Heidi Klum is basically the final boss of Halloween. We all know this. But in 2022, she didn't just show up in a costume; she became a literal earthworm. A wet, ribbed, eight-foot-long rainworm. It was unsettling. It was hilarious. Honestly, it was a little gross. While other celebrities were busy trying to look like "sexy" versions of superheroes, Klum was lying face-down on a blue carpet in New York City, wriggling for the cameras while a reporter from ET held a microphone to her face.
The internet absolutely lost its mind. You've probably seen the memes. But what most people don't realize is that Heidi Klum as a worm wasn't just a funny bit—it was a feat of prosthetic engineering that nearly pushed its creator to a breaking point. It was a "monstrosity" in the best way possible.
The Post-it Note That Started the Nightmare
Most people assume these costumes are planned by a massive corporate committee. Kinda, but not really. This one started with a phone call between Heidi and her long-time collaborator, Oscar-nominated makeup artist Mike Marino, the owner of Prosthetic Renaissance.
Heidi told him she wanted to be an earthworm. Marino’s reaction? He straight up told her it might not be possible. He tried to steer her toward something "more manageable," maybe a plant or a tree. Heidi wouldn't budge. She has this "make it work" energy that would make Tim Gunn proud. Eventually, Marino scribbled a tiny sketch on a Post-it Note. They laughed, realized how ridiculous it was, and then decided to actually do it.
It took four months of construction just to build the thing. This wasn't something you could just buy at a Spirit Halloween. It was a custom-built puppet-suit designed by industry legends like Bill Bryan (who worked on Ghostbusters and Men in Black). They used foam latex to create that specific, translucent "skin" texture that makes your skin crawl.
12 Hours of Slime and Claustrophobia
If you think putting on a pair of jeans is a struggle, imagine being zipped into a giant foam tube with no arm holes. Putting the costume on took about 10 to 12 hours on the day of the party.
Heidi started her transformation at 11 a.m. By the time she hit the carpet at her party at Sake No Hana, it was nearly midnight. Inside that suit, it was a different story. She described the interior as "boiling hot." It was like a personal sauna made of sweat and latex. Because the suit was so tight and thick, she couldn't really hear anyone. Everything was muffled.
"You can't really scratch, you can't point," she told ET. "I felt very claustrophobic."
She was so worried about falling over and suffocating that she made her husband, Tom Kaulitz, promise not to leave her side. Tom, for his part, committed to the bit by dressing as a fisherman with a bloody eye, literally "hooking" his wife for the evening.
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The Logistics of Being an Invertebrate
Let's talk about the stuff no one wants to mention. How do you go to the bathroom when you're a giant worm?
- The Diaper Factor: Heidi admitted she had to wear an adult diaper because getting out of the suit was impossible.
- The Slime: They used methylcellulose to keep her shiny. That’s basically the stuff they use for the "juice" inside jelly donuts.
- The Face: Marino purposely left her real teeth visible. He thought the contrast of a human smile inside a giant, scary Muppet-worm was the funniest part.
Why the Worm Still Matters
It’s been years since that party, but we’re still talking about it. Why? Because it subverted everything we expect from a "supermodel." Usually, the goal is to be the most beautiful person in the room. Heidi chose to be a "turd-like pupa" (as some critics called it).
It was a rejection of the "sexy Halloween" trope. She wasn't a "sexy worm." She was a real worm. She had the ridges, the purple-pink hue, and the awkward lack of limbs. When she finally got tired of the suit, she stripped down into a sheer, sparkly bodysuit, but she kept the worm face on. Seeing a Victoria's Secret icon in a high-fashion outfit with the face of a soil-dwelling invertebrate is the kind of chaotic energy the world needs.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Costume
If you’re looking to channel your inner Heidi this October, here’s how the pros do it:
- Commit to the "Ugly": The reason this worked is that she didn't try to make it pretty. If you're going for a creature, go for the gross details—the slime, the weird textures, the mismatched eyes.
- Texture is King: Use materials like liquid latex or even methylcellulose (it's safe and cheap) to get that "wet" look.
- Plan for "The Exit": If you're going for a full-body prosthetic, have a backup "party outfit" underneath. Heidi’s sheer bodysuit allowed her to actually dance and breathe once the red carpet photos were done.
- The Partner Prop: If your costume is restrictive, your partner’s costume should be the "handler." Tom Kaulitz wasn't just a fisherman; he was her physical support system for the night.
The legacy of Heidi Klum as a worm is simple: don't be afraid to be the weirdest person at the party. It might just make you legendary.