Halloween: once an 18th Century pagan festival, now a fun excuse for young people to go out and party in seriously questionable attire. As a child, I appreciated the creativity of Halloween and would spend countless hours perfecting my unique costumes, but I fear that this becomes less socially acceptable with age. Especially for girls, fangs and fake blood get swapped for fishnets and tiny bunny tails. However, I aim to normalise the unconventional Halloween, against patriarchal legacies, and although you don’t need to be dressed like an idiot to have fun — it helps.

It’s a tale as old as time: there is always one wonderfully overdressed girl floundering in a sea of cats and bunnies — see Lindsay Lohan’s Vampire Bride in Mean Girls. (That is not to say that cats and bunnies cannot be done properly; I’m talking lots of fur, potentially rabies etc). However, speaking as someone who has often found myself in that position — cue haunting memories of the glowing skeleton costume at a Year 9 party — I hoped I would find some like minded ladies at university… and I did. Sitting in the kitchen, I felt honoured to grace the presence of a Quaver (complete with tabard and hat), a bottle of ginger beer and a very impressive snail (reminiscent of the Donoghue and Stevenson case) and many other creative costumes. So, together with my unconventional tribe, I embarked on my first Halloween in Cambridge.

“Standard freshers chat is awkward enough without having false chest hair exposed and a rather too realistic mullet”

During the week I found myself heading to a Hill College bop, which I attended as Joe Exotic. What I had forgotten, while elaborately donning myself in leopard print and creating a powerful moustache, was that I had not met any of these people before. Standard freshers chat is awkward enough without having false chest hair exposed and a rather too realistic mullet. Nonetheless, the party was good, until a rather enthusiastic bopper knocked me over — the sight of a flustered, squirming Joe Exotic trying to stand up in a busy club will definitely be imprinted on my mind for a while. Sincerest apologies to anyone who witnessed that and also apologies to my poor neighbour, who was very shocked to see a dishevelled Joe Exotic battling the double-locking doors in the early hours.

On Halloween, I decided it was time to pay a tribute to 2000s legend, Pitbull. Dressed in a full suit, sunglasses, and a notorious bald cap, I joined my gang of M+M’s and Rachael from X Factor, and we headed down to Revs, a long and sobering walk from our hill abode. At this point, I was questioning the choice of a bald cap in a social setting and panic set in in the queue as I realised that I looked very different from my Id. However, after a confused laugh and appreciative nod from the bouncer (must’ve been a big fan), we were in. To my delight, I found several Pitbulls and other wonderful costumes in there, and we had a great night. Waking up the following morning, I was surprised to find a phone full of notifications; the costume had evidently left its legacy. Just like the man himself, I found my own fame, although this was on the pages of ‘Crushbridge’ — a concept I have been newly introduced to and am now unlikely to forget.

Overall, Halloween in Cambridge was a success, despite the fact that a small population of Cambridge has now only seen me with a false moustache on. I feel grateful to have spent a hilarious weekend with other unconventional halloweenies, and I urge you dear reader to join the gang next year — for the simple reason that balds really do have more fun.