NEW YORK — Halloween’s reigning queen Heidi Klum once again proved that no one does spooky glamour quite like her, arriving at her 24th annual Halloween bash at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York City transformed into Medusa, the serpent-haired monster of Greek mythology.
Covered head-to-toe in green shimmering scales and writhing snakes, Klum’s jaw-dropping costume captured the essence of the mythological creature whose gaze could turn mortals to stone. “I wanted to be a really ugly, ugly Medusa,” Klum said with a laugh, flashing sharp fangs that completed her eerie look. “And I feel like we nailed it — to the teeth.”
Her husband, Tom Kaulitz, complemented her theme perfectly, appearing as a man turned to stone — the unfortunate victim of Medusa’s deadly stare.
The supermodel and TV personality revealed that her metamorphosis took 10 hours to complete, involving elaborate prosthetics and intricate makeup. “It’s a long process, but I love Halloween too much not to go all in,” she said.
Klum’s annual Halloween party has become one of the entertainment industry’s most talked-about events — and her costumes are legendary. In previous years, she’s appeared as an 8-foot-tall Transformer, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” werewolf, a multi-armed Hindu goddess Kali, and even a realistic human worm, a 2022 look that went viral worldwide.
She’s known to begin planning each new costume immediately after the party ends, setting the bar higher every year.
The star-studded guest list at Friday’s event included Darren Criss painted green as Shrek, Maye Musk channeling Cruella de Vil, and Ariana Madix as Lady Gaga.
Meanwhile, across the country, singer and actress Janelle Monáe hosted her own Halloween event in Los Angeles, arriving as a vampire attacked by a shark — a fittingly surreal look for an artist who spent the entire month curating immersive, horror-inspired experiences. Earlier in the week, Monáe donned a Cat in the Hat costume and said, “Halloween gives context to what I already do every day. As an artist, I’m always transforming, world-building, and inviting people to play in the worlds I create.”
Once again, Heidi Klum’s Halloween reign remains unchallenged — and if her past tradition holds true, she’s already dreaming up next year’s show-stopping transformation.