Gamma rays from excited states feeding a proton-emitting isomeric-state in 151Lu have been observed for the first time. Comparison with state-of-the-art nonadiabatic quasiparticle calculations indicates an oblately deformed, 3/2+ proton-emitting state with a quadrupole deformation of β2 = −0.11. The calculations suggest an increase in quadrupole deformation, to β2 = −0.18, with increasing spin which is understood in terms of the mixing of Nilsson states at the Fermi surface. It is also shown that the proton decay half-life is consistent with that from a 3/2+ state with a quadrupole deformation of β2 = −0.12.