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The Best and Worst Wax Figures of Black Celebrities

Rihanna has added another wax figure doppelganger to her collection of statues.

Photo: Getty Images Dimitrios Kambouris

Let’s be honest: There’s something inherently creepy about wax figures. Whether they’re spot on perfect or shockingly bad, it feels like they may come to life at any moment and kill you. With a new statue at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, Rihanna is back in the wax figure conversation. Like all things RiRi, the internet absolutely has opinions on her new figure. While you’re deciding where you stand, take a look at our roundup of the best and worst Black celebrity wax figures.

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Rihanna

At this point Rih has enough wax figures to start her terrifying, yet fierce, bad girl army. The newest addition is located at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and is wearing a matching FENTY orange dress and trench coat. It’s based on a look the Grammy winner wore in February 2020 to the launch of FENTY at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.

Lil Wayne

https://twitter.com/Rap/status/1716500309722149186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. did not do rap legend Lil Wayne any favors with its figure. It looks nothing like him. It’s more like they had an old Steph Curry one in the storage room and tried to repurpose it. The “A Milli” artist weighed in on the creation, posting, “Sorry wax museum but dat shit ain’t me! You tried tho and I appreciate the effort.” Yeah, they need to go back to the drawing board on this one.

Dwayne Johnson

The Rock was involved in creating his Madame Tussauds figure, which is why it looks just like him. The Musee Grevin in Paris clearly went a different way, leading to widespread internet mockery of its figure. It looks like they started out doing Mr. Clean and tried to turn it into Dwayne Johnson. The man himself had to weigh in on Instagram, writing, “I’m going to have my team reach out to our friends at Grevin Museum, in Paris France so we can work at ‘updating’ my wax figure here with some important details and improvements- starting with my skin color.” Come on guys, he’s the biggest movie star in the world! Do better.

Beyoncé

Photo: Madame Tussauds Photo: Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds New York is celebrating Queen Bey’s record-breaking Renaissance tour with a new wax figure featuring her iconic 2018 Coachella Homecoming look.

Billy Porter

Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy

The Emmy winner’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York is identical to the Pose star and showcases his memorable blue jumpsuit and curtain from the 2020 Grammys.

Tupac Shakur

Photo: Madame Tussauds Photo: Madame Tussauds

Fresh off being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Tupac is being celebrated at home, in Oakland, Calif. With the return of his wax figure to Madame Tussauds San Francisco. The rap legend’s figure was one of the first added to the Northern California location in 2014 and has also been featured in the Hollywood museum. When it was originally created, the figure took artists six months to bring to life.

Kamala Harris

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Dietsch Photo: Getty Images Kevin Dietsch

Vice President Harris’ term is full of firsts. Though we’re betting that being the first US Vice President with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York was probably not on her radar.

Kamala Harris’ Wax Figure

https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1387900802765836289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Dwayne Johnson

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter

The Rock looks like he was chiseled out of actual stone, so it makes perfect sense that he has four wax figures. They are featured at Madame Tussauds New York, Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Orlando. They look so much like him, I’m waiting for one to hit a Rock Bottom on somebody.

Dwayne Johnson’s Wax Figure

https://twitter.com/LasVegasMag/status/1566169163596546052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Lil Nax X

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Photo: Getty Images Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

While no wax figure can imitate Lil Nas X’s effervescent personality, his statue is a spot on replica of the Grammy-winner. In fact, it was so well done, he pranked his friends by using the figure to FaceTime them.

Lil Nas X’s Wax Figure

Rihanna

Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy

The “Diamonds” singer has multiple wax figures at various museums around the world. Her newest one, based on her 2018 Met Gala look, can be found at Madame Tussauds New York. She will also have a figure based on her Super Bowl LVII look revealed later in the year at Madame Tussauds Orlando.

Rihanna’s Wax Figure

Photo: Madame Tussauds/Twitter Photo: Madame Tussauds/Twitter

Angela Bassett

Photo: Getty Images Gilbert Flores/Variety Photo: Getty Images Gilbert Flores/Variety

Honestly, if Angela Bassett ever needs to take a break from photo lines or has to do a dangerous stunt on 9-1-1, she can just send in her figure. The resemblance is spooky.

