Becomes first person to win Best Costume Design Oscars for both a film and its sequel, "Black Panther" and "Wakanda Forever."
At the same March 12, 2023 ceremony, Ruth E. Carter also became the first person ever to win Oscars for both an original film and its sequel in the Best Costume Design category.[6][8] Her wins for Black Panther (2019) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2023) marked an unprecedented continuity of recognition across a franchise.
This achievement highlighted the evolving expectations of cinematic world‑building: Carter was lauded not only for inventing Wakanda’s visual universe but for advancing it, integrating new cultures and emotional beats without losing coherence. In an era when sequels often repeat visual formulas, her designs demonstrated that follow‑up films can push aesthetic boundaries while honoring established iconography.
Historically, this first reshapes how the Academy’s craft categories engage with serial storytelling. Costume designers on long‑running franchises now have a precedent for being recognized multiple times for sustained excellence. For the documentation of women’s contributions to film, Carter’s dual wins show a Black woman leading the artistic evolution of a global blockbuster franchise, setting a benchmark for future designers navigating sequels and expanded cinematic universes.