Sydney Thomas, who gained viral fame as a ring girl during the November 2024 Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight, recently surprised fans with her Halloween costume. The 22-year-old influencer shared an Instagram post featuring a playful and altered take on Norwegian soccer player Erling Haaland.
Thomas's costume featured a sky-blue Manchester City-inspired outfit, complete with a plunging crop top, micro shorts, and high socks. The most striking element was an AI-generated image of Haaland's face superimposed onto her body, complete with his signature blonde hair from before he changed his style. She also included a video of Haaland's face in her post and tagged the athlete.
Fans reacted with amusement and surprise in the comments section, with many remarking on the unexpected nature of the fourth image in her carousel post, which featured the AI-enhanced picture of Haaland.
Thomas previously garnered attention as a ring girl for Most Valuable Promotions, the company co-founded by Jake Paul. Following the fight, she experienced a surge in social media popularity, reaching one million followers on TikTok and signing with Creative Artists Agency. Her previous Halloween costumes include a cheetah outfit in 2025. Thomas also starred in a music video for country singer Graham Barham in February 2025 and received her undergraduate degree in management and entrepreneurship from the University of Alabama in May 2025. She has roots in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ in-game hype squad.