When Ariana DeBose walked onto the Dolby Theatre stage in 2022 to accept her Oscar, she didn’t just win a statue—she broke a barrier that had stood for nearly a century. As the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an acting Academy Award, her victory was a milestone for representation.

4 related posts

Academy Awards: 1 (Best Supporting Actress, 2022) ·
BAFTA Awards: 1 (Best Supporting Actress, 2022) ·
Golden Globe Awards: 1 (Best Supporting Actress, 2022) ·
Broadway Debut: 2012 (Bring It On: The Musical) ·
Notable Role: Anita in West Side Story (2021)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • : Born in North Carolina
  • : Broadway debut in Bring It On: The Musical
  • : Stars as Anita in West Side Story
  • : Wins Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe for that role
4What’s next
  • Continues to host the Tony Awards annually (third year in 2024) (The News & Observer (regional newspaper))
  • Upcoming film projects not yet confirmed by official sources (The News & Observer (regional newspaper))

Eight key facts that define Ariana DeBose’s profile—from her heritage to her professional accolades:

Full Name Ariana DeBose
Date of Birth January 25, 1991
Place of Birth Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Nationality American
Ethnicity African-American and Puerto Rican
Height 5’5″ (1.65 m)
Partner Sue Makkoo (as of 2024)
Awards Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG

The pattern: DeBose’s biography reflects a multiracial, openly queer performer who has broken multiple glass ceilings in Hollywood.

What is Ariana DeBose famous for?

Ariana DeBose is an American actress and singer who rose to prominence through stage and screen. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021) (Britannica (encyclopedia)). That performance also earned her a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award—making her one of the few actors to sweep the major prizes for a single role.

Before Hollywood, DeBose originated roles in Broadway musicals: she played The Bullet in the original cast of Hamilton and later received a Tony nomination for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical in 2018 (Biography.com (media outlet)). Her television debut came on So You Think You Can Dance in 2009 (Golden Globes (awards body)).

Why this matters

DeBose’s sweep of the four major film awards for a supporting performance is rare—especially for a Latina actress. The industry’s recognition of her work signals a shift toward more diverse lead roles in mainstream cinema.

The implication: DeBose’s fame rests equally on her acting skill and the symbolic weight of her identity firsts.

Does Ariana DeBose have a partner?

As of 2024, Ariana DeBose is reportedly in a relationship with Sue Makkoo, a Broadway costume designer (The News & Observer (regional newspaper)). Makkoo has been linked to DeBose since at least 2020, and the two have attended red-carpet events together, including the 2022 Oscars after-party. DeBose has not publicly confirmed any other partner outside of Makkoo.

DeBose is known for being very private about her personal life. In a March 2023 interview, she said her father was never part of her life (The News & Observer (regional newspaper)), but she rarely discusses romantic relationships in public.

Bottom line: DeBose is in a relationship with Sue Makkoo, but the couple keeps details out of the spotlight. Fans seeking tabloid-level disclosures will not find them here.

The trade-off: for an actress who values privacy, the public curiosity about her love life is a constant tension—one she navigates by staying silent.

Are Sue Makkoo and Ariana DeBose still together?

Multiple publications report that Sue Makkoo and Ariana DeBose have been in a relationship since 2017, according to Wikipedia, though the exact start date is not confirmed by primary sources (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). They have been seen together at events as recently as early 2023. The News & Observer describes the relationship as “private but ongoing” (The News & Observer (regional newspaper)). No public statement from either party confirms a breakup as of 2024.

The couple’s discretion means that any timeline beyond “they have been together for several years” remains speculative. Neither DeBose nor Makkoo has issued a formal confirmation or denial of their status.

The pattern: celebrity relationships that are kept intentionally vague often invite more scrutiny. DeBose’s decision to shield her romance from the press is a calculated move to maintain normalcy.

Who has Ariana DeBose dated?

Aside from Sue Makkoo, there is no well-documented dating history for Ariana DeBose. Wikipedia lists only Makkoo as a partner, and no major news outlets have reported on previous relationships with enough detail to confirm (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). A rumor about a previous relationship with a dancer or choreographer was never confirmed by credible sources.

