Alumna Kara Young Wins Historic Second Tony Award

Kara Young is an alumna of The Young Women’s Leadership Schools and a Student Leadership Network (Em)Power Breakfast Honoree.

Alumna Kara Young, with short blonde hair clips, wearing a dark outfit with a fur vest, layered necklaces, rings, and bracelets, smiles at the camera against a textured background.

Kara Young has already made history as the first Black performer to receive four consecutive Tony nods – and only the second person to do so overall. Last night, she earned her second Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Aziza in Purpose, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Phylicia Rashad. She is the first Black performer to win consecutive Tony Awards.

She previously won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her work in Purlie Victorious in 2024.

Congratulations, Kara!

See more coverage of Kara’s historic win:

TheaterMania – Kara Young Makes History as the First Black Performer to Win Two Consecutive Tony Awards
Broadway – Purpose’s Kara Young Makes Tony Awards History with Back-to-Back Wins
Playbill – Kara Young Is the First Black Actor to Win Back-to-Back Tony Awards