Heidi Klum didn’t just wear a costume last night—she became Medusa.

For her 24th annual Halloween party at New York’s Hard Rock Hotel, the supermodel slithered onto the red carpet as the Greek Gorgon in a hand-painted, animatronic masterpiece that took six months, 15 artists, and nine hours in the makeup chair to create.

Paired with husband Tom Kaulitz as a petrified warrior, Klum’s look featured mechanical snakes that writhed independently, a split serpent tongue, and a rattlesnake tail she could dance in (Questlove was DJing, after all).

Here’s the full behind-the-scenes—from the April spark to the final fang—plus exclusive photos and how to channel Medusa on a mortal budget.

The Vision: A Modern Monster Reborn

Klum told Vogue the idea hit in April 2025:

“I wanted to reimagine a classic monster—Medusa’s power to turn men to stone has haunted art for centuries. Mysterious. Ferocious. Iconic.”

She called Mike Marino (the Oscar-nominated prosthetics wizard behind The Penguin)—he said “Hell yeah” in seconds.

The Challenge:

• Snakes that move like real ones

• A face “super ugly, super scary”

• Full-body green scales into a rattlesnake tail

• Dance-proof (no worm repeat)

• 

The Build: Six Months, 15 Hands, Zero Shortcuts

Timeline:

• April: Concept sketches

• May–August: Prosthetic molds (face, torso, tail)

• September: Animatronic snake rigging

• October: Hand-painting, final fittings

The Team:

• Mike Marino + PROREN FX: Emmy winners, Oscar nominees

• 15 artists: Sculptors, painters, mechanics

• 9-hour application: Started at 10 a.m. Oct 31

Klum on her crew:

“They’re kids with crayons—wild, creative, matching my freak.”

The Final Look: Every Detail That Slithered

• Headpiece: 12 robotic snakes—each moves solo via hidden wires

• Face: Sunken eyes, fanged prosthetics, split tongue (custom silicone)

• Body: Hand-painted scales from neck to tail—iridescent green-gold

• Tail: 6-foot rattlesnake with internal support—shakeable

• Tom’s Warrior: Full-body stone cast, cracked texture, frozen scream

Dance Test: Passed—Klum shimmied to Questlove’s set.

The Party: No Lazy Costumes Allowed

Guest Rule: Effort or bust—Klum bans Spirit Halloween basics.

Standouts:

• Charli D’Amelio: Victorian vampire

• Coco Jones: Cleopatra 2.0

• Julia Fox: Bloody Jackie O (statement on “protest and mourning”)

• Jonathan Van Ness: Cat in the Hat (full fur, whiskers, hat tilt)

Klum:

“Their costumes inspire me—this party is about joy, silliness, creativity.”

Steal Medusa’s Slay — Under $120

You don’t need six months.

• Snake Crown: Amazon Animatronic Headpiece – $45

• Green Scale Bodysuit: Shein Iridescent Catsuit – $38

• Split Tongue Prosthetic: Etsy Silicone Fang Set – $18

• Rattle Tail: DIY with fabric + bells – $15

Total Gorgon Glow: $116

Hack: Use green body paint + glitter—stone-cold stare optional.