Heidi Klum has long been considered Halloween royalty for her elaborate and jaw-dropping costumes that redefine creativity every year.
Known for pushing boundaries, Klum’s costume choices are nothing short of spectacular, ranging from slithering worms to majestic peacocks.
Klum’s Early Costumes
Dating back to the late 2000s, Klum has brought her Halloween looks to life. Her 2008 appearance as Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction, was an unforgettable moment, featuring a complex design with multiple arms and vibrant blue body paint.
Heidi Klum, dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and time, attends her annual Halloween party at 1Oak on Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, in New York.
Evan Agostini/AP
Her other notable transformations throughout the years include a Transformer and Cleopatra.
Heidi Klum, dressed in an eight-foot-tall “Transformer” costume, arrives to her Halloween Party in New York, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010.
Charles Sykes/AP
Heidi Klum, dressed as Cleopatra, attends her Haunted Holiday Party benefiting Superstorm Sandy relief efforts on December 1, 2012, in New York.
Charles Sykes/AP
As fans eagerly await her next Halloween appearance, Klum’s legacy of over-the-top, intricate costumes remains unmatched, proving why she’s been dubbed the “Queen of Halloween.”
While the exact nature of this year’s costume remains shrouded in mystery, Klum’s history of costume reveals—ranging from a sultry Jessica Rabbit to a giant wriggly, worm—suggests that whatever she is crafting will be nothing short of theatrical.
“I always try to find things that people naturally wouldn’t do,” the supermodel told People in 2023, adding, “Most people do nurses or police officers, but I was always looking for something that I hadn’t seen.”
Heidi Klum, dressed as Jessica Rabbit, attends her 16th annual Halloween party, at Lavo on October 31, 2015, in New York.
Charles Sykes/AP
Heidi Klum, left, dressed as an alien, and Tom Kaulitz attend Klum’s Halloween party at Cathedrale on October 31, 2019, in New York.
Charles Sykes/AP
Pop Culture References
In addition, Klum has often pulled inspiration from pop culture references such as dressing in 2017 as the werewolf from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video.
Heidi Klum, dressed as a werewolf from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, attends her 18th Annual Halloween Party at Moxy Times Square on October 31, 2017, in New York.
Evan Agostini/AP
Another notable pop culture reference, in 2018 Klum dressed as Princess Fiona while her husband, Tom Kaulitz, joined her as Shrek, a nod to the popular animated movie Shrek.
Heidi Klum, right, dressed as Princess Fiona and Tom Kaulitz dressed as Shrek arrive at Klum’s 19th annual Halloween party at Lavo New York on Oct. 31, 2018, in New York
Evan Agostini/AP
In 2022, Klum arrived on the Halloween scene transformed into a giant worm, lying on the floor to fully embody her role.
“I just wanted to be something random,” she explained at the time.
Her husband also joined her dressed as a fisherman, creating a bizarre yet entertaining dynamic.
Heidi Klum, dressed as a worm, attends her 21st annual Halloween party on Oct. 31, 2022, in New York
Evan Agostini/AP
Klum’s costumes always involve extensive planning. In 2023, she enlisted Cirque du Soleil performers to support her stunning peacock ensemble, where she proudly flaunted her feathers beside Kaulitz, who dressed as a complementary egg. As she put it, “You have to have an idea…it’s got to be different. Completely different.”
“I wanted to do a costume with many, many people. I wanted to have a bunch of people and we all become one thing. And for me, in my mind, that one thing was the peacock,” she explained during the red carpet at her party.
Heidi Klum, center, in blue, arrives at her 22nd annual Halloween party at Marquee on Oct. 31, 2023, in New York.
Evan Agostini/AP
For those considering last-minute costumes, Klum advises skipping store-bought masks.
“I personally don’t like it when people hide behind those full masks. I prefer when people get a little bit creative and they play with their face, when they put a lot of makeup on,” she told The Associated Press in 2007. “I always love that the most on me, I really go scary on the face.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
