The artist unveiled an original human-fish hybrid character for her Los Angeles 'Creature Carnival' party, complete with prosthetics and vintage circus styling.
Janelle Monáe has cemented her status as one of Halloween's most committed celebrities, hosting her annual "Wondaween" celebration in Los Angeles while Heidi Klum commands attention on the opposite coast with her "Heidiween" bash. This year, Monáe welcomed guests to a "Creature Carnival" themed evening where attendees arrived dressed as circus-inspired freakshow attractions.
The artist herself appeared as "Phish Boy," an original creation developed with longtime collaborator Sasha Glassier. "Phish Boy is an original character created by me and my long-term collaborator, Sasha Glassier," Monáe tells Vogue. "They are a hybrid of a human and a fish, and I imagined them as someone you might encounter at a carnival or circus."
The costume combined elaborate prosthetics—including scales, bulging eyes, and ridged fins—with a vintage performer's uniform of striped black-and-white tuxedo vest, cropped trousers, white shirt, red necktie, knee socks, and brogues. Chelsea Delfino and Malina Stearns assisted Glassier with painting, sculpting, and baking the pieces, while costume maker Alex Navarro executed the clothing.
Monáe approaches her Halloween transformations with extensive preparation, typically beginning years in advance. "With an original character, I love having that freedom to experiment and see what comes together, sometimes a year or two in advance," she says. Past costumes have included the Cat in the Hat and a remarkably realistic E.T.
For Monáe, the experience extends beyond visual spectacle. "For me, getting into costume is about more than the reveal. I want to inhabit the character, move around as them, and see how people react when they encounter them," she explains. "I love that space where something can be beautiful, strange and a little unsettling all at once."
The Halloween weekend continues with "Creature Camp," a private VIP event where another costume awaits. Monáe maintains that the holiday's purpose is simple: "Halloween should be about bringing people joy. If people are having fun, getting inspired or feeling encouraged to embrace their own weirdness along the way, then that's the best part for me!"