Elizabeth Berkley Praises Ariana Grande’s ‘Creative Genius’ for ‘Showgirls’ Halloween Costume

After Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies dressed up as the lead duo from Showgirls for Halloween last week, the original Nomi Malone has weighed in.

Elizabeth Berkley — who famously shed her good-girl Saved by the Bell image by starring in the 1995 erotic thriller as Nomi — praised Grande’s “attention to detail” in re-creating the movie’s bedazzled fashions for a series of Instagram photos and videos shared on Oct. 30.

“This past week, the magical @arianagrande recreated my #Nomi for #halloween with all the love and attention to detail that only an artist with her heart and creative genius could do,” Berkley wrote on Instagram. “I adore you, @arianagrande and love how you and @lizgillz had fun with #nomiandcrystal in a way that only you two could.”

The actress then paid homage to the film’s many quotable lines, writing, “When you are from #differentplaces you have to watch your back because when you are wearing @versace #versayce #theresalwayssomeoneyoungerandhungriercomingdownthestairsafteryou.”

Grande responded to Berkley’s kind words on Tuesday (Nov. 7), writing in the comments section: “You are simply the most gorgeous ever! We love you so much and had so much fun paying homage to you both. Thank you for changing us forever with your brilliant and iconic Nomi.” Ari’s brother Frankie Grande chimed in too, commenting three tearing-up faces and three red hearts.

For her part, Gillies shared Berkley’s post on her IG Story along with eight exclamation points and three red hearts.

This isn’t Grande and Gillies’ first elaborate joint Halloween costume. Last year, the BFFs re-created a series of scenes from the 2000 Christopher Guest mockumentary Best in Show, becoming characters played by Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Lynch, Eugene Levy and more.

See Berkley’s reaction below: