Michelle Yeoh won an Oscar for best actress in a leading role on March 12, 2023 at the 95th Academy Awards hosted in Los Angeles, CA. 

Yeoh started her acting career years ago in 1985 according to IMDb, and is best known for her roles in ¨Crazy Rich Asian¨, ¨Tomorrow Never Dies¨, and what landed her an Oscar was her role as Evelyn Quan in ¨Everything Everywhere All At Once¨, which makes her the first Asian woman to win in this category. 

¨For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,¨ Yeoh said regarding her win. 

“Finally it happened, [but] a bit too late,¨ said Sophia Dmytruk, a Portsmouth High School senior. ¨It took too long to finally see someone of color to be recognized.” 

“Yeoh’s win was not singular as it is a win for people of similar backgrounds,” Dymtruk said. Yeoh’s speech during the Oscars inspired her as she comes from a Japanese-Ukrainian background. ¨It’s definitely inspired me to be more like Michelle Yeoh.¨

¨I’m bringing this home to you. And also to my extended family in Hong Kong where I started my career,¨ Michelle Yeoh cheered in her acceptance speech. 

Lex Wu, a PHS sophomore, thought that ¨This is a milestone. People of all races are able to win.¨ Lex comes from a Chinese-Cantonese speaking background, and at his house-hold he found himself talking about this win with his parents during dinner. ¨They reacted well,¨ continued Wu. 

The first ever Oscar was hosted on May 16, 1929, according to The Oscars. In the 94 years running The Oscars, only one other Asian woman, Merle Oberon, has been nominated according to Time.