When it comes to celebrity Halloween costumes, some stars throw on cat ears and call it a night. Others build entire photo shoots, recruit their families, and spend hours in the makeup chair to bring their visions to life.
Beyoncé, Ciara, Keke Palmer, Janelle Monáe, and Lil Nas X definitely belong in that second category.
With Halloween just weeks away, we’re looking back at the celebrities who took spooky season to another level, paying tribute to music legends, recreating unforgettable movie moments, and bringing fictional characters to life.
Beyoncé as Lil’ Kim (2017)
In 2017, Beyoncé didn’t just dress up as Lil’ Kim. She recreated five of the Queen Bee’s most recognizable fashion moments in one elaborate Halloween tribute.
From iconic hip-hop imagery to unforgettable red-carpet looks, Beyoncé celebrated the rapper’s influence on fashion and music. Jay-Z joined the fun, dressing as the Notorious B.I.G.
Lil’ Kim herself praised the tribute, making the moment an even bigger celebration of hip-hop history.
Beyoncé as “Phoni Braxton” (2018)
The following year, Beyoncé went back to the ’90s, this time channeling Toni Braxton.
She recreated the cover of Braxton’s 1993 self-titled debut album, complete with a short black pixie wig, leather jacket, white tank top, high-waisted jeans, and gold chain belt.
Beyoncé even renamed herself “Phoni Braxton” for the photo shoot and recreated imagery inspired by Braxton’s debut single, “Another Sad Love Song.”
Toni loved the tribute and jokingly questioned how Beyoncé managed to look better than her on her own album cover.
The Carters Make Halloween a Family Affair (2014–2016)
Beyoncé’s Halloween creativity doesn’t stop with her solo costumes. The Carters have also made dressing up a family tradition.
In 2014, Beyoncé dressed as Janet Jackson during her Rhythm Nation era, while a young Blue Ivy transformed into Michael Jackson.
In 2015, the family paid tribute to the classic film Coming to America. Jay-Z dressed as Prince Akeem, Beyoncé wore a Queen Aoleon-inspired look, and Blue Ivy joined as Imani Izzi.
Then, in 2016, Beyoncé teamed up with her mother, Tina Knowles, and Blue Ivy for a Salt-N-Pepa-inspired family photo shoot.
Lil Nas X as Nicki Minaj (2020)
Lil Nas X delivered one of Halloween 2020’s most talked-about celebrity transformations when he recreated Nicki Minaj’s look from her “Super Bass” music video.
The rapper wore a fitted pink jumpsuit, a pink-and-platinum-blonde wig, and glamorous makeup to bring Nicki’s signature style to life.
He even posed on a motorcycle made to resemble the ice motorcycle featured in the original music video.
The photos attracted praise online, including reactions from celebrities such as Iggy Azalea and Skai Jackson.
Ciara’s Halloween Tribute Marathon (2020)
Ciara didn’t settle for just one costume in 2020. She turned Halloween into a celebration of some of music’s biggest women.
First, she recreated Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy album cover, complete with the yellow wig and checkered outfit. Her son Future joined the photo shoot dressed as Offset, and the two recreated a performance of “Drip.”
Cardi B loved the tribute and shared her appreciation for Ciara.
But Ciara wasn’t finished.
She also channeled Megan Thee Stallion’s “Girls in the Hood” artwork and Nicki Minaj’s unforgettable leopard-print look from the 2011 Grammy Awards.
Ciara and Russell Wilson also recreated Janet Jackson and Busta Rhymes’ futuristic “What’s It Gonna Be?!” music video. Janet acknowledged the tribute on social media.
Saweetie as Destiny’s Child (2020)
Saweetie took Halloween back to the early 2000s when she recreated Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” music video.
Instead of recruiting two friends to play Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, Saweetie portrayed all three members herself.
With coordinated outfits, nostalgic styling, and recreated music-video scenes, the rapper delivered a tribute to one of R&B’s most recognizable girl groups.
She also transformed into Mystique from X-Men, showing off an entirely different side of her Halloween creativity.
Keke Palmer as Rogue (2022)
After fans began campaigning for Keke Palmer to play Rogue in a future X-Men project, the actress decided to give them a preview.
For Halloween 2022, Palmer transformed into the Marvel character, sporting Rogue’s recognizable white-streaked hair and green-and-yellow costume.
