‘You can raise the bar now. You can be recognized in this way as well,’ said Neal

Black women are finally being recognized in the makeup and hair category at the Oscars.

Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson are the first Black women to ever be nominated in the hair and makeup category at the Oscars. The ladies snagged the nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for their participation in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Monday. The nominees spoke with Variety about their history-making accomplishment.

“I feel like I have to pinch myself. I’m just completely honored to be nominated for this award because I’m doing something that I love. I never imagined myself being here. I just can’t explain the feeling. I’m doing something that I love and now I’m nominated for an Academy Award,” said Wilson.

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“I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be honored by such a prestigious committee. To be with Jamika and for us to be the first African Americans nominated in this category is overwhelming,” said Neal.

“I have to raise my expectations for myself because this was something I never thought that I could achieve,” said the hairstylist who also worked as the head of the hair department on Uncut Gems and served as a wig maker in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Nealwas thehair department head on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a period piece that tells the story of blues legend, Ma Rainey.

Neal told the magazine that she never imagined this could happen to her.

“You can raise the bar now. You can be recognized in this way as well.”

Source: Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson first Black women nominated for makeup, hair Oscars