Happy Halloween! It’s not officially Halloween until Heidi Klum reveals her costume, and tonight the supermodel debuted her highly anticipated look in New York City. For her 24th annual Heidiween party, Klum slithered onto the Hard Rock Hotel red carpet dressed as Medusa!
“I look forward to Halloween all year,” Klum told Vogue just before the event. “I’ve been doing this for 24 years and hope to continue forever. Each year, I feel more inspired and excited. It’s the perfect day to be silly, dress up, dance with friends, get creative, and eat candy!”
Klum always keeps fans guessing about her costume choice. She has previously appeared as Jessica Rabbit, a peacock, E.T., and a famously creepy worm. This year, she took a new direction by reimagining a mythological Greek figure. “I wanted to explore classic monsters from history and give one a modern twist,” Klum explained. “Medusa stood out as truly iconic—mysterious yet fierce. The legend of her turning people to stone has captivated audiences for centuries. Museums are filled with paintings and sculptures showcasing her haunting power, proving how terrifying and compelling she remains.”
The hand-painted costume took nine hours of makeup application and featured incredible details, including mechanical snakes on Klum’s head that move independently. “I love that all the snakes move on their own—they look so real,” Klum said. “I also have a custom split snake tongue that takes it to another level. I enjoy a challenge and always aim to top my previous years’ costumes.”
Klum is known for planning her elaborate costumes years in advance, but for this serpent-inspired look, she started a bit later than usual. “We still had a few months to work on it,” she noted. Around April, when the idea came to her, Klum contacted her close friend Mike Marino, the special effects artist she collaborates with annually, to bring her vision to life. “He immediately said, ‘Hell yeah!'” Klum recalled. “He’s a great partner because he not only brings the costume to life but also suggests ways to make it even more spectacular.”
Of course, Klum and Marino weren’t the only ones involved in creating the eerie design. It took over 15 people and six months to complete. “Mike and his team are highly respected in the industry—they have multiple Oscar nominations and an Emmy award for The Penguin,” Klum shared. While the artists are incredibly skilled, Klum’s favorite part of working with them is their boundless enthusiasm for the macabre. They always match her creative energy. “At heart, they’re like kids going wild with a box of crayons,” Klum said. “They bring so much creativity, artistry, and wonder. I love working with them.”
Klum will spend the evening celebrating with ghosts and ghouls at her star-studded Halloween party. “I made sure I can dance in my costume,” she assured, “because my friend Questlove is DJing, and I’m ready to shake this rattlesnake tail!” Besides her own dramatic reveal, Klum is excited to see what her friends and other guests wear. “Every year, I’m amazed by the incredible costumes they create and truly appreciate the effort they put in,” she said. (No lazy costumes allowed.) “They all inspire me and are a big reason why I host this party. I started it to make people happy, and it thrills me that, after all these years, I’m still bringing smiles to so many faces. Happy Halloween!”
Below, more exclusive photos of Klum’s transformation into Medusa.Photo by Max Montgomery
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Heidi Klums Medusa Halloween transformation designed to be clear concise and in a natural tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What was Heidi Klums Halloween costume
A She dressed as Medusa the snakehaired monster from Greek mythology
Q When did she wear this costume
A She revealed the Medusa look for her famous annual Halloween party in 2023
Q Why was her Medusa costume so impressive
A It was incredibly detailed and realistic featuring a full body of scaly prosthetics a moving snake headpiece and intricate makeup that made her look like a living statue
The Transformation Process
Q How long did it take to create the Medusa look
A The entire transformation process took over 10 hours
Q Who helped create the costume
A It was a massive team effort led by her longtime makeup artist Mike Marino and prosthetic artist Woody Miles
Q Was it a mask or makeup
A It was primarily prosthetic makeup They applied silicone pieces to her entire body to create the scaly skin texture and then painted over them
Q How did they do the snake hair
A She wore a custommade headpiece with several large articulated snakes One of the snakes was mechanized and could move its head and flick its tongue
The Details Effects
Q What was the stone effect on her skin
A The makeup artists used a combination of gray white and green body paint over the prosthetics to mimic the look of ancient weathered stone
Q Did the costume include any special effects
A Yes The moving mechanical snake was a major special effect The entire costume was also designed to look like a crumbling statue with pieces that appeared to be broken off
Q Were her eyes part of the costume
A Yes She wore special contact lenses to complete the monstrous look a key part of the Medusa myth where her gaze turns people to stone
Practical BehindtheScenes Questions
Q How did she move or walk in such a bulky costume
A It was very challenging The prosthetics were heavy and restrictive and she needed assistance to move around especially with the large headpiece