Heidi Klum just doesn't do "normal." Honestly, if you were expecting a simple cat ear headband or some basic vampire fangs, you’ve clearly never seen a Heidiween. For the 2024 edition of her legendary bash, held at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York City, the supermodel decided to phone home. Literally.
She turned the Heidi Klum Halloween 2024 red carpet into a sci-fi set by transforming into E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
But it wasn't just a mask from a spirit shop. This was a full-blown animatronic nightmare-fuel masterpiece that basically erased any trace of the woman who used to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.
The Costume That Took a Full Year to Build
Klum didn't just wake up and decide to be an alien. This project started back in November 2023. She worked with prosthetic icon Mike Marino and a massive team of 30 artists to bring the 1982 Spielberg classic to life.
The technical specs are kinda wild. They used 3D printing for the sculptures and then cast them in foam latex. To keep the skin looking "alien-like" while moving, they reinforced the whole thing with Spandex.
- The Heads: These were motorized. They could blink and move their mouths remotely.
- The Glow: Of course, she had the glowing fingertip.
- The Twist: Heidi went as "Gertie-fied" E.T. (blonde wig, hat, and scarf), while her husband, Tom Kaulitz, went as the "naked" version of the alien.
Why E.T. and Why Now?
People always ask why she chooses such uncomfortable stuff. For the Heidi Klum Halloween 2024 red carpet, the inspiration was pure nostalgia. Klum was nine years old when the movie hit theaters in Germany, and she says it's the film that made her start dreaming about life beyond Earth.
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Interestingly, she wasn't the only one with this idea. Janelle Monáe also did an E.T. costume just a day before, which led to a lot of "who did it better" chatter on social media. But while Monáe’s version was incredible and artistic, Klum’s was more of a terrifying engineering feat.
The Logistics of Being an Alien
Let’s talk about the parts the cameras don't show. Getting into this thing took seven hours.
Heidi and Tom’s actual faces were buried in the necks of the E.T. suits. If you look closely at the red carpet photos, you can see their eyes peeking out from the middle of the alien's throat. It’s super unsettling once you notice it.
Was it comfortable? Not even a little bit.
Klum actually rated the discomfort a 10 out of 10. They couldn't really turn their heads without moving their entire bodies. Plus, there was the "bathroom situation." In a pre-party interview, Heidi joked (or maybe she wasn't joking?) about having to wear adult diapers because the suit is basically a permanent cage until the party's over.
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The Guest List: Who Else Showed Up?
While the Heidi Klum Halloween 2024 red carpet is always about the host, the guest list was packed with people who actually tried to keep up.
- Leni Klum: Heidi’s daughter went for a "hot alien" vibe, sporting white body paint and antennae—a much more breathable choice than her mom’s.
- Kelsea Ballerini & Chase Stokes: They did the classic Grease duo, Sandy and Danny.
- Nicole Scherzinger: She showed up as a blood-soaked victim from her Broadway show Sunset Blvd.
- Ice-T & Coco: Always staples at this party, keeping it classic.
- Suni Lee: The Olympic gymnast showed up as a ballerina, which is a bit of a "busman's holiday" if you think about it.
The "Worm" Comparison
Everyone still talks about the 2022 worm costume. It’s the gold standard for "Heidi being weird."
The E.T. look is probably her most technically advanced since the worm, but it carries a different energy. The worm was about being a literal invertebrate; E.T. was about animatronic puppetry. Both costumes required her to be "tied down" and basically immobile.
She seems to have this thing where she wants to see how much physical pain she can endure for the sake of a photo op. Honestly, you've gotta respect the commitment.
What We Can Learn From Heidi’s Strategy
If you're looking to win Halloween—or just stand out in a crowded digital space—there are a few takeaways from the Heidi Klum Halloween 2024 red carpet madness:
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- Commit to the Bit: Half-hearted costumes don't get 70,000 upvotes on Reddit. Go all in or stay home.
- Teamwork Matters: You can’t build a motorized alien head alone. Surround yourself with experts.
- Nostalgia Wins: People love things that remind them of being nine years old.
- Embrace Discomfort: The best results usually come from things that are a massive pain to execute.
The Future of Heidiween
This was the 23rd annual party. It’s become a machine. It’s sponsored by Prime Video and Butterfinger. It’s a massive PR event. But at the center of it is still a woman who just really likes to hide her face once a year.
Now that she’s done a worm, a peacock, a skinless human, and a 1980s alien, there isn't much left. Speculation for 2025 is already starting, with people guessing everything from a literal skyscraper to a swarm of bees.
To really understand the impact of the Heidi Klum Halloween 2024 red carpet, you have to look at the "Behind The Scenes" footage. She did an Amazon Live stream while getting the prosthetics applied. Seeing the glue and the foam go onto her face makes the final result even more impressive.
If you want to recreate a "lite" version of this, don't bother with the animatronics. Focus on the "Gertie" outfit: the blonde wig and the little hat. It’s a much more manageable way to pay tribute to the movie without needing a 30-person team of FX artists.
To see the full evolution of her looks, check out the archival photos from the early 2000s when she was "just" a vampire or a golden alien. The jump in quality is basically the history of special effects in a nutshell.
Actionable Insight: If you're planning a high-effort costume for next year, start your "Mike Marino phase" now. Research local SFX artists or look into 3D printing your own prosthetic molds to get that level of detail that standard masks just can't touch.