Outrageous Mardi Gras and Carnival costumes

Members of the Mondo Kayo Social and Marching Club march down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans.  (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

Members of the Mondo Kayo Social and Marching Club march down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans.  (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

Women dressed as agents from the Transportation Security Administration march through the street during the Krewe du Vieux Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.  (Lee Celano/Reuters)

A woman atop a horse throws beads during the Babylon Mardi Gras parade.  (Lee Celano/Reuters)

A woman’s costume features an oil rig, a reference to last year’s BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, during the Krewe du Vieux Mardi Gras parade.  (Lee Celano/Reuters)

Stilt walkers perform at the West Indian-American Day Parade, an American celebration based on Carnival.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Curtis Baptiste attends the West Indian-American Day Parade, an American celebration based on Carnival.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

People look on before the start of the West Indian-American Day Parade in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Participants wait to march in the West Indian-American Day Parade.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A reveler looks on during the West Indian-American Day Parade.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Participants prepare to march before the start of the 2009 Mermaid Parade at Coney Island.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

K Siner (R) and Luke Destefano look on before the start of the 2009 Mermaid Parade at Coney Island, which pays tribute to the former Coney Island Mardi Gras parade.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Women dressed as mermaids prepare to march before the start of the 2009 Mermaid Parade at Coney Island, which pays homage to the former tradition of the Coney Island Mardi Gras.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A stilt walker hides from the rain before the start of the 2009 Mermaid Parade at Coney Island.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Women dressed as super heroes pose for a photo on Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A man in costume walks through the French Quarter on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A woman dressed as a ‘Dumpster Diva’ walks though the French Quarter on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A Carnival dancer performs in a parade in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.   (THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images)

A Haitian man in a costume of the ‘God of death’ holds a skull to his head during Carnival festivities.  (THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images)

A member of the Zulu parade walks along St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

King Zulu waves to the crowds from his float on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Mardi Gras revelers walk along Royal Street on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Haitian dancers form a pyramid during Carnival festivities.  (THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images)

A Haitian man wears an elaborate headdress and makeup in a Carnival parade.  (THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images)

A performer has makeup applied at ACON House before the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

Participants march in the streets during the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

Bedazzled participants pose backstage ahead of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)

A performer poses backstage ahead of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)

A male participant poses for a photo ahead of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)

Drag queen Summer Salt and Foreplay group entertain crowds on Oxford Street at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

A reveler wearing a frog costume watches the Society of St. Ann parade on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rex, King of Carnival, rides on a float in his parade on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A reveler dances in the Krewe of Mondo Kayo on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

King Zulu waves to the crowd as his parade passes along Canal Street on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A parade-goer talks on her phone before the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

A group of Raggedy revelers celebrate on Mardi Gras.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Gilles de Binche, smiles during a carnival parade in the streets of Binche on Mardi Gras.  (JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Drag Queen poses for a photograph in Hyde Park prior to the start of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Parade goers assemble for the start of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Parade goers assemble for the start of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Oxford Street.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

A Thai drag queen displays his elaborate peacock costume during the 31st annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.  (TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

Participants entertain themselves before marching the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Oxford Street.  (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Participants entertain themselves before marching in the streets during the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Participants march in the streets in costume during the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Parade goers assemble for the start of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Oxford Street.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Parade goers sit in Elizabeth Street awaiting the start of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.  (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)