Quinta Brunson Channeled Betty Boop for the 2024 Emmy Awards

“I wouldn’t call it overwhelming, but it was whelming,” Quinta Brunson recalls of her first ever awards season. But now in her second cycle, the creator and actor is something of a seasoned pro. “There’s a beauty in the relaxation,” she says…even if that means a little boredom. “You do this for about…two to four hours before a show,” Brunson says as her hair and makeup is tended to from the glam chair.

She and her team opted to stick to the classics: an Old Hollywood wave and an elegant, timeless beauty look, with Eartha Kitt, Judith Jamison, and even Betty Boop serving as references. (“I know that’s a cartoon, but big eyes, big ass head,” she says with a hint of self deprecation.) The team chose to keep it relatively simple, letting her winged liner do all the talking.

“Makeup can make us look totally different but I do really like looking like myself.” Brunson made history at the Emmys, becoming the first Black actor to win in the Best Actress category in over 40 years. She marked the occasion wearing a berry colored tea length dress from Christian Dior and De Beers jewelry.

Alongside her accomplishment, Brunson’s crushed satin dress also made headlines, thanks to its intentional wrinkles. “It is supposed to be crinkled,” says Jessica Paster, Brunson’s stylist. “The haters are gonna say, ‘Oh my God, why didn’t she steam?’ We’ve steamed—this is the beauty of the fabric as well as the draping.” Plus, it was exactly what Brunson envisioned herself in.

“I felt like a little princess,” she says. Watch as Quinta Brunson gets ready for the 2024 Emmys. Director: Jameer Pond Director Of Photography: Brandon Widener Editors: Daniel Poler, Katie Wolford Producer: Gigi Chavarria Associate Director, Creative Development: Alexandra Gurvitch Associate Producer: Lea Donenberg Assistant Camera: Thomas Rubino Audio: Gloria Marie Production Assistant: Brock Spitaels Production Coordinator: Ava Kashar Production Manager: Natasha Soto Albors Line Producer: Romeeka Powell Senior Director, Production Management: Jessica Schier Post Production Coordinator: Jovan James Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo Post Production Supervisors: Edward Taylor, Christian Olguin Associate Talent Manager: Paige Garbarini Director of Content, Production: Rahel Gebreyes Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson Executive Producer: Ruhiya Nuruddin VP, Digital Video English: Thespena Guatieri Images Dior Filmed at Conrad Los Angeles.