Danielle Brooks' 2024 Oscar Manicure Includes a Meaningful Nod to the 25 Previous Black Nominees in Her Category

Danielle Brooks’ Oscars manicure held a very special meaning.

At the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, Brooks, 34, wore a black Dolce & Gabbana look complete with crystal details down to her mani, which included a numeric nod to the Black best supporting actress nominees that came before her.

The best supporting actress nominee's baby-pink manicure featured intricate details, including bedazzled french tips and a crystalline “26” on one nail, whose meaning Brooks revealed on the red carpet.

While speaking with the host of E!’s red carpet pre-show, her Orange Is the New Black costar Laverne Cox, Brooks shared that the digit represents the total number of Black supporting actress nominees in the history of the Academy Awards.

“I have 26 on my nail, because I’m the 26th Black woman to be nominated for best supporting actress,” Brooks said. “So I had to at least honor that.”

“Whether I go home with an award or not, I will forever be the 26th Black woman to be nominated for supporting actress,” she added.

Brooks’ manicure was the cherry on top of her sparkling Oscars look — a Dolce & Gabbana corset top with bedazzled boning details and a satin skirt with a thigh-high slit. 

The star accessorized the eye-catching ensemble with De Beers jewelry, including a diamond necklace, drop earrings and several rings.

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For her performance in The Color Purple, Brooks is nominated for best supporting actress against Emily Blunt for Oppenheimer, America Ferrera for Barbie, Jodie Foster for Nyad and Da'Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers.

And she is not only the 26th Black woman to be up for the honor, but also the second Black woman in history to land both an Oscar nomination and Tony nomination for the same role. (The first is EGOT honoree Viola Davis!)

On the red carpet, Cox asked the actress what the most difficult thing about filming The Color Purple, a movie musical inspired by author Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name.

"The most difficult thing about filming it… I mean it was so much,” Brooks told Cox, adding, “I think I’m so happy right now that I can’t even think about what’s been difficult, because this moment is so major.”

The 96th Oscars will air live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET.