Oscars red carpet in pictures: Awkwafina, Amy Poehler and more defy gender norms

The theme of the Oscars red carpet this year? Breaking down gender stereotypes.

As well as Billy Porter’s incredible tux dress challenging the norms of masculinity on the red carpet, other stars including Awkwafina and Amy Poehler and Elsie Fisher also challenged tradition with gender-breaking tuxedos.

Awkwafina, who had two huge movie hits in 2018 with Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8, was a vision in a mermaid-like tux, while Poehler opted for a classy black tux.

Amandla Sternberg, the non-binary star of The Hate U Give, looked gorgeous in a grey gown, too.

Check out pictures from the Oscars red carpet below:

Billy Porter at Oscars 2019 in a tux dress.

Billy Porter attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty)

Amandla Stenberg attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Neilson Barnard/Getty)

Designer Sandy Powell attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Neilson Barnard/Getty)

Shangela attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty)

Former RuPaul’s Drag Race star Shangela also hit the red carpet, following her brief role in the Oscar-nominated A Star is Born alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

Shangela previously revealed that Gaga personally asked her to audition for one of the drag queen roles in the film. Shangela initially was meant to audition as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator but missed her first audition.


“I got an email from Lady Gaga’s camp. They were like, ‘LG heard you didn’t come in for the audition. She wanted to know why and would really like you to come in for this role,'” Shangela told Them.

“You know, if Lady Gaga asks, you respond! So I immediately found the nearest blonde wig and white dress, and I went in there with my little beauty mark. Afterwards, they said, ‘The casting [directors] really liked you and they figured that, better than this drag lip sync role, they want to give you a bigger role that has dialogue, where the character is more developed.’ And that’s how I got cast as the drag bar emcee.”

Awkwafina attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty)

Amy Poehler at 91st Annual Academy Awards.

Amy Poehler attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty)

Adam Lambert attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty)

Elsie Fisher attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty)