Lupita Nyong’o beat Hollyhood heavy weights to clinch an Oscar last night, for best supporting actress owing to her debut appearance as Patsey in Steve Mc Queen’s 12 Years a Slave.  The win makes her the 15th actress to win an Oscar in a film debut.

Ms Nyong’o also joins the list of 14 other black actors who have won Oscars. She is the seventh black actress to win an Oscar.

She dedicated her Oscar to children around the world, saying, “No matter where you are from, your dreams are all valid.”