Heidi Klum posted a graphic close-up image of prosthetic makeup on Instagram, kicking off the final week of countdown to her annual New York City Halloween party as followers flooded the comments with guesses ranging from internal organs to creatures from The Last of Us
.
Heidi Klum Teases a Grotesque Costume Ahead of October 31
With just seven days remaining until her signature celebration, Heidi Klum gave her followers a disturbing preview of what her latest transformation might entail. The German-born model and television personality shared a close-up image on Instagram featuring textured, flesh-like prosthetic pieces that resemble human tissue or marine structures. She captioned the post with the phrase, What’s my costume? One week to go….#HeidiHalloween.
The teaser immediately drew intense speculation across social media platforms as fans attempted to decode the elaborate makeup. Theories in the comment sections turned toward body horror, underwater coral formations, and supernatural television characters. Followers suggested inspirations ranging from the physical transformations in the movie The Substance
to mushroom-infected zombies from The Last of Us
, while others pointed to visceral elements like intestines and organs.
The supermodel has spent over two decades making Halloween her own personal runway with outlandish costumes. Her love for dressing up came from her upbringing in Germany, where the regional festival Karneval features vibrant costumes and celebrations. After moving to America, she immediately fell in love with Halloween and the spookiness of it.
What Klum Has Promised About the 2026 Halloween Design
While the final reveal remains strictly guarded for the October 31 red carpet, Klum previously indicated that her upcoming look would lean heavily into the macabre. In an interview published in September, the supermodel revealed that her outfit would be very, very bloody, adding that We go gory, and we go there.
She later noted that the concept pairs well with red wine and evokes the visual aesthetic of a blood transfusion bag.
A great glass of wine is always fun… and most of the time you think of something gory when you have a blood transfusion bag. That’s what Halloween is all about. We go gory, and we go there.
Heidi Klum, via Page Six
Alongside the digital teaser, Klum shared a video on her Instagram Stories showing her browsing through a fabric store, showing the meticulous planning that goes into her annual appearance. The elaborate preparations typically require months of conceptual design, a dedicated team of special-effects professionals, and extensive prosthetic application sessions on the day of the event.
From Medusa to E.T.: Looking Back at Past Transformations
Klum has hosted her celebrated annual party in New York City since 2000, establishing a reputation for unrecognizable full-body transformations that defy standard celebrity costume efforts. Last year, she arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel New York dressed as the mythological Medusa, complete with green scaly prosthetics, a long rattlesnake tail, and an animatronic snake headpiece, while her husband Tom Kaulitz accompanied her dressed as a stone knight.
Other memorable installations from past years include a giant earthworm outfit in 2022, an intricate peacock display featuring Cirque du Soleil performers in 2024, a skinless human body in 2011, and a towering robot alien on stilts. As followers await the official unveiling on October 31, the newly released teaser leaves the final reveal entirely unconfirmed.