She shared a dramatic photo shoot titled X-Men Origins: Rogue, complete with superhero-inspired visual effects.
The transformation gave fans a glimpse of what Palmer could look like in the Marvel universe and added even more attention to the online fan-casting campaign.
Janelle Monáe as the Cat in the Hat (2025)
Janelle Monáe has built a reputation for treating Halloween like performance art, and 2025 was no exception.
The singer and actress transformed into Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat, using elaborate prosthetics, makeup, and costuming to recreate the character’s unmistakable appearance.
The transformation was another example of Monáe’s dedication to Halloween, where the goal is often to become completely unrecognizable.
Her Halloween celebrations also included Vampire Beach, a themed fan event held at the Santa Monica Pier, where she embraced an elaborate vampire-inspired look.
The Weeknd as The Nutty Professor (2020)
The Weeknd shocked fans in 2020 when he transformed into Eddie Murphy’s Sherman Klump from The Nutty Professor.
The singer underwent an extensive makeup transformation involving facial prosthetics, a padded costume, a wig, and artificial teeth.
The result looked remarkably close to Murphy’s beloved movie character.
It was another example of how far celebrities are willing to go to create an unforgettable Halloween moment.
Megan Thee Stallion’s Hottieween Transformations
Megan Thee Stallion has made Halloween part of her personal brand through her Hottieween celebrations and love of anime.
Over the years, the Houston rapper has drawn inspiration from anime and manga franchises including My Hero Academia, Sailor Moon, Soul Eater, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
In 2025, she continued embracing anime-inspired costumes, including a look inspired by Choso from Jujutsu Kaisen.
The series already held a special connection to Megan’s music. Her 2024 track “Otaku Hot Girl” references Jujutsu Kaisen, further showcasing her enthusiasm for anime culture.
Halle Bailey as Neytiri (2022)
Halle Bailey brought Pandora to Halloween in 2022 when she transformed into Neytiri from James Cameron’s Avatarfranchise.
The singer and actress wore blue body makeup and an elaborate costume inspired by the Na’vi character.
Bailey shared that she had always wanted to become an Avatar, making the transformation a personal Halloween dream come true.
Her photos drew attention online as fans praised the detailed recreation.
Cardi B as Medusa and Morticia Addams (2020–2021)
Cardi B has never been one to take a subtle approach to Halloween.
In 2020, the rapper transformed into Medusa, wearing an elaborate gold costume with a snake-inspired headpiece and a dramatic serpent tail.
The following year, she switched things up by channeling Morticia Addams from The Addams Family, embracing the character’s signature dark glamour.
Cardi also celebrated Halloween with her daughter Kulture, dressing in coordinating witch costumes.
She captioned their photos, “We put a spell on you and now you’re ours.”
Larray and Quenlin Blackwell as White Chicks (2025)
Content creators Larray and Quenlin Blackwell brought a beloved comedy back into the spotlight for Halloween 2025.
The best friends recreated the blonde-haired characters from the 2004 comedy White Chicks, originally portrayed by Shawn and Marlon Wayans.
Their costumes included recognizable styling inspired by the movie, and they even recreated a scene for social media.
Quenlin also celebrated another entertainment icon that Halloween season, paying tribute to Tina Turner through a series of looks inspired by the late music legend.
Lizzo as Baby Yoda and a Mozzarella Stick (2021 and 2025)
Lizzo has proven that Halloween doesn’t always have to be glamorous. Sometimes, the funniest costume wins.
In 2021, she transformed into Grogu, better known as Baby Yoda, from The Mandalorian.
The singer wore green makeup, oversized ears, and a costume inspired by the fan-favorite character.
Then, in 2025, Lizzo took a completely different approach by dressing as a giant mozzarella stick inspired by Chili’s popular appetizer.
It was a reminder that celebrity Halloween costumes can be just as entertaining when they’re ridiculous as when they’re glamorous.
Halloween Is More Than a Costume for These Stars
From Beyoncé paying tribute to hip-hop royalty to Janelle Monáe becoming nearly unrecognizable through prosthetics, celebrity Halloween costumes have become a form of entertainment all their own.
Some stars use the holiday to honor the artists who inspired them. Others bring their favorite movie characters to life or turn a viral joke into a full-scale production.
And every year, fans wait to see who will take things even further.
Which celebrity has delivered the best Halloween costume of all time?
