Back in 2022, Ariana DeBose gave the world a masterclass in owning a moment. The performer had just won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her breakout role of Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake. Not only had she won, she made history by becoming the first Afro-Latina as well as the first openly queer woman of colour to collect an Academy Award.
Clutching her Oscar, she seized the day, reaching out to the global TV audience with a passionate speech about acceptance: “To anybody who has ever questioned your identity – ever, ever, ever – or you find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this: there is indeed a place for us.”
It was no coincidence that on that Oscar night, along with her custom three-piece Valentino outfit, DeBose was wearing a very specific timepiece, from Omega’s Constellation collection. Known for its celestial motifs and star-inspired design, the Constellation watch served as a fitting metaphor for the star on the rise.
“Growing up, the Academy Awards was where stars were born,” she muses to marie claire. “So, to mark that moment with a timepiece that carries such meaningful symbolism was truly special.” Now, DeBose is the face of Omega’s new My Little Secret campaign, alongside an incredible lineup of powerhouse women – including Ashley Graham, Tems, Marisa Abela, Danielle Marsh and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. Together, they’re bringing a new kind of energy to luxury, one that values presence over performance.
At the unveiling event at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art, DeBose hosted a different kind of soiree. It wasn’t your standard red-carpet affair—no stiff speeches, no forced smiles. Instead, it was all about feeling: whispered cues, thoughtful movements and a sense of performance that culminated in the reveal of 12 new Aqua Terra 30mm timepieces.
The watch DeBose selected from the collection is understated yet instantly recognisable to timepiece aficionados. Her watch of choice? A silver-grey Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra with an integrated stainless-steel bracelet that wraps the wrist with quiet authority. Encircled by a diamond-paved bezel, the dial’s lacquered finish and 11 diamond hour markers radiate subtle luxury. It’s elegant, but with quiet power. Just like her.
Of course, DeBose is more than just a performer. Off-screen, she’s a passionate advocate for causes close to her heart, from LGBTQIA+ rights to supporting young people experiencing homelessness through her work with Covenant House. She’s also a fierce supporter of reproductive rights and gender equity. In other words, she uses her time and her platform wisely.
Looking ahead, DeBose continues to shape a career that blends artistic depth with cultural intent. Coming up, she’ll star in TV’s Scarpetta alongside Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, and in the feature film Lear Rex, opposite Al Pacino.
Her partnership with Omega goes beyond mere endorsement; it’s a shared ethos rooted in design, discipline and the articulation of memory. In a culture that often confuses volume for value, DeBose offers a compelling alternative. Through restraint and purpose, she shows that true impact lies not in grand gestures, but in the quiet act of marking a moment, redefining what it means to make time count.
“My time is valuable,” she says. “I deserve to be here. To be fully present in whatever I’m doing. To hold the moment and be proud of it.”
Ariana DeBose isn’t just having a moment. She’s teaching us how to claim ours: with purpose and with pride.
And, honestly, that’s a message a lot of us need right now.
