Lupita Nyong’o won big at this year’s Academy Award’s, taking home an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as ‘Patsey’ in 12 Years a Slave. Born on March 1, 1983 to Kenyan born parents, Lupita is the new “it girl,” appearing on virtually every major red carpet event in America. It appears that Lupita can do no wrong with whatever she wears—she definitely has a style of her own.
Here are five known facts about Lupita Nyong’o that may interest you:
She’s Mexican– Well not really. Lupita was born in Mexico City, Mexico. Her father, a Kenyan politician was a visiting lecturer in political science at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City at the time of her birth. They moved back to Kenya before Lupita turned one year of age. Her family sent her back to Mexico for seven months to learn Spanish when she was 16 years old. She is fluent in Spanish, English, Swahili and her native Luo.
Her Name– Lupita is obviously a name of Spanish origins and in alignment with Luo tradition, she was named after the events of the day. Since she was born in Mexico, her family named her Lupita which is a version of ‘Guadalupe’ from ‘Our Lady of Guadalupe.’
Her Family Rocks– Lupita is the second of six children. Her father was recently elected to the Kenyan Senate. Her mother is currently the managing director of the Africa Cancer Foundation. Her cousin, Tavia Nyong’o is a scholar and professor at New York University. Isis Nyong’o, her older cousin, was named one of Africa’s most powerful women by Forbes magazine. And her uncle, Aggrey Nyong’o who unfortunately was killed in a 2002 automobile accident, was a prominent Kenyan physician.
She Had Issues With Her Complexion– Recently, Lupita acknowledged that she didn’t always like her rich, beautiful dark skin and would often pray to God to make her a little lighter. She stated that she came to accept herself when she saw Alek Wek, a well known Sudanese supermodel who too shares her rich complexion. Lupita said, “When I saw Alek I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny. Now, I had a spring in my step because I felt more seen, more appreciated by the far away gatekeepers of beauty.”
She’s More Than Her “Patsey” Role– Lupita graduated Yale with a MFA in 2012. She has also appeared in several short independent films and a soap opera in her parent’s native land of Kenya. In 2008, she won a first place prize at the Five College Film Festival for a documentary she wrote, directed and produced called In My Genes, about the treatment of Kenyan’s albino population. She also directed a music video called The Little Things You Do by artist Wahu ft. Bobi Wine. It was nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009.