Halloween is the perfect excuse to step into somebody else’s shoes — and some celebrities don’t just dress up, they understand the assignment.
For this Who Did It Best? edition, we’re celebrating iconic Black movie characters and the stars who brought their looks back to life for Halloween. From Nisi’s over-the-top B.A.P.S. glam and Justice’s signature braids, to the dark glamour of Akasha, and the swagger of Blade these costumes prove that Black film has given us some seriously unforgettable characters — and plenty of Halloween inspiration
But recreating an iconic look is one thing. Doing it justice is another.
We’re putting the Halloween recreations side by side with the originals and letting you decide who nailed the hair, outfit, accessories, attitude — and that all-important character energy.
Ten characters. Ten battles. One question: Who did it best? 🎃👑
Battle 1: Blade
Blade’s all-black leather, shades and vampire-slaying swagger make him instantly recognisable. Ava in Abbott Elementary goes classic Blade with the leather, red lining and signature sword, while model, Anok Yai sexes it up with a bodysuit, harnesses and guns. Traditional or sexy — who did it best?
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 2: The Nutty Professor
Professor Sherman Klump’s glasses, bow tie, tweed jacket and larger-than-life personality make The Nutty Professor instantly recognisable. The Weeknd goes all in with the full Klump transformation, while Black-ish’s Andre Jr. keeps it simpler but nails the signature look. Full transformation or classic Klump styling — who did it best?
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 3: Poetic Justice
Justice’s box braids, baker boy cap and oversized baseball jersey made her Poetic Justice look pure ’90s cool. Jazz Forster in Grown-ish stays true to the original, while Jhené Aiko puts a personal spin on Justice by swapping the jersey to rep Slauson in LA. Classic recreation or hometown remix — who did Justice… more justice?
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 4: Queen of the Damned
Akasha’s dramatic crown, metallic body armour and commanding presence made Aaliyah’s Queen of the Damned look unforgettable. Teyana Taylor channels the original with an almost head-to-toe recreation, while Normani puts her own glamorous spin on the vampire queen. Faithful recreation or modern-day Akasha — who ruled as Queen of the Damned? 👑
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 5: Catwoman
Coi Leray vs Saweetie in a Catwoman claw-off! Both recreated Halle Berry’s iconic leather look, from the slashed trousers to those unmistakable ears. But who captured Catwoman’s fierce feline energy best? 👑
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 6: B.A.P.S
Sticking with another Halle Berry character, these Black American Princesses came ready to give Nisi from B.A.P.S. a run for her money. Both kelli from Insecure and Marlo Hampton from RHOA serve up the big hair, bold colours and gloriously over-the-top ’90s attitude that made the original look iconic. But who brought the most B.A.P.S. energy? 👑
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 7: Pulp Fiction
Jheri curl? Check. Beard? Check. Black suit? Check. Mean mug? Absolutely.
This one is almost too close to call because both Usher and Aaron from Grown-ish clearly understood the assignment. From the hair and facial hair to that unmistakable black suit and tie, both came ready to channel Jules Winnfield.
So maybe this battle comes down to one thing: the stare. Jules doesn’t just walk into a room — he looks like he already knows how the conversation is going to end.
Who served the better Jules stare: Usher or Aaron?
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 8: Bring it On
Coco Jones and Olandria understood the assignment! Both stepped into Isis’ iconic Bring It On Clovers uniform, serving green, orange and plenty of attitude. Coco went for a near-perfect recreation of the original look, while Olandria gave the Clovers captain a sultrier, modern-day update.
But when the inspiration is as iconic as Isis, it’s all in the details. Who brought the Clovers spirit best — Coco or Olandria?
🗳️ Cast your vote below.
Battle 9: Clueless
Talk about Clueless perfection! Kelly Rowland and Lupita Nyong’o both took on Dionne Davenport’s unforgettable plaid look — and neither forgot the most important part: that hat!
Kelly kept things sleek and polished, while Lupita went all in on the details, right down to the mini handbag and retro brick phone. Both clearly understood why Dionne remains one of the most stylish characters to come out of the ’90s.
So, who had you totally buggin’ — Kelly or Lupita?
Battle 10: X-Men
It’s a Storm showdown! ⚡ Maya Jama and Serena Page both channel the iconic X-Men powerhouse, serving white hair, black leather and serious superhero energy. Maya keeps it sleek and sultry, while Serena brings the full force of the storm with dramatic curls, glowing eyes and lightning to match. Who did Storm more justice?
🗳️ Cast your vote below
