Paris Hilton kept up one of her favourite Halloween traditions in 2026 by honouring Britney Spears once again. The heiress and reality star recreated Spears’ unforgettable performance of ‘I’m a Slave 4 U’ at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, complete with a green top, butterfly-print shorts, a jewelled belt and a live snake, according to Billboard’s Halloween coverage and multiple costume roundups. Hilton revealed the transformation on October 23, sharing behind-the-scenes footage of her preparation on Instagram. It was her fourth Halloween in a row paying tribute to the Princess of Pop, a tradition that unofficially began in 2023, and fans were quick to call it one of the best looks of the season.
A tribute with history
‘I always love celebrating her,’ Hilton told Billboard, explaining why she returns to Spears again and again. The 2001 performance remains one of pop music’s most referenced moments: Spears took the stage with a yellow python draped around her shoulders, and the image has been recreated, parodied and celebrated ever since. This year Hilton’s snake was named Tango, and the behind-the-scenes clips showed the careful preparation that went into getting the look right, from the embellished shorts to the choreography-inspired posing.
Not her only costume
As ever, Hilton did not stop at one look. She later shared a second costume inspired by Beauty and the Beast, dressing as Princess Belle in a yellow ball gown while her husband, Carter Reum, portrayed the Beast. Their three-year-old son, Phoenix, wore a Lumière costume, and their two-year-old daughter, London, was dressed as Chip, the teacup. The family costume drew some criticism online, according to roundups of the season’s most debated looks, but the Britney tribute itself was widely praised, with Hypebae and other outlets listing it among the best celebrity Halloween costumes of 2026. For Hilton, Halloween is now as much a part of her brand as music, fragrance and reality television — and her annual Spears tribute has become a tradition fans wait for all year.
