Awards season is in full force and the nominations for the Academy Awards are here! The event will name its winners on Sunday, March 27 with a live broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC. Many of the big films this year were nominated for multiple awards like Dune grabs 10 nominations, West Side Story and Belfast earned seven noms, while King Richard was nominated in six categories. This year three are 10 films nominated for Best Picture.
One of the announcements that's exciting for Filipino and Asian-Americans is the nominee for Frederic Aspiras who worked on House of Gucci. He is the second Asian-American nominated for the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar. Aspiras, a longtime hairstylist for Lady Gaga was brought along for this project. He started working with Lady Gaga over 13 years ago on the Monster Ball. Since then, he's crafted for tours, photoshoots and covers, music videos, events, and more! On the daily, Aspiras is part of the Haus of Gaga team.
In addition to receiving an Oscar nominee, Aspiras was also nominated for a BAFTA which is the British version similar to the Academy Awards. He created a different character for Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani. Together with his creative partner in the film, Sarah Tanno researched the era, other notable style icons, and worked to build a style guide for the film to bring the character to life.
The recognition he earned, goes to show that there's still a long way for Asian-Americans to be represented in all facets of media. His journey has influenced others along his path to follow suit. He told Variety, "I started with Lady Gaga 13 years ago, and fans from around the world who have written to me telling me they have become hairdressers — that to me is probably one of the most rewarding things ever. It’s also about being a role model in that I am Asian American with refugee parents."
Frederic Aspiras mother, Suzie L. Nguyen came to San Francisdc as a refugee from Vietnam. Her journey as a single mother brought her to go to cosmetology school and open her own salon business. Here is where Aspiras was inspired by watching his mother put on makeup and prep people’s hair. Now, he's the next generation who continues his mother's legacy while breaking the mold of stereotypes. We'll be tuning in and having our fingers crossed this Oscars!
Cover Photo Credit: Frederic Aspiras Twitter
