-Jasmine Dyer-

Cousins!

Academy Award actress Lupita Nyong’o has surprised 40 Black female college students with a $400,00 scholarship! 

The Black Panther actress has partnered with cosmetic brand Lancôme through their Write Her Future Write Scholarship Fund to pursue the careers of their choice. 

Lupita appeared at the NAACP’s 113th National Convention in Atlantic City, NJ, on July 17 and presented $10,000 to NAACP youth members who participated in a year-long program aimed at high school students throughout the US. The program’s purpose is to promote growth in subjects like business, visual arts, performing arts, and culinary arts. 

According to ABC, Lupita expressed her thoughts on the importance of education while on stage, ”Since I was a child, I have always had big dreams, and my education has played a huge part in helping me realize them,” Nyong’o said. ”I’ve always loved learning and I believe that learners change the world.”

She added,” I am so thrilled to join Lancome, on behalf of their Write Her Future Scholarship Fund, to award this incredible group of women with these game-changing scholarships.” 

Lupita also shared her appreciation for her Kenyan parents and relatives, “I grew up with a very strong and close family, so my idols were a lot of my relatives, especially my aunties and my mother.” 

“I am so thrilled to join Lancome, on behalf of their Write Her Future Scholarship Fund, to award this incredible group of women with these game-changing scholarships,” said Nyong’o. 

According to ABC 6, She also voiced gratitude towards classic films such as ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘The Color Purple’ for making a significant impact in her youth and career, noting that seeing dark-skinned women like herself inspired her childhood. 

“Seeing Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg and Akosua Busia, all these actors who look like me and doing this thing called acting, had a big impact on me and what was possible for me in the world of entertainment for someone like me.”