Young emerging stars Thuso Mbedu, Kaia Gerber, Jacob Elordi and Olivia Rodrigo attend Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opening gala

As noted in the previous Academy Gala post, this was a major event on the Hollywood calendar. The Academy of Oscars is big business, and Academy duties are work duties. This is why the gala was attended so well, with former Oscar winners and nominees showing faces among Academy members, and current contenders looking for any advantage they might have over other potential nominees.

But as powerful as the Academy is in Hollywood, it must always prioritize staying relevant. The museum celebrates a century of filmmaking and Hollywood lore, but if the Academy’s status within the industry is not maintained, no one will care about its history. That’s why it’s important for the Academy to connect with the next generation of members, making sure they matter to the young emerging talents who will carry on their legacy.

For Thuso Mbedu, it was therefore probably the most important Hollywood party she has attended in her career. Thuso is the star of Barry Jenkins’ acclaimed series, The Underground Railroad, his most publicized role to date. She’s now invited to a high-profile Academy event, one of the biggest hitters in the business. It was a great moment for her.

So of course the dress was made to measure:

Kaia Gerber and Jacob Elordi chose this event to make their red carpet debut together:

I mean, if you’re going to show up as a couple, officially, you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. Kaia has dabbled in comedy in recent years. She’s in the current season of American Horror Stories and is probably reading for bigger roles.

But if we talk about breakouts, well 2021 belongs to Olivia Rodrigo who was more established at the start of her young acting career and is now a serious double threat with first ‘driver’s license’ success and now her first album, Sour.

Like everyone else in this post, this was Olivia’s first appearance at an Academy event – and, well, she wanted to make a good impression. The dress is Saint Laurent. It’s a spectacle. And if clothes are part of the job, what’s the point of this particular look? Well, first of all, she’s more than just a plaid, Doc Martens and pigtails. Olivia Rodrigo can also serve as a glamorous top. And although she has Disney roots, she’s not here to play it safe and healthy. She can take risks, both in her fashion choices and in her acting and music choices. It will be very interesting to see who chooses her in their next film. I promise you conversations are taking place.