Nomadland director Chloé Zhao celebrates two groundbreaking wins at this year's Oscars

The 93rd Academy Awards is shaping up to be a memorable event, and Nomanland is part of it. 

The mastermind behind the film, Chloé Zhao, is the second woman in Oscars history to take home the award for best director. Her predecessor was Kathryn Bigelow, who won for The Hurt Locker in 2010—one of our favorite historic moments in the Academy's history. Additionally, Chloé's win marks the first time that a woman of color has been given this honor. 

"This is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold on to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that. And this is for you, you inspire me to keep going," the director said during her acceptance speech.

Then, in an incredibly gratifying moment, she also won the award for the best picture, ultimate beating Judas and the Black Messiah, Minari, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, The Father, Mank, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. 

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Colleagues in the film industry have expressed their support for Chloé's big moment

It's been a difficult time in our country for Asian Americans, and it didn't go unnoticed how Chloé took the time to bridge the gap between cultures. 

Proving the glass ceiling is starting to crack, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom's win also marks a big moment: the film received the Oscar for the best makeup and hairstyling, and its recipients Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson are the first black women to do so. 

"I can picture Black trans women standing up here. And Asian sisters. And our Latina sisters. And indigenous women," Mia said during her acceptance speech. "And I know that one day it won't be unusual or groundbreaking. It will just be normal."

Although this year's awards show isn't what we're typically used to—some stars are celebrating from home while the in-person event was scaled down tremendously—it's gratifying to know that the industry is taking steps towards diversity and inclusion.