Heidi Klum’s Halloween Costume Reveal Upstaged by Janelle Monáe

Well, that’s awkward. Rarely one to be upstaged when it comes to Halloween, Heidi Klum revealed her annual costume this year to be the titular character from the 1982 film, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. And while it was undoubtedly quite impressive, unfortunately, the timing wasn’t. Klum's costume hit the internet a full day after Janelle Monae revealed her own E.T. transformation.

On Thursday night, Klum hosted her 23rd annual Halloween Party at Hard Rock Hotel New York: The Venue on Music Row. The model was joined at the gala by her husband, Tom Kaulitz, who arrived in a matching E.T. outfit. Klum is renowned for her elaborate and meticulous Halloween costumes, but her take on the beloved alien immortalized in Steven Spielberg’s classic was extraordinary, even for her.

The costume was affixed with a glowing fingertip and a separate headpiece with moveable eyes and mouth, which was operated remotely by one of Klum’s entourage. Because the outfit was so intricate—Klum began getting ready for the evening event at 11 a.m.—the 51-year-old decided to wear and adult diaper to prevent any pesky costume changes.

“Maybe I never need to use the diaper, but at least that way I don’t have to think about it,” Klum told The New York Times. She was drawn to the costume not only due to her nostalgia for the movie, but the message that extraterrestrials bring with them. “They have no genitals,” Klum said of the film’s alien representation. “I like the whole idea of, like, we’re all the same.”

Klum reportedly hatched the costume idea shortly after her last Halloween party, but it’s unclear if she knew before this week that Monáe was planning a version of the same outfit. The Hidden Figures star debuted her take on E.T. on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Oct. 30.

Janelle Monáe and Heidi Klum both dressed up as E.T. for Halloween this year. pic.twitter.com/4uHw8GzQgF

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 1, 2024

“Janelle Monae revealing her E.T. costume a day before this,” someone wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Ooh, Heidi must've been fuming.” Another asked: “Does Janelle Monáe know about this?”

Heidi Klum after seeing Janelle Monae already do ET earlier this week pic.twitter.com/NKQbqDk8WF

— Vin Mo (@rwiggumrules) November 1, 2024

Since both Klum and Monáe are striving to be the Queen of Halloween, can we expect a costume collaboration in the future? Only time will tell.