On Sunday night, Ariana DeBose made history as the first Afro Latina and first openly queer woman of color to win an Academy Award.

DeBose, 31, won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, as Anita.

“Even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true. To anybody who has ever questioned your identity,” she said during her acceptance speech, “I promise you there is a place for us.”

DeBose beat out fellow nominees Jessie Buckley, Judi Dench, Kirsten Dunst and Aunjanue Ellis.

Also during her acceptance speech, DeBose paid homage Rita Moreno, who starred as Anita in the original West Side Story. Moreno won the same award for the same role in 1962, making her the first Hispanic actress to win in the best-supporting actress category.

“Now you see why that Anita says, ‘I want to be in America,’ because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true, and that’s really a heartening thing right now,” DeBose said and called Moreno a ‘divine inspiration.”

“I’m so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me,” she said, “and I love you so much.”

DeBose also won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role at the Screen Actors Guild Award and Supporting Actress at the Critics Choice for her Westside Story role; as well as a Golden Globe. 

DeBose is taking the Disney route for her next role. She will play Asha, the first Afro-Latina princess in Disney’s musical, Wish. The movie will premiere in November 2023.