Plus-size Halloween villain costume inspo.
Halloween is near, which means that every day is yet another reason to dress up! While heroes and princesses get all of the shine, let’s be honest… villains and anti-heroes get to have all of the fun — and usually have way better costumes.
Fat, plus-size, and even simply curvy or thick people are frequently told that they are bad. Hell, sometimes we are even told that we are evil simply for existing. Our bodies are associated with hoarding resources, sloth, selfishness and gluttony. Western society simply does not like us, and the proof is in the pudding: how many fat, competent movie heroes can you think of off of the top of your head? Not sidekicks, not people who save the day in spite of their bumbling ineptitudes… we’re talking strong, intelligent, capable fat characters. Can’t think of any? That’s because we rarely get them.
Villains? Oh, we get villians. Sometimes we even get multi-dimensional villains. Ursula the Sea Witch, the villainess from The Little Mermaid, was one of the most memorable and kickass baddies of the ‘90s. Kingpin, a villain from Marvel’s Defenders series is painted as a complex character borne of trauma, neglect, and a desire to make his murderous mother proud. His weakness? The love of a beautiful, erudite woman who loves him regardless of his anger, trauma, and tendency toward violence.
It can be fun to lean into villainy. As any role-playing kinkster can attest, sometimes it’s just good to be bad. While it may be hard to want to be bad when there’s an actual comic book villain in the Oval Office, these babes sure make it look like a blast.
1. Talynn Kel as Bleez (@talynnkel)
Talynn Kel is an incredibly talented and devoted cosplayer in an industry/artform dominated by thin white and Asian bodies. A breath of fresh air, Kel introduces proud Black versions of characters often whitewashed or near-exclusively portrayed by white bodies. A great example is her interpretation of Storm, a comic book character often portrayed by light-skinned actresses or drawn light even though the character herself is from a line of African priestesses. We love her interpretation of Bleez, an evil character within the Marvel Universe.
2. Melina Oetting as The Dragon Smaug (@sennars_art)
Melina Oetting creates a beautiful interpretation of The Dragon Smaug from Lord of the Rings prequel The Hobbit. Never underestimate the ability of a beautiful smiling woman to mow down villages and wreak havoc.
3. Rhapsody Artajo as Ursula the Sea Witch (@artrhapsody)
Talented Rhapsody Artajo is a quadruple threat: not only can this beauty sing, dance, and act, but she can also create beautiful visual interpretations of her favorite characters through makeup and costumes. Check out her incredible version of Ursula!
4. Cin Von Quinzel as Hela (@cin_von_quinzel)
Based on the fierce Norse goddess Hel, Hela is the baddest bitch in Asgard. Cin Von Quinzel makes sure there is no doubt of that in this amazing Hela look. Keep your eyes peeled for Cate Blanchett’s depiction of the goddess in the upcoming movie Thor: Ragnarok.
5. Melanie Munoz as Elphaba of Wicked (@misselphaba06)
Superfan Melanie Munoz dresses as Elphaba, more widely known as The Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked’s interpretation of the character takes you through the ins and outs of a complicated woman and even more complicated family.
6. Randy Jamison II as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (@harlock19)
Baker by day, badass cosplayer by night — Randy mostly cosplays awesome villains like Kingpin (Daredevil, Spider Man), Thulsa Doom (Conan The Barbarian), and Baraggan Louisenbairn (Bleach).
7. Margot and Collier Meanie as Wednesday and Pugsley Addams (@margotmeanie)
Goth babe and Ravishly fashion fave Margot Meanie poses with her partner as the infamous Wednesday and Pugsley Addams, a great alternative to the frequent couples costume of Morticia and Gomez… as long as you are cool with pretending to be murderous siblings.
8. Steffie as Hades (@steffie_sews)
Seamstress Steffie genderbends the Disney villain Hades with this gorgeously monochromatic look. Try a genderbent version of your own favorite character this Halloween!
9. Nyx Wolff as Ruby from Once Upon A Time (@thebadwolfreigns)
Simultaneously the ingenue and The Big Bad Wolf, Ruby is one of the best characters from Once Upon A Time. Nyx Wolff has a great interpretation of the character at Katsucon.
10. Super Kami Waifu as Emma Frost (@super_kami_waifu)
Super Kami Waifu poses as the ever-sparkly Emma Frost of Marvel comics fame. Create your own with a white body-con look, silver/holographic face paint, and plenty of rhinestones.
11. Kelly Varner as Dolores Umbridge (@varnerphotos)
Kelly Varner portrays Dolores Umbridge, the haughty High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. A half-blood herself, Dolores Umbridge is one of the more sinister characters of the Harry Potter series who ends up rightfully imprisoned for her crimes against Muggle-borns.
12. Tigress Osborn as Magenta from The Rocky Horror Picture Show (@iofthetigress)
“It's so dreamy...Oh, fantasy free me!...In another dimension with voyeuristic intention…” Tigress parties as Magenta at Club Bodice, the only plus-size goth party in the U.S.
