph, also nominated this year for her role in “The Holdovers”). (The Oscars have been presented for 87 years…each year the Supporting Actress category contains at least five nominees…you do math on just how shamefully low that 26 is.) The number is a reminder that the Oscars still have lots of work to do — and that Brooks stands on the shoulders of incredible nominees before her, including Oprah, who got a nod for the same role in 1986.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Nail artist Temeka Jackson (who also did Saweetie’s nails for this month’s Allure cover) is the auteur behind the look. Jackson has put charms, pearls, and diamonds on sets in the past, but tonight’s manicure on Brooks is a chance to bring a bit of symbolism and historical context to the red carpet. The only way the set could get even sweeter? If Brooks’s hand was wrapped around an Academy Award.
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