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March 28 (UPI) -- Ariana DeBose made history at the 94th annual Academy Awards. The 31-year-old actress became the first Afro Latina and openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar at the awards show Sunday in Los Angeles.
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DeBose won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita in West Side Story, a musical directed by Steven Spielberg.
"Imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes -- you see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro Latina, who found her strength in life through art. And that's what I believe we're here to celebrate," DeBose said in her acceptance speech.
"So to anybody who's ever questioned your identity ever, ever, ever, or find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us," she added.
DeBose previously won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Screen Actors Guild award for her role in West Side Story.
West Side Story is based on the stage musical of the same name, which was previously adapted as a 1961 film. Spielberg's version stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, and opened in theaters in December.
DeBose came to fame as a contestant in So You Think You Can Dance Season 6, which aired in 2009. She has since appeared in the Netflix film The Prom and the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon!
CODA, Jessica Chastain and Will Smith were among the other big winners at the Oscars. Smith made headlines after slapping comedian and Oscars presenter Chris Rock on stage.
