How Heidi Klum became Medusa for Halloween 2025: The model shares exclusive insights into her transformation with VOGUE.

Heidi Klum shares exclusive insights into her Halloween 2025 preparations with VOGUE.

Happy Halloween! Or should we say: Happy Heidiween ! For over 20 years now, the spookiest night of the year and the legendary party of the German model have been inextricably linked. And so, in 2025, horror fans eagerly awaited what spectacular costume Heidi Klum would present in New York City. Drumroll, please! For the 24th edition of her Halloween party, Heidi Klum slipped into the role of Medusa from Greek mythology .

"I look forward to Halloween all year round," Heidi Klum revealed to VOGUE shortly before her appearance on the blue carpet in front of the Hard Rock Hotel. "I've been doing it for 24 years and hope I can do it forever. Every year I feel more inspired. It's just a perfect day to be silly, dress up, dance with friends, be creative, and eat candy," the model added.

Year after year, Heidi Klum knows exactly how to heighten her fans' anticipation of her costume in the weeks and months leading up to Halloween. The TV host is always good for a surprise. She's appeared as Jessica Rabbit, a peacock, E.T., and a creepy worm.

This year, she opted for a chilling reinterpretation of a Greek mythological figure. "I wanted to explore the classic monsters of history and reinterpret one in a modern way," said Heidi Klum. "Medusa was a true icon for me—mysterious and also gruesome. The legend that she turns people to stone has fascinated audiences for centuries. Countless paintings and sculptures in museums showcase her haunting power, a testament to how terrifying and fascinating she remains."

The hand-painted costume—which took nine hours in the makeup chair (out of a total of ten hours of transformation)—features extraordinary details, such as movable mechanical snakes on the model's head. "I love that all the snakes move independently—they look so real," Klum said, adding, "I also have a custom-made split snake tongue, which is just next level. I love a challenge, so I'm always trying to push myself further."

This was certainly no last-minute decision, as Heidi Klum is known for planning her elaborate costumes years in advance. However, for her snake-like look that evening, the model had a later start than usual. "We had a few months to work on it," she said. When the idea came up in April, she called her close friend Mike Marino—the special effects artist she collaborates with every year—to bring her vision to life. "He immediately said, 'Of course!'" she recounted. "He's amazing because not only can he bring the costume to life, but he also has ideas to make it even bigger and better."

Of course, it wasn't just Klum and Marino who worked on the spooky costume. In fact, it took more than 15 people and six months to create the final result. "Mike and his team are highly respected in the industry – they have a number of Oscar nominations and an Emmy Award for 'The Penguin'," said Klum.

Although they were a group of highly skilled artists, Klum says that the reason she most enjoys working with this dream team is their unbridled enthusiasm for the macabre: "They're basically just kids running around with a box of crayons," the model reveals. "They bring so much creativity, artistry, and wonder. I love working with them."

Unlike last year, Heidi Klum will be spending the evening with ghosts and ghouls at her star-studded Halloween party, dressed as Medusa. "I made sure I could dance in my costume," Klum assured, "because my boyfriend Questlove is DJing, and I'm ready to shake that rattlesnake tail!"

Of course, Klum is also looking forward to seeing what her friends and other guests are dressing up as . "I'm amazed every year by the incredible costumes they all create, and I truly appreciate the effort they put in," says Klum. "They all inspire me and are one of the reasons I do this. I created this party to make people happy, and it thrills me that after all these years, I'm still making so many people smile. Happy Halloween!"

See more exclusive photos here of how Heidi Klum transformed herself into Medusa for Halloween 2025.