Overview
- Phish Boy was unveiled at Monáe’s Wondaween Creature Carnival at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, Oct. 29, as a central act of this year’s Creature Carnival theme.
- The look pairs hyperreal fish prosthetics — including scales, bulging eyes and ridged fins — with a vintage carnival-inspired striped uniform to create a performance-ready creature.
- Monáe credited long-term collaborator Sasha Glassier and named special-effects artists Chelsea Delfino, Malina Stearns and costume maker Alex Navarro for designing, sculpting and assembling the Phish Boy transformation.
- The reveal has been extended beyond the festival through an Instagram announcement and a televised appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show on Oct. 30, and Monáe later posted a separate 'Mother Creature' costume on Oct. 31 while planning a private 'Creature Camp' event.
- Monáe treats Wondaween as an annual creative platform where months or years of planning meet community performance, a practice that spotlights behind-the-scenes artisans and keeps her seasonal storytelling in the cultural conversation.