Lupita Nyong’o has long been a guaranteed standout whenever she steps onto a red carpet, and by now, that reputation is unshakable. From her pearl-drenched Chanel moment at the 2025 Oscars to the liquid-gold, backless gown she wore to the 2024 Golden Globes, she has mastered the art of unforgettable fashion. Her appearance at the 2026 New York Film Critics Circle Awards proved, once again, that she knows exactly how to command a room.
On January 6, the actress arrived in New York wrapped in a daring monochrome vision that blended seamlessly with the crimson carpet beneath her feet. She chose a deep red velvet suit that shimmered under the lights, pairing an oversized blazer with wide-leg tailored trousers that skimmed the floor with every step. The cut was elegant, but the styling made it fearless.
Under the jacket, Nyong’o pushed the look into bold territory. Instead of a traditional blouse, she wore a sheer, high-neck lace top in the same intense red, tucked cleanly into her trousers. The effect was striking and unapologetic, revealing just enough to feel provocative while remaining impeccably refined. Red pointed-toe heels completed the head-to-toe statement, sealing the all-scarlet moment.
The evening was not only about fashion. Nyong’o also took the stage as a presenter, honoring Brazilian actor Wagner Moura with the Best Actor award for his role in The Secret Agent. Speaking with calm authority, she praised his work as deeply moving, describing his performance as a lesson in quiet strength and emotional precision that speaks volumes without excess.
That reflection echoed Nyong’o’s own journey. The actress, born in Mexico and raised in Nairobi, has spoken candidly about the pressure she once felt to hide parts of herself to succeed. While studying at Yale School of Drama, she deliberately trained herself to sound American, believing it was the only way to secure a future in film and television.
In her 2024 podcast Mind Your Own, she admitted that the lack of Kenyan accents on screen shaped that decision. At the time, she saw no visible space for voices like hers in mainstream entertainment. That mindset shifted during press for 12 Years a Slave, when she chose to return to her natural accent.
That choice, she later explained, was about more than sound. It was about identity. For Nyong’o, embracing her roots became a statement in itself — proof that her history did not need to be softened or disguised to be powerful.