Angela Bassett’s Wax Figure

https://twitter.com/afrorckprincess/status/1538270839602401282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Jennifer Hudson

Photo: Getty Images Frazer Harrison Photo: Getty Images Frazer Harrison

The EGOT-winner’s statue is at Madame Tussauds New York – Times Square. The talk show host participated in a “sitting” where “more than 200 measurements were taken to capture the singer and actor’s exact features.” Having her involvement in the figure’s creation certainly made all the difference.

Jennifer Hudson’s Wax Figure

Photo: Getty Images Bruce Glikas Photo: Getty Images Bruce Glikas

Beyoncé

Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyre Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyre

There’s only one Beyoncé. However, this version from Madame Tussaud’s Berlin is probably the best figure we’ve seen of Queen Bey.

Beyoncé’s Wax Figure

Nicki Minaj

Photo: Getty Images Dimitrios Kambouris Photo: Getty Images Dimitrios Kambouris

When Nicki Minaj’s wax figure was unveiled in 2015 at Madame Tussaud’s Las Vegas, fans were immediately upset about the fact that a Black woman was put in a questionable position. Mirroring a scene from her “Anaconda” video, she was on all fours, with her butt in the air. The pose inspired visitors to take sexually suggestive photos. Turns out Nicki was in on the whole process and was fine with the figure.

Nicki Minaj’s Wax Figure

https://twitter.com/JohnnyNeff/status/1291333475124076546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Naomi Campbell

Photo: Getty Images Pascal Le Segretain Photo: Getty Images Pascal Le Segretain

Naomi Campbell is one of the most beautiful women in the world. Seems like it would be a slam dunk to make her look gorgeous. Somehow Musee Grevin in Paris managed to mess it up.

Naomi Campbell’s Wax Figure

https://twitter.com/_Jordk_/status/1309495587667087367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Michael Jackson

Photo: Getty Images Phil Walter Photo: Getty Images Phil Walter

Michael Jackson had several different looks in his long career, so there have been countless figures made of the superstar. The more recent ones seem to look more like him, as artists always had problems with his darker skin tone.

Michael Jackson’s Wax Figure

Photo: Getty Images Tim Whitby Photo: Getty Images Tim Whitby

Lizzo

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter

The Grammy-winner just unveiled her figure at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas in January, The interactive display is based on her 2019 BET Awards performance and sits on top of a giant wedding cake.

Lizzo’s Wax Figure

Photo: Madame Tussaud’s/Twitter Photo: Madame Tussaud’s/Twitter

LeBron James

Photo: Getty Images Harry How Photo: Getty Images Harry How

Let’s be honest: LeBron totally wishes he had the hair his wax figure at the Museo de Cera in Mexico City has.

LeBron James’ Wax Figure

Photo: Getty Images Hector Vivas Photo: Getty Images Hector Vivas

Al Roker

Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy

This statue of America’s favorite weatherman isn’t that bad, but no wax figure will ever capture Al Roker’s infectious positivity and enthusiasm.

Al Roker’s Wax Figure

Photo: Getty Images Cindy Ord Photo: Getty Images Cindy Ord

Serena Williams

Photo: Getty Images Tasos Katopodis Photo: Getty Images Tasos Katopodis

This is very close and Serena seems happy with the finished product. But, if I’m being honest, the Madame Tussauds New York figure looks more like Venus than Serena.

Serena Williams’ Wax Figure

Photo: Getty Images Bryan Bedder Photo: Getty Images Bryan Bedder

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Photo: Getty Images Mike Coppola Photo: Getty Images Mike Coppola

Madame Tussaud’s London has a whole Royal Family display. When they decided to step down as senior royals, the museum removed Harry and Meghan from the attraction. However, in 2022 the couple was back in the picture. It’s always something with those royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s Wax Figures

Photo: Entertainment Tonight/Twitter Photo: Entertainment Tonight/Twitter

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