Can you guess the TV host? Daytime star, 54, magics up shock transformation into Ariana Grande
A daytime TV icon looked 20 years younger than her age when she dressed up as Glinda from Wicked, as played by Ariana Grande.
The 54-year-old transformed into Glinda for the pre-taped introduction to the upcoming post-Oscars episode of her talk show.
She and her co-host, who is also her husband, will apparently be parodying some of the nominated films including Wicked.
But when she posted social media images of herself dressed as Glinda this week, viewers could be forgiven for thinking they were looking at Ariana, 31.
In an Instagram reel posted Tuesday, she included some sped-up footage of herself in the hair and makeup chair as she got into character.
But can you guess who she is?
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Kelly Ripa (left) has offered fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her shocking transformation into Glinda from Wicked, as played by Ariana Grande (right)
It was Kelly Ripa, whose expert team – including makeup artist Kristofer Buckle and hairstylist Ryan Trygstad – turned her into a dead ringer for Ariana.
From the lips to the blonde hairstyle to even the look in her eyes, Kelly had morphed completely into Glinda for her Wicked parody.
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Once the process was complete, Kelly posed in front of a green screen in a string of Glinda costumes that fans of the film will instantly recognize.
One of them was her university student outfit from the movie’s early scenes at the college Shiz, while another was the character’s famed frilly pink Good Witch gown.
Set to Ariana’s recording of Glinda’s song Popular, the video was captioned: ‘Follow me beyond Oz into the land of make believe. Let’s hear it for the actual wizards.’
With a wand and a tiara on hand to complete the look, Kelly vanished completely into the character – so much so that even her daughter Lola, 23, was fooled.
‘The makeup and hair was so real that I FaceTimed Mark, and I FaceTimed my daughter and my daughter’s best friend, and fooled them,’ Kelly told Variety.
‘They thought they were talking to Ariana Grande. Then I opened my mouth, and their entire energy shifted. They were back to treating me like me.’
‘Yeah, we thought she was Ariana Grande!’ said Mark, who has been with Kelly since 1995, when they were both starring on All My Children.
Ariana Grande is pretty in a pink gown at the 2025 SAG Awards
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The 54-year-old TV star dressed up as the character for the pre-taped introduction to the upcoming post-Oscars episode of her show Live! With Kelly And Mark
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She and her co-host Mark Consuelos, who is also her husband, will apparently be parodying some of the nominated films including Wicked
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View gallery
In an Instagram reel posted Tuesday, Kelly included some sped-up footage of herself in the hair and makeup chair as she got into character
+16
View gallery
Her expert team – including makeup artist Kristofer Buckle and hairstylist Ryan Trygstad – turned her into a dead ringer for Ariana
+16
View gallery
From the lips to the blonde hairstyle to even the look in her eyes, Kelly had morphed completely into Glinda for her Wicked parody
+16
View gallery
Once the process was complete, Kelly posed in front of a green screen in a string of Glinda costumes that fans of the film will instantly recognize
+16
View gallery
One of them was her university student outfit from the movie’s early scenes at the college Shiz, while another was the character’s famed frilly pink Good Witch gown
+16
View gallery
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View gallery
With a wand and a tiara on hand to complete the look, Kelly (left) vanished completely into the character, pictured (right) played by Ariana
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View gallery
‘The makeup and hair was so real that I FaceTimed Mark, and I FaceTimed my daughter and my daughter’s best friend, and fooled them,’ Kelly told Variety
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View gallery
‘Yeah, we thought she was Ariana Grande!’ said Mark, who has been with Kelly since 1995, when they were both starring on All My Children
See Ariana Grande singing ‘Wicked’ at 14-years-old
The show’s executive producer Michael Gelman recalled: ‘At first I was like: “Oh, my goodness. Kelly looks so good that people are going to think that it’s the real thing and not a takeoff.” But then you could tell that it’s Kelly.’
Michael added: ‘Kelly and Mark both really hit it out of the park doing this. And our makeup and hair team and our producers, who edit that together with the green screens and special effects, it’s just huge.’
Her co-star Cynthia Erivo is also up for best actress as the title character Elphaba, and the film is in the running for several other awards including best picture.
