Though it may be 1,000 pages, Stephen King’s horror masterpiece IT keeps the fear and terror flowing with the introduction of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, one of horror’s most iconic monsters. The 1980 mini-series starring Tim Curry frightened fans at the time of its release, but it wasn’t until the 2017 reboot that the full extent of Pennywise’s chilling powers was explored.
As an unassuming clown, Pennywise lured children to him with promises of fun, only to feed on their fear once they realized that his idea of fun included flaying their flesh from their bones. You don’t have to go down into the sewers to feast your eyes on these 10 frightening female Pennywise cosplays.
10 OPEN WIDE
While Pennywise may look like an inconspicuous clown, behind the playful smile are rows of gruesome teeth, all the better to gnaw off little children’s arms. Not many female Pennywise cosplayers choose to go to the next level and show off his chompers like FinistreFrau.
This striking cosplay is a study in composition, with the bright red hair, glowing yellow eyes, and striped ruffle making the perfect frame for the terrifying reality that this Pennywise hasn’t come to blow up party balloons with that mouth.
9 THE DANCING CLOWN
Pennywise has an alluring way of enthralling young children in Stephen King’s IT, luring them into sewers and other dark places with promises of toys, candy, and eye-catching red balloons. Children follow It because what couldn’t be fun about spending time with a clown?
This cosplay by FaerieBlossom captures the mysterious nature of It, a demonic entity that takes the form of a dancing party clown to befriend children and feed on their fear. As alluring as she is, we wouldn’t want to come across her in a dark alley.
8 TASTES LIKE CHICKEN
In the novel It, Bill briefly wonders why Pennywise feeds on children’s flesh if all It really needs is their fear to sustain itself. After so many years on Earth, it wasn’t enough for the children to be afraid of It, they needed to think that once It caught them, It would eat them.
It looks like cosplayer izabelcortez knows that fear tastes much better with a sprinkle of terror, and has added a spray of blood and a human arm to her ensemble, giving visceral meaning to the words, “I’ll feast on your flesh as I feed on your fear.”
7 THE EVIL EYE
Pennywise could take on many different forms, some more enticing than others. If It showed its real form, onlookers’ brains would explode before any fear set in, hence the mortal form of a “harmless” clown.
This beautiful and creepy depiction of Pennywise from luciekout is a far more appealing version than what has been depicted in the novel or in any of the films, but her eyes reveal all of the evil lurking beneath a pretty face.
6 ALL DOLLED UP
It’s only appropriate that some female Pennywise depictions would more closely resemble a harlequin doll, and this cosplay by NamyChan is no exception, complete with an adorable dress, pom poms, and pigtails.
Based on a custom female Pennywise doll sculpted by Wrens Fairy Realm, this cosplay is deceptively unnerving, especially with the small pointed teeth poking out from just below her top lip.
5 WE ALL FLOAT DOWN HERE
Able to take whatever shape instills the most fear, Pennywise has been a kaiju, a swarm of insects, a pool of blood, and even two entities standing next to one another. Children will often dictate whatever form It will take.
Cosplayer Slayer has given Pennywise the form of an enticing young woman, with a devious glimmer in her eyes. The added smoke makes it seem almost as though she could fade into the shadows at any moment along with her next victim.
4 BEEP, BEEP, RICHIE
No matter how gleeful his outer trappings, Pennywise is the stuff of nightmares, who will happily shout that he’ll kill every child he sees and feast on their flesh. After all, he’s the Eater of Worlds, who comes to Derry, Maine every 27 years to sample the townsfolk.
This enticing cosplay by Sarina Rose certainly makes a case for believing Pennywise might be benevolent, except for the blood splatter on her shoulder. The cheeky red balls in her pigtails almost make her look like Sailor Moon.
3 TAKE IT, GEORGIE
When little George’s paper boat slips through the sewer drain, he thinks it’s lost for good. That is until Pennywise, the killer clown appears and taunts George to “take it” back from him.
This sinister cosplay by Lady Helsing brings to life the clown that slumbers in the sewers, waiting for unsuspecting children to lose their toys. With her glistening yellow eyes and sharp teeth, he looks like she’s ready to rip Georgie’s arm off.
2 HELLO GEORGIE
An effective part of Stephen King’s novel is getting readers to imagine all the horrific things Pennywise will do to his victims. The most terrifying sight becomes simply Pennywise standing alone with nothing but a red balloon.
Cosplayer Chlfd inspires the right amount of dread by underplaying Pennywise’s ferocity, and simply fixating the camera with an unwavering look that seems to spell viewers’ doom.
1 ALL WORK (OUTS) & NO PLAY
As a demonic presence, an ancient extraterrestrial, and an evil cosmic entity, It doesn’t need to rely on typical feats of strength and agility to ensnare its victims. However, the fear of the children of Derry does provide it with nourishing sustenance, and It has to work for its meals.
Fitness guru and cosplayer Alicia Marie shows off a much more fit Pennywise than fans typically see. She could rip Georgie’s arm off with her leg muscles alone! She would surely run down any wayward child who thought of escaping.
NEXT: Star Wars: 10 BB-8 Cosplay You Need To See To Believe
