Kelly Ripa’s latest transformation into a character from the hit film “Wicked” has caught the attention of fans for its striking resemblance to Ariana Grande’s Glinda. The Live! with Kelly and Mark host, 54, gave a sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes process of turning into the popular character, sharing a captivating video on Instagram on Feb. 26. The video showcased Ripa undergoing a complete makeover by her makeup and hairstyling team to emulate Ariana Grande’s iconic look as Glinda.
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The footage began with a time lapse showing Ripa sitting in a chair as the makeup artists meticulously worked their magic to recreate the Glinda makeup and style her blonde hair to mirror the character’s signature look. Ripa was captured imitating Grande’s famous smile from the film, and even took selfies to showcase the transformation. The video then revealed several images of Ripa donning various outfits donned by Glinda throughout the movie, including the pink dress from “Defying Gravity” and the prep school uniform from the “What Is This Feeling” segment.
Embracing the essence of Glinda, Ripa also shared snaps of herself in the iconic pink bubble gown that sets the tone at the beginning of the movie, complete with a tiara and wand to match. The final shot of the video featured Ripa seamlessly edited into Glinda’s signature bubble, with the words “Ariana Grande Is Glinda” emblazoned at the top. Ripa’s caption accompanying the video invited her followers to join her “beyond Oz into the land of make-believe”, giving credit to her talented makeup artist and hairstylist for their wizardry.
In a previous video glimpse shared by Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, the duo teased their fans with a pre-taped opening of Live with Kelly and Mark’s After the Oscars Show, embodying the roles of Glinda and Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey). The couple displayed their lip-syncing talent to various songs from Wicked while being seamlessly inserted into scenes from the film, capturing the essence of the characters with precision.
During one playful moment, Ripa, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Grande in her Glinda attire, decided to prank her husband by FaceTiming him in full costume. The humorous charade left Consuelos momentarily confused, mistaking Ripa for Grande until her reveal. Further playing the trick, Ripa FaceTimed her daughter and her best friend, successfully fooling them both with her Glinda disguise, much to their amusement.
Kelly Ripa’s whimsical transformation into the beloved character from “Wicked” has not only captivated her fans but also showcased her playful side and remarkable attention to detail in embodying Glinda’s enchanting persona. As the anticipation builds for Live with Kelly and Mark’s special After the Oscars Show, viewers can expect more entertainment and surprises from the dynamic duo as they bring their creativity to life on-screen.