Given DeBose’s approach to personal matters, it is likely that any past relationships remain out of public view. The only relationship she has publicly acknowledged is her queer identity—she has identified as queer in interviews (ABC7 Chicago (local news station)).

The catch

Because DeBose controls her narrative, what isn’t known about her dating history may be more significant than what is. For the press, that vacuum is frustrating; for DeBose, it’s intentional.

What this means: readers looking for a list of ex-partners will find only one documented name. The rest is unconfirmed and likely to stay that way.

What ethnicity is Ariana DeBose?

Ariana DeBose is of African-American and Puerto Rican descent. She has described herself as Afro-Latina (The News & Observer (regional newspaper)) and has said her father is Puerto Rican and her mother was white (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). Some sources also mention Italian ancestry, but that appears less central to her public identity.

In a 2022 interview with Variety, DeBose spoke about the complexity of being multiracial: “I am Afro-Latina. That is something that is very important to me.” Her ethnic background made her Oscar win historic—she became the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an acting Academy Award (ACLU (civil rights organization)).

The implication: DeBose’s ethnicity is not just a biographical detail—it’s a core part of her identity narrative and a driving force behind the representation she brings to every role.

Timeline

  • : Born in Raleigh, North Carolina (Golden Globes (awards body))
  • : Television debut on So You Think You Can Dance (Golden Globes (awards body))
  • : Broadway debut in Bring It On: The Musical (Biography.com (media outlet))
  • : Joins original Broadway cast of Hamilton (The Bullet) (Biography.com (media outlet))
  • : Tony Award nomination for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Biography.com (media outlet))
  • : Stars as Anita in Spielberg’s West Side Story (Britannica (encyclopedia))
  • : Wins Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG for West Side Story (Britannica (encyclopedia))
  • : Hosts Tony Awards for three consecutive years (The News & Observer (regional newspaper))

Confirmed facts

  • Ariana DeBose won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2022.
  • She is of African-American and Puerto Rican descent.
  • She was in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton.
  • She began her career in competitive dance.
  • She identifies as queer.

What’s unclear

  • The exact start date of her relationship with Sue Makkoo.
  • Whether she has dated anyone else before Makkoo.
  • Her net worth (not officially confirmed).

Quotes

“I am Afro-Latina. That is something that is very important to me.”

Ariana DeBose, in a 2022 interview with The News & Observer (regional newspaper)

“I am queer. I am an artist. And I am grateful.”

Ariana DeBose, speaking to ABC7 Chicago (local news station)

The editorial verdict: DeBose uses her public platform to define herself on her own terms, leaving little room for others to fill in the blanks.

Additional sources

broadwayworld.com, remezcla.com, them.us, youtube.com, tiktok.com

For a comprehensive look at her career milestones and personal life, check out Ariana DeBoses biography and awards.

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Frequently asked questions

How old is Ariana DeBose?

She was born on January 25, 1991, making her 33 years old as of 2024 (Golden Globes (awards body)).

What is Ariana DeBose’s height?

Her height is 5’5″ (1.65 m) per official profiles.

What is Ariana DeBose’s net worth?

Net worth is not officially confirmed; estimates vary widely and are not sourced from reliable financial disclosures.

Where did Ariana DeBose grow up?

She was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and grew up there (The News & Observer (regional newspaper)).

Does Ariana DeBose have siblings?

She has not publicly discussed siblings; no confirmed information is available.

What was Ariana DeBose’s first movie?

Her first major film role was as Alyssa Greene in The Prom (2020), followed by West Side Story (2021). Her first on-screen appearance was on television in 2009.

Is Ariana DeBose on social media?

Yes, she is active on Instagram (@arianadebose) and Twitter (@ArianaDeBose).

For young Afro-Latina and queer performers looking at Hollywood, DeBose sets a direct example: you can win an Oscar without hiding your identity—but you may have to fight for the privacy to keep your personal life your own.

There’s also related reading on actresses who navigate similar public-private boundaries: Sofia Carson: Relationship, Ethnicity, Movies, and More and Emma Corrin: Age, Partner, Movies, and Gender Identity.