When it comes to Halloween, celebrities are just like us — but with lots of money, and access to top designers and makeup artists.
Stars are showing off some impressive and bizarre costumes to mark the occasion this year.
Actor and musician Janelle Monáe is generating online buzz after appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday in full prosthetics, dressed as E.T., the alien from Steven Spielberg’s classic 1982 movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, complete with a light-up fingertip.
Some have called the costume frightening and disturbing, but fans have applauded her, with many calling it the best costume of the year.
One user wrote on social media platform X, “This woman somehow outdoes herself every year and this is my favourite hands down.”
Monáe is known for over-the-top Halloween costumes and was similarly unrecognizable last year, decked out as a colourful chameleon. The Make Me Feel singer has dressed up as a long list of characters in past years, including alien Diva Plavalaguna from the 1997 science fiction movie The Fifth Element and Jim Carrey’s character from 1994 comedy The Mask.
Monáe told Vogue she plans her costumes out years in advance, and has said an anonymous benefactor pays for them.
Model Heidi Klum, who has also gained a reputation for eye-popping outfits — notably her 2022 worm costume — has not yet revealed her look for her annual Thursday night Halloween party, but said it will be “outerworldly” and heavy on prosthetics.
Lizzo used the occasion to make a statement last weekend, hitting back at a May South Park episode that satirized the popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and had a spoof ad for a product named Lizzo.
The About Damn Time singer dressed up as a fake drug box for an Instagram post and added the tagline, “Need self love? Try Lizzo! Lose guilt, gain self-confidence.”
In September, Lizzo responded on Instagram to speculation that her recent weight loss was fuelled by Ozempic, writing, “When you finally get Ozempic allegations after five months of weight training and calorie deficit.”
She dressed up again on Monday, painting her body red and donning a blue wig in a look that perplexed fans. “Cuteee but girl idk who you’re supposed to be,” one follower wrote. Lizzo’s post linked to the website selling a sculpture of a similar-looking character called Hunny Bunny, suggesting it was a promotional move.
But on Thursday she went with a more recognizable look, going all out as the titular character from Tim Burton’s 1990 flick Edward Scissorhands.
Singer Pixie Lott impressed her followers in another of this year’s most-involved outfits, attending a party last weekend dressed as the trendy Aperol spritz cocktail, complete with a hat made to look like an orange slice.
Some went with more classic looks.
Singer Mariah Carey posted a TikTok dressed as a witch, while filmmaker and actor M. Night Shyamalan took on Batman villain The Joker for a party he hosted last weekend.
Singer/actress Selena Gomez and her boyfriend, musician Benny Blanco, dressed up as Alice and the Mad Hatter, respectively, from the 2010 film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.
Pretty Little Liars actor Lucy Hale kept it simple, matching with her dogs in a fuzzy onesie in honour of 1990s children’s TV show Lamb Chop’s Play-Along.