As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction – especially when it comes to news and current affairs.

• Adele smashes Taylor Swift record with Hello
• ‘Favouritism is clear’: Bindi Irwin scores perfect 10

Ghosts and ghouls might be scary, but the people making headlines in 2015 are far more terrifying for their own unique reasons.

Break out from the crowd and add some pop culture prowess to your Halloween pictures with these cutting-edge costume ideas.

Mick Fanning and the shark

It’s not often a shark attack victim fights back. Far more fearful than a vampire or werewolf, Aussie surfer Mick Fanning became the stuff of legends when he took on a Great White Shark after it attacked him during a tournament in South Africa.

Fanning’s decision to kick and punch the animal may well have saved his life, but it was his brave return to the water soon after that made him a star.

You’ll need: One person needs to buy a shark costume, but cover it in bruises and band aids. The other person should wear a blue rash vest, board shorts and a boxing glove on one hand.

Furiosa from Mad Max

The ferocious Imperator Furiosa was the real star of George Miller’s massive hit film, Mad Max: Fury Road.

Played by Charlize Theron, she soon became a feminist icon thanks to a battle for women’s rights in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by men.

You’ll need: Dirty, tattered clothing, at least five belts, a “fake arm” (put your real arm inside the sleeve and attach a stuffed stocking) and rub charcoal around your eyes.

The dress

This bizarre visual phenomenon burst onto the internet scene and provided weeks of fuel for water cooler discussions. The nearly even split between people who saw it as blue and black, and those who saw it as yellow and white, ended friendships and broke families in half (sort of).

Plus, asking your clueless friend which colour combination they saw never got old.

You’ll need: A striped dress, half of it yellow and white, the other half black and blue.

Dead Jon Snow

It was the most talked-about television event of the year: Game of Thrones hero Jon Snow getting stabbed to death by his Night’s Watch comrades and friends.

Then there was the ensuing speculation about whether or not Jon was actually dead, given he kept being spotted filming on the set of the popular HBO show.

You’ll need: A curly-haired wig, a large black cape, a fur throw and a knife in your back. Or several. To really get into character, keep leaving the party but tell people, “don’t worry you guys, because I’M COMING BACK”.

Donald Trump

Thanks to his meme-friendly hair, the Donald was a Halloween costume option long before he decided to run for President.

His latest turn in the limelight, however, has provided far more material to make fun of.

You’ll need: A baseball cap that says “Make America Great Again” with tufts of fake blonde hair coming out from underneath, a fake tan and a suit.

Or just invest in one of these terrifying masks:

Nick Kyrgios

It’s a rare week when the 20-year-old tennis player isn’t making headlines. From his showdown with Dawn Fraser to his many code violations, the Australian rising star has received plenty of attention this year.

Whether you like him or not, Kyrgios is a fierce competitor (when he isn’t spitting the dummy) and a force to be reckoned with (just ask Dawn), though he’s just pulled the pin on his 2015 season.

You’ll need: Several silver necklaces, fluro activewear, a single diamond earring, a strange design shaved into your hair, hot pink headphones and a bad attitude.

Taylor Swift’s girl squad

T.Swift was everywhere this year thanks to her smash hit album 1989 and wherever Swift goes, her girl squad follows. Featuring supermodels, actresses and singers, Swift’s extensive group of friends was perhaps best showcased in her award-winning video for her song ‘Bad Blood’.

You’ll need: At least four really tall, really attractive female friends. That’s all really.

And for the risk-taking trick-or-treaters amongst you…

Walter Palmer, aka the killer of Cecil the Lion.

This wasn’t our idea, we promise. American site Costumeish came up with the incredibly poor-taste costume – a twisted tribute to the Minnesota dentist who unknowingly shot and killed the internet’s favourite animal, an African lion named Cecil.

For the bargain price of $US139.99 you can take home a severed lion’s head, a smock with fake blood spatters, gloves covered in blood and some dentistry tools.