In the whimsical glow of jack-o’-lanterns and the rustle of candy wrappers, where the line between reality and fairy tale blurs under a harvest moon, Jessica Sanchez and her family ushered in Halloween 2025 with a celebration that felt like a song from her soul. On October 31, just two weeks after welcoming their first child, the powerhouse vocalist—fresh off her triumphant win on America’s Got Talent Season 20—shared a family snapshot that captured pure, unfiltered joy. Dressed in a trio of super creative ensembles inspired by Filipino folklore and classic autumn folklore, the Sanchez-Gallardo clan turned their cozy Los Angeles home into a haven of enchantment. At the center of it all was tiny Eliana Mae Gallardo, the couple’s newborn daughter, swaddled in an irresistibly cute pumpkin cosplay that had fans cooing from coast to coast. With Jessica as a mythical diwata fairy queen, husband Rickie Gallardo channeling a charming kapre tree spirit, and little Eliana as the season’s tiniest gourd, this Halloween wasn’t just a holiday—it was a heartfelt homecoming for a family forever changed by love’s newest melody.

The magic began, quite literally, on October 13, 2025, when Eliana Mae entered the world at 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 20.5 inches long, a petite powerhouse who arrived just three weeks after Jessica’s confetti-strewn AGT victory. Born in a Los Angeles hospital amid the whirlwind of post-finale celebrations, Eliana’s name carries profound resonance: “Eliana” means “God has answered,” a divine nod to the couple’s decade-long journey to parenthood. Jessica, the 29-year-old Filipina-American sensation whose voice has spanned American Idol stages and global arenas, announced the birth on Instagram with a cascade of tender photos—Eliana’s tiny fists clenched in determination, her dark eyes mirroring her mother’s gaze. “These first few days have been emotional, sleepless, beautiful… everything I dreamed of and more,” Jessica captioned the post, her words a lullaby of gratitude. Rickie, her husband of four years and a fellow musician whose harmonies often back her live sets, added, “She’s our answered prayer, wrapped in the softest skin.”

For Jessica, whose career has been a tapestry of resilience—from her runner-up finish on American Idol Season 11 in 2012 to her golden buzzer redemption on AGT this year—the transition to motherhood felt like the ultimate encore. Pregnant through much of the competition, she wowed judges with renditions of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and a heartfelt original, “Two Lines,” penned about the two pink streaks on a pregnancy test that heralded Eliana’s arrival. “Competing while growing a human? It was wild, but she gave me strength,” Jessica shared in a post-finale interview with People. Now, with the $1 million prize and a recording contract in hand, she’s channeling that energy into family rituals, starting with a Halloween that blended her Chula Vista roots, Filipino heritage, and the simple thrill of new-parent wonder.

The family’s costumes were a masterclass in creative fusion, dreamed up over late-night brainstorming sessions in their sun-drenched LA bungalow. Jessica, ever the storyteller, drew from Philippine mythology for her look: a ethereal diwata, the enchanting forest nymphs of Tagalog lore, reimagined with a Halloween twist. She draped herself in flowing emerald silk sourced from a Pasadena fabric shop, embroidered with glowing fireflies and vine motifs that evoked enchanted woods. A crown of silk orchids and golden abaca fibers perched atop her signature raven waves, while subtle glitter makeup gave her an otherworldly shimmer. “Diwatas are guardians of nature—fierce, beautiful, protective,” she explained in an Instagram Reel, twirling for the camera as Rickie filmed, his laughter echoing off the walls. “With Eliana here, I feel like one every day.” Her ensemble wasn’t just pretty; it was purposeful, nodding to the environmental themes in her upcoming AGT-inspired album, slated for a 2026 release.

Rickie, 31, complemented the theme as a kapre—the legendary tree-dwelling giant of Filipino folklore, often depicted as a shadowy trickster with a cigar and a mischievous grin. Towering at 6’2″, he transformed effortlessly: a bark-textured vest crafted from recycled burlap, painted with swirling smoke patterns; baggy linen pants tucked into faux-leather boots; and a towering headdress of twisted branches adorned with Spanish moss, evoking the ancient balete trees where kapres are said to lurk. A prop cigar (herbal, of course, for the new-dad era) dangled from his lips, and he practiced his best brooding pose, complete with a low rumble of laughter that sent Eliana into fits of newborn gurgles. “I’m the gentle giant now—guarding my girls from the shadows,” Rickie joked in the family video, scooping Jessica into a playful dip that had her giggling like a schoolgirl. The couple, who met on the set of a 2015 music video and dated for nine years before tying the knot in a intimate 2021 beach ceremony in Chula Vista, have always infused their life with artistry. Rickie’s background as a session guitarist for indie acts added a rock edge to the costume, turning their living room into an impromptu photo booth lit by LED lanterns mimicking fireflies.

But the undisputed star was Eliana Mae, whose pumpkin cosplay melted the internet faster than a witch’s cauldron bubbling over. At just 18 days old, the infant was nestled in a handmade onesie—a plump, orange pumpkin complete with a velvety green stem hat and embroidered jack-o’-lantern grin—that her godmother, fellow Idol alum Pia Toscano, had custom-sewn from organic cotton. Tiny leaf booties and a faux-vine rattle completed the look, with Eliana’s cherubic cheeks peeking out like the first blush of autumn. “Our little harvest moon,” Jessica whispered in the photo, cradling her daughter against the diwata gown as Rickie knelt beside them, his kapre branches framing the scene like a protective arbor. The image, posted to Jessica’s 1.2 million Instagram followers, exploded with 800,000 likes in the first hour, fans flooding the comments with heart emojis and cries of “Tiny pumpkin perfection!” One devotee wrote, “From AGT stage to family sage—Jessica, you’re magic.” Even AGT host Terry Crews chimed in: “Lil’ Eliana’s got that golden buzzer glow already! Family goals.”

The family’s Halloween wasn’t confined to snapshots; it spilled into a intimate gathering that honored their multicultural mosaic. With Jessica’s parents flying in from Chula Vista and Rickie’s from nearby San Diego, the evening unfolded in their backyard oasis—a space transformed with paper lanterns glowing like fireflies, a spread of Filipino-American fusion treats (bibingka pumpkin pie, anyone?), and a playlist blending Enya’s ethereal tracks with Jose Mari Chan’s holiday croons. Neighbors trick-or-treated under string lights, while the adults swapped stories: Jessica recounting her Idol days dodging Simon Cowell’s critiques, Rickie sharing tales of gigging in smoke-filled LA clubs. For Eliana, the night was a sensory symphony—soft coos amid the rustle of leaves, the scent of spiced cider wafting from a portable heater, and her parents’ voices harmonizing a gentle “Monster Mash” lullaby. “We kept it small this year—no big parties, just love and legends,” Jessica told Entertainment Weekly the next day. “Eliana’s first Halloween? It’s etched in my heart forever.”

This milestone arrives at a pivotal moment for Jessica, whose AGT win has catapulted her into a new stratosphere. The first Filipino-American victor in the show’s history, she captivated audiences with a voice that spans soulful ballads to powerhouse anthems, earning praise from Heidi Klum as “a once-in-a-generation talent.” Her finale performance, a medley of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and her original “Answered Prayers,” brought the house down—literally, with tears from judge Howie Mandel. Now, balancing diaper changes with demo sessions, Jessica’s teasing a motherhood-infused EP, with tracks like “Vine and Bloom” exploring themes of growth and guardianship. “Eliana’s my co-writer now—her cries inspire the choruses,” she quipped during a virtual baby shower streamed to fans. Rickie, who’s producing the project from their home studio, adds, “We’re building a legacy, one note and onesie at a time.”

Fans, long enchanted by Jessica’s authenticity, see echoes of her journey in this pumpkin-lit portrait. From her viral Idol audition at 16—belting “I Will Always Love You” with a maturity beyond her years—to mentoring young talents on AGT, she’s always been a beacon for dreamers, especially in the AAPI community. Her marriage to Rickie, a low-key affair with ukuleles and sunset vows, grounded her amid the glamour. And now, with Eliana’s arrival, that circle widens. Social media buzzed with tributes: Filipino outlets like ABS-CBN hailed it as “a cultural cosplay crown,” while Billboard dubbed the photo “the sweetest scare of the season.” Pia Toscano commented, “Auntie Pia approves—this pumpkin’s got pipes!” Even distant Idol rival Phillip Phillips dropped a like, a subtle nod to bridges built over a decade.

As November’s chill settles in, the Sanchez-Gallardos savor the quiet after the holiday storm. Jessica’s back in vocal warm-ups, Rickie’s tuning guitars, and Eliana’s discovering her toes—one wiggly vine at a time. Their Halloween, with its folklore flair and family fervor, reminds us that the best costumes aren’t about glamour; they’re about heart. In a year of triumphs and tiny miracles, Jessica Sanchez isn’t just a winner—she’s a weaver of worlds, turning ordinary Octobers into extraordinary odysseys. Here’s to Eliana Mae, the pumpkin who planted a seed of endless enchantment. May her first boo be the start of a lifetime of harmonies.