Who is Jeanette Paras? Woman designs 399-pound pumpkin painted like Taylor Swift for Halloween
LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA: Many opt for traditional jack-o'-lanterns when it comes to Halloween. However, Jeanette Paras, a talented artist from Ohio, has takes pumpkin artistry to a whole new level.
For over 30 years, she has been creating elaborate and eye-catching pumpkins designed to resemble famous celebrities.
This year, the spotlight is on none other than Taylor Swift, and the world can't get enough of her creation, aptly named "Taylor SwiftKin."
Taylor SwiftKin: Pumpkin tribute fit for a pop star
Taylor SwiftKin, weighing in at nearly 400 pounds, is a colossal tribute to the Grammy-winning pop sensation.
Paras left no detail unturned, replicating Swift's iconic 2023 Grammys red carpet look. To capture Swift's signature blonde tresses, she employed a whopping nine wigs, and for the singer's ears, sweet potatoes were the perfect choice.
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Although this pumpkin might sound gigantic, it's not the largest one Paras has ever crafted. Last year, she created a behemoth pumpkin, weighing 705 pounds, inspired by the hit show 'Ted Lasso', appropriately named "Ted LassoKin."
Paras's creative process has remained consistent throughout the years. She sketches a famous face based on a photo of the celebrity selected as her Halloween muse.
From sketch to reality: the pumpkin painting process
The next step is finding a pumpkin that suits the dimensions of her sketch. Rather than growing the pumpkins herself, Paras sources them from local farmers in her hometown of Dublin, Ohio, or sometimes participates in pumpkin-growing contests too.
For this year's masterpiece, the pumpkin came from local residents Jason Johnson and Kurt Rossbach. "It's a real science," Paras explained when discussing her relationship with local pumpkin growers. "These growers are the nicest people," she added.
The final phase of her artistic process involves painting and embellishing the pumpkins. Paras painstakingly adds the finishing touches, such as recreating Swift's hair and earrings, staying true to her signature style.
Paras shrouds the creative process in secrecy, going so far as to cover her studio's windows to prevent anyone from discovering her chosen celebrity subject until the grand reveal.
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When a pumpkin makes her crack up, she knows she's chosen the right subject. Paras cherishes the reactions from her neighbors and passersby who stop to admire and photograph her pumpkins.
In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Paras disclosed that her choice of Taylor Swift as the annual pumpkin subject was influenced by the singer's highly publicized Eras Tour and her rumored romance with NFL star Travis Kelce.
Paras even created a 20-pound pumpkin adorned with a Kansas City Chiefs jersey to pay homage to Swift's beau. "She was just the head of the pack for the pumpkin," Paras remarked.
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Adding to the allure of her work, Paras mentioned to WBNS that Taylor Swift has been a "bright star in today's pop culture," making SwiftKin a standout choice.
"When she was romantically linked to two-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce, that certainly made her more interesting. As I like to say, I don't make the news, I pumpkinize it," Paras humorously concluded.
Apart from her gigantic pumpkin creations, Jeanette Paras is also a two-time breast cancer survivor, or as she prefers to call herself, a "thrive."
Swifties give 'Prettiest pumpkin' award to 'Taylor SwiftKin'
As Jeanette Paras unveiled her breathtaking creation, "Taylor SwiftKin," fans around the world couldn't contain their excitement. The responses to this remarkable pumpkin tribute to Taylor Swift were filled with awe and admiration.
Taking to Instagram, one fan wrote, "Prettiest pumpkin ever award! Spot on on Taylor’s pumpkin likeness! Well done."
Another commented, "This is incredible! Taylor SwiftKin is looking as GOURD-geous as ever!."
"Wow!! #taylorswift would love this!!,"replied another.
"Ha! So perfect. 🙌❤️ swifties will go wild for this one," remarked one.
One commented, "I got it right!! She looks fabulous!!!!! Great job, Jeanette!!."