Zendaya, stunning in a black Maison Valentino gown, sashayed up to the stage to receive the award for best actress in a drama series for Euphoria, scripting Emmy history as she did. The 26-year-old is the first Black woman to win the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series twice. She is also the youngest person ever to win an Emmy twice.

Zendaya has been there before. When she first won best actress in a drama series Emmy for Euphoria in 2020, she was, at 24, the youngest winner of the award.

On stage today, she breathlessly thanked the cast and crew of Euphoria for “making such a safe space to make this very difficult show.” Zendaya plays Rue Bennet, a teen recovering from drug addiction as the show follows the lives of a bunch of dysfunctional high school students.

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“I just wanna say my greatest wish for Euphoria is that it would help heal people…I want to say thank you to everyone who has ever shared their story with me and I want anyone who has ever loved a Rue or feels like they are a Rue, I want them to know I am so grateful for your stories and I carry them with me and I carry them with her,” the former Disney star said.

Zendaya, who also co-produces the show, was nominated for four Emmys this year for Euphoria, including two for music and lyrics for songs in the show and one for production, apart from the lead actress award she won, beating some serious talent.

Also nominated for outstanding lead actress in a drama series were Jodie Comer for Killing Eve, Laura Linney for Ozark, Melanie Lynskey for Yellowjackets, Sandra Oh for Killing Eve and Reese Witherspoon for The Morning Show.

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“To all the incredible actors in this category, I am so honoured to be beside you,” Zendaya said as she received her Emmy. In the audience, Sandra Oh cheered loudly as Zendaya received her Emmy. Sandra Oh was nominated for her role of Eve Polastri, an investigator obsessed with an assassin Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer, who too is obsessed with Eve. Both Sandra and Jodie lost to Zendaya at the Emmys on Monday.

The Emmys 2022 became a big moment for Black women as Lizzo, Quinta Brunson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph too won awards. While Sheryl Lee Ralph won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary, Lizzo won for best competition series for her show Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. Quinta Brunson won for Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary.