Awestruck.
Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede, a senior theater major at Florida A&M University, found herself in awe of the magnitude of what was unfolding in her life.
The first female head drum major of the legendary Marching 100 has spent the year commanding attention on fields, stages and screens across the country. Still, even for someone accustomed to leading one of the most iconic marching bands in the world, nothing could have prepared her for the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday.
Yet that is exactly where Oloyede found herself.
“When I received the call, I could not believe it. Performing at the Oscars is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was offered to me. God is so amazing.
This is affirmation that I’m supposed to be here and this is what I want to do,” she said.
Her journey to Hollywood followed a season of undeniable “motion” as some students would describe it. The Marching 100 was featured in a Lionsgate promotion for the upcoming film “Michael.” The band also appeared in an NBA on Prime segment performing the show’s theme song, “Victory,” written in part by FAMU alum and Grammy Award winner Common. Oloyede lent her voice to the opening narration.
At the same time, her performances were gaining traction online. Her commanding field presence, theatrical precision and magnetic energy transformed halftime moments into viral highlights.
“When it’s happening, I’m not trying to go viral. I’m just in the moment, focused on being the best at everything I do. From that, people connect with it, and before you know it, the videos are everywhere,” she said.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, March 17th 2026 at 4:35PM
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