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Home · Celebrity

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis' Whirlwind Year

Quvenzhane Wallis is having one extraordinary ride. Months after making her debut as Hushpuppy in the Oscar-nominated film Beasts of the Southern Wild, the pint-sized Louisiana native made history as the youngest person ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. She'll also be starring in a remake of the beloved classic Annie. As awards season ends, we're taking a moment to celebrate the young starlet's newfound success.
By Yolanda Sangweni · Updated October 28, 2020
01
Meet Hushpuppy

Quvenzhané ran away with our hearts when she made her debut as Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild, which opened in theaters in June. She was just 5 years old when she auditoned for the role. Now 9, Wallis is the youngest person to ever be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
02
The Sundance Kid

Quvenzhané holds up the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Award for Beasts of the Southern Wild at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2012.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Fred Hayes/ Getty
03
Tres Magnifique

Shortly after Sundance, Quvenzhané, along with Beasts director Benh Zeitlin and co-star Dwight Henry, attended the Cannes Film Festival, where the film won the Camera d’Or (Best Feature Film) award.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Dominique Charriau/ Wireimage
04
Bright Prospects
Quvenzhane Wallis
Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
AFP
05
She’s Arrived

Always ready to show off her personality, Quvenzhané rocked a beautiful navy Giorgio Armani gown and her beloved puppy purse (decked out in a tiara, tutu and Swarovski crystals) for the 85th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
06
Our Little Champion

We adore how Quvenzhané reacted to her Best Actress nomination at the Oscars.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
BuzzFeed
07
History Makers

The youngest person ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, Quvenzhané Wallis, meets Halle Berry, the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Getty
08
Young and Amazing

Quvenzhané attends the 6th Annual Women in Film Pre-Oscar Party in Los Angeles.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for WIF
09
All in the Family

Quvenzhané brought her mother Qulyndreia and sister Qunyquekya to the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
10
Play Time!
Quvenzhané Wallis
Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Michael Rowe
11
Mixing and Mingling

Quvenzhané stays close to actress Tatyana Ali at the 65th annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, where she received the Breakthrough Awards. “What an adorable old soul!” wrote Ali after meeting Quvenzhane on the red carpet.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Tatyana Ali/ Instagram
12
Hollywood Royalty

Quvenzhané shares a red carpet moment at the Oscars with Queen Latifah.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Getty
13
ESSENCE Loves Her

Quvenzhané accepts the Breakthrough Performance Award at the sixth annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon in Los Angeles.

Golden Girl: Quvenzhane Wallis’ Whirlwind Year
Michael Rowe
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