When Anne Rice released Queen of the Damned, the third in the Vampire Chronicles, in 1988, no one would have thought that a real music star would portray the titular character in a movie adaptation. After all, it was Lestat, the antihero of the novel, who dabbled in a music career, not Akasha, the progenitor of all vampires in the Anne Rice universe. 

But Aaliyah, in her last starring role, really made the character her own. As Akasha, the R&B star was, ahem, "At Her Best," comporting herself like a regal serpent, her movements blurring the boundaries between movie and music video. 

Anne truly left earth with one of the most bloody brilliant creations to grace fiction. Now that it's that time of the year, let's pay respect to the mother of all vampires, Queen Akasha of Kemet. 

Akasha's crowning glory doesn't require precious stones from primordial Egypt at all. Just be your bad crafty self. 

Here's the paper plate route:

This one involves cardboard and a little bit of baking in the oven. 

The vampire queen is basically topless except for her awesome, barely-there breast plate, which you can make using EVA foam. 

Take this tip from an OG Akasha cosplayer: Don't use foil for the bra armor. Use paperclay instead. 

Akasha's hair in the movie is tied into a giant bun, the better to accommodate and provide something for her headpiece to lean on, with the rest of the tresses cascading down. Here's how you can get a giant bun: 

There are many vampy makeup gurus who've been there, done that with the Akasha Queen of the Damned look. Watch and learn:

Finish off the look with a bloodsucking immortal's smile. 

And all hail you! The memory of both Aaliyah and Anne Rice lives on in your very own Akasha cosplay. 

As Ms. Rice would say, “The young die first; the old wither slowly; the eldest perhaps would go last. But she is the Queen of the Damned, and the Damned can't live without her.”