# Nothing prepares you for seeing celebrities at the Oscars for the first time. Here's why.

LOS ANGELES — . The  

 have long produced some of the most memorable moments in pop culture history. Nothing, though, can prepare someone for Hollywood's biggest night in person. On Sunday, I attended my first Oscars — a fairytale for anyone who grew up in the Midwest, far from the bright lights of Los Angeles with no proximity to famous people.

This year's Oscars, which celebrate achievements in film, was a movie on its own.

The ceremony had all the hints of a good drama: A competitive best actress race, with a surprise win for   dropping out of presenting last minute after a health issue. The triumph and trouble of , the first transgender best actress nominee in history and her controversial comments, who skipped the red carpet. Would  break the record for youngest best actor winner, which was previously set by category peer 

But to see it all close up? Even better.

## I spotted Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, Coco Gauff and more celebs

It was surreal to walk up the big red steps of the Dolby Theatre that I have seen on TV. As I scanned my ticket, I nearly brushed past , partner to best actress nominee . Minutes later, I nearly bumped into "Like A Bird" best original song nominee , one of my favorite singers.

Just like the movies.

Then, I made my way down to scope out the Dolby Lounge, a celebrity hotspot at the ceremony. Attendees were toting glasses of wine, grasping champagne stems. Tennis star  towered over me. I caught  walking in, watched  and  being whisked to their seats and spotted fellow University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee grad 



## Inside the show, a 'Kardashians' star and Oprah cameo

As the show began at 4 p.m., I had a bird's eye view. It was unbelievable to watch "Wicked" co-stars Erivo and pop star  open the telecast with a medley of songs from the hit movie musical. I was "holding space and finding power in that." Like most things in life, the show felt even bigger and better in person.

From my seat, I caught Chalamet canoodling with "The Kardashians" star and beauty mogul . I witnessed the inescapable joy of best actress nominee Fernanda Torres, the journey of the cast of "Anora," the acceptance speech of 

[](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/03/03/USAT/81098356007-afp-2202382628.jpg?crop=3696,2080,x0,y246&width=660&height=371&format=pjpg&auto=webp)

## Inside the show, a 'Kardashians' star and Oprah cameo

As the show began at 4 p.m., I had a bird's eye view. It was unbelievable to watch "Wicked" co-stars Erivo and pop star  open the telecast with a medley of songs from the hit movie musical. I was "holding space and finding power in that." Like most things in life, the show felt even bigger and better in person.

From my seat, I caught Chalamet canoodling with "The Kardashians" star and beauty mogul . I witnessed the inescapable joy of best actress nominee Fernanda Torres, the journey of the cast of "Anora," the acceptance speech of 

[](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/03/03/USAT/81098356007-afp-2202382628.jpg?crop=3696,2080,x0,y246&width=660&height=371&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
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