H.E.R. was all about drama when she graced the red carpet of the 93rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday.
The 23-year-old songstress turned heads wearing a chic blue design by Dundas to the event, where she performed her Oscar-nominated track Fight For You from Judas And The Black Messiah.
The custom look teamed a sheer, beaded jumpsuit with a flowing shawl, long train and enchanting hood over her head.
Made for her: H.E.R. looked mesmerizing while at the 93rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday, where she donned a dazzling Dundas design with custom beading
A close-up revealed the name of her Oscar-nominated song beaded along the edge of the hood.
She let long raven waves cascade over one-shoulder and matched her signature tinted sunglasses to a plum-hued lip.
Leaning into the all blue theme, H.E.R. played up her eyes with some violet eyeshadow, thick lashes and a subtle wing.
It turns out the look had quite the regal inspiration.
The star was inspired by the look Prince wore to the 1985 Oscars, where he won Best Original Song for Purple Rain.
Details: A close-up revealed the name of her Oscar-nominated song Fight For You beaded into the hood
Stunning: The look teamed a sheer, beaded jumpsuit with a flowing shawl, long train and enchanting hood over her head
Designer Peter Dundas told InStyle: ‘H.E.R. expressed how Prince has been a lifetime inspiration for her and had built the foundation for her musical identity.’
‘I wanted [it] to feel like armor — words have such great power and it’s impossible not to feel touched by the important and impactful message of strength and justice behind the song, especially given what is happening in the world right now.’
It would end up being an auspicious outfit for the star, who went on to win the evening’s Best Song Award.
Taking the stage, she gushed about how ‘grateful’ she was to not only win, but to be part of a ‘important, important story’ like Judas And The Black Messiah.
Joking about her influences on the funky track, the Best Part artists said: ‘All those days of listening to Sly And The Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield, they really paid off.’
Beaded beauty: The look teamed a sheer, beaded jumpsuit with a flowing shawl, long train and enchanting hood over her head
Flashback: The star was inspired by the look Prince wore to the 1985 Oscars, where he won Best Original Song for Purple Rain, above. She would go on to win herself
H.E.R. also used the moment to address fellow artists, saying: ‘Musicians, filmmakers, I believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to me to tell the truth. And to write history the way that it was. And how it connects us to today. And what we see going on in the world today…
‘Knowledge is power,’ she went on. ‘Music is power. And as long as I’m standing, I’m always going to fight for us. I’m always going to fight for my people and what is right. That’s what music and storytelling does.’
The 2021 Oscars are a far more intimate affair than years past.
This year COVID restrictions have whittled the VIP guest list down to only 170 people, from the usual 3,000.
Gracious: Taking the stage, she gushed about how ‘grateful’ she was to not only win, but to be part of a ‘important, important story’ like Judas And The Black Messiah
Power of art: H.E.R. also used the moment to address fellow artists, saying: ‘Musicians, filmmakers, I believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to me to tell the truth. And to write history the way that it was. And how it connects us to today. And what we see going on in the world today’
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is hosting the delayed ceremony at the historic Union Station in LA, where socially distanced movie stars can go mask-free while on-camera or seated in the main show room.
Sticking to a ‘No Zoom’ policy unlike other shows that have taken place this awards season, Academy organizers have teased a ‘British hub’ for UK actors who are unable to make it in person, as well as another rumored ‘surprise location.’
During a year that saw movie theatres closed due to the pandemic, there were eight new films that did manage to impress Academy voters enough to be in contention for Hollywood’s biggest award, the Oscar for Best Picture (last year there were nine nominees in the category.)
Competitors include The Father, Judas And The Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial Of The Chicago 7.
93RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS
Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland – WINNER
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand – Nomadland
Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman – The Father
Amanda Seyfried – Mank
Youn Yuh-jung – Minari – WINNER
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father
Best Music (Original Score)
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul – WINNER
Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER
Opera
Yes-People
Best Live Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye
Best International Feature Film
Another Round – WINNER
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Best Sound: Greyhound – a war film starring Tom Hanks – is up for the gong
Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal – WINNER
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Music (Original Song)
H.E.R. – Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest
Io Si (Seen) – The Life Ahead
Speak Now – One Night in Miami…
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round
David Fincher – Mank
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland – WINNER
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins – The Father
Gary Oldman – Mank
Steven Yeun – Minari
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…
Paul Raci – Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul – WINNER
Wolfwalkers
Best Animated Feature Film: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated
Best Costume Design
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Mulan
Pinnochio
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father – WINNER
Nomadland
One Night in Miami…
The White Tiger
Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Shaka King and Will Berson – Judas and the Black Messiah
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Darius Marder and Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher – WINNER
Time
Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette – WINNER
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Tenet
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet – WINNER
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Pinocchio