You Can't Touch Lupita Nyong'o's Red Carpet Twirls

Two very important events happen to fall within the same week this year: the Academy Awards on March 4 and Lupita Nyong’o’s birthday on March 1. You may call it coincidence, but we find it quite fitting that the actress’s special day is so close to arguably the biggest red carpet event of the year. Because if there’s anyone who’s made walking one an art form—practically a ballet, even—it’s Nyong’o.

Most recently, the Black Panther star appeared at the Cannes Film Festival in a rosy creation and spun like a top for the cameras to show off the almost mermaid-esque coloring. But this twirl is not a onetime occurrence. In fact, we can recall seven past instances when Nyong’o practically hypnotized us with her moves and ultimately made any regular red carpet walk seem, well, ordinary. So, in honor of the scene stealer’s birthday, feast your eyes on a brief and very graceful history of Nyong’o’s epic red carpet twirls below.

The first instance we can recall of a twirl was at the 2014 Oscars—the night she won. Another coincidence?

Her grand fanned skirt was impressive at the Golden Globes in 2015. Just ask Katie Holmes.

At the SAG Awards in 2015, the stripes of her dress lent themselves to a hypnotic spin.

Nyong’o caught some serious French Riviera air at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.

She offered a demure whirl at the Queen of Katwe premiere in 2016, perhaps due to her dress’s very high slits.

Her spin at the Black Panther premiere this year seemed more like a happy dance than anything else.

At the BAFTAs celebrating her gorgeous gown in the best way she knows how.

This year's Cannes Film Festival was a chance for Nyong’o to top her past twirling work. Safe to say mission accomplished.