8 celeb statues that look nothing like them: From Taylor Swift's wax figure to Cristiano Ronaldo's bust

8 statues of celebrities that completely missed the mark

Madame Tussauds has once again captured the attention with its latest wax figure, this time of the multi-talented Selena Gomez. Unveiled at the New York City museum on August 27, the figure quickly became a viral sensation, especially after a video reveal on Instagram. The video, which was captioned, "What a 'Rare Beauty' she is indeed," drew a direct connection to the 32-year-old singer and actress's beauty brand, Rare Beauty. Fans were quick to praise Madame Tussauds for their accuracy, noting how closely the statue resembled the singer. Dressed in a black-and-white checkered two-piece, the wax figure recreated an outfit Gomez wore while promoting Rare Beauty at Sephora in Paris. However, not all celebrity statues have been met with such enthusiasm. Over the years, numerous celebrity statues have been unveiled to mixed, often negative, reactions. Whether it's a lack of likeness or just an overall awkward presentation, these statues have left fans and critics scratching their heads. Here are eight notable examples where the statues of celebrities missed the mark.

1. Melania Trump

In July 2019, a life-size statue of former First Lady Melania Trump was unveiled in her hometown of Sevnica in Slovenia. Unlike traditional sculptures, this one was carved out of a living tree using a chainsaw, making it unique but also controversial. The statue's commissioner defended the work, stating that while it might not be a perfect likeness, it was "absolutely beautiful" in its own way. However, the statue's appearance drew mixed reactions, with one local resident saying, "You know what makes her resemble Melania? Look at how high she climbed to the top, just like real Melania, who rose to the top of America. A little girl from Sevnica. Hats off to her."

2. Lucille Ball

When a statue of legendary actress Lucille Ball was unveiled in her hometown of Celoron, New York, in 2009, it quickly became infamous for all the wrong reasons. Dubbed "Scary Lucy" by locals and fans, the statue bore little resemblance to the beloved star of 'I Love Lucy'. The backlash was so intense that a petition was started to have the statue remade. After years of public outcry, a new, more accurate statue was finally unveiled in the same area in 2016, much to the relief of her fans.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most famous soccer players in the world, had a statue unveiled in his honor in 2017 when Portugal's Madeira International Airport was renamed the Madeira International Airport Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, the statue quickly became a laughingstock on social media due to its peculiar expression and lack of resemblance to the soccer star. The artist, Emanuel Santos, later reworked the statue, but it still didn't satisfy many fans who felt it failed to capture Ronaldo's likeness.

4. Dwayne Johnson

France's Grevin Museum faced a backlash after unveiling a wax figure of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. While the statue got the basics right, such as his muscular build and bald head, it somehow failed to capture the essence of the WWE legend. Fans were quick to point out that the statue looked more like Mr Clean, the iconic mascot for cleaning products, than the charismatic actor and former professional wrestler.

5. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift fans were left unimpressed when a new wax figure of the pop star was unveiled on August 13 at the Panoptikum Wax Museum in Hamburg, Germany. The figure, dressed in a shimmery blue romper similar to one Swift wore at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards, was intended to capture her signature style. However, many fans noticed that the figure's hand gesture, a heart-shaped sign made using only the thumb and index finger, was inaccurate. Swifties took to Instagram to voice their disapproval, pointing out that the statue missed the mark on several key details, including the singer's signature look and pose.

6. Shakira

In her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira was honored with a 6.5-meter (21-foot) statue, unveiled in a grand ceremony in  December 2023. The figure, made of bronze and aluminum, depicts the megastar in a bikini top and flowing skirt, striking one of her iconic dance poses. The inscription at the base reads, "Hips that do not lie, a unique talent, a voice that moves masses," referencing her hit song 'Hips Don't Lie'. However, despite the grand gesture, many fans claimed that the statue bore little resemblance to the globally renowned singer.

7. Kate Moss

In 2008, supermodel Kate Moss was immortalized in a statue made entirely of solid gold, weighing an impressive 110 lbs (50 kg). The life-size sculpture, on display at the British Museum, depicts Moss in a highly flexible yoga pose, with her limbs twisted in an almost contortionist manner. While the statue was intended to celebrate Moss's status as a fashion icon, many found it unsettling, likening it to a character from a horror movie rather than a tribute to the supermodel. The figure's unusual pose and eerie appearance sparked debates about whether it truly honored Moss's legacy or simply missed the mark.

8. Michael Jackson

In 2010, a statue of Michael Jackson was unveiled in the Santa Marta neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the King of Pop had filmed his music video for 'They Don't Care About Us' in 1996. The effigy was intended to commemorate Jackson's connection to the area and his global influence. However, the statue's pose, which mimicked one of Jackson's iconic dance moves, came across as awkward and stiff when immortalized in bronze. Despite the good intentions behind the tribute, many fans and locals felt that it failed to capture the energy and charisma that defined Jackson's career.