The Sasha La Catrina trend turns one photo into the fairy-tale Catrina from The Book of Life — white sugar-skull makeup, an embroidered marigold gown, candles and cempasúchil petals — with a single continuous transformation shot. The wave peaked around Día de Muertos 2026 with videos passing 40 million plays, and it is still one of the easiest AI trends to join: one photo is all it takes.
This guide walks through the whole thing using the Sasha La Catrina AI template, from picking your reveal to posting with the right sound and label. If you want the trend's backstory first, start with what is Sasha La Catrina.
What you need before you start
- One clear, front-facing portrait. A well-lit photo where the whole face is visible, hands away from the face, waist-up if you want the full gown in frame. Selfies work if the lighting is even.
- For the pet reveals — one pet photo. The whole head and the markings visible, facing the camera.
- That is the entire list. No second photo, no costume, no makeup skills. The AI paints the sugar skull, the gown and the flower crown for you.
Step 1 — Pick one of the seven reveals
The trend's viral videos are not one template — they are seven different transformation clips, each with its own motion, camera and length. On the Sasha La Catrina AI template page the sample picker sits beside the preview, and the preview updates as you click:
- Flower Toss — the bedroom reveal that started the wave: cover your face, petals fly, turn to the camera with a flower. The blueprint by @thybui.__.
- Second Face — the same flower-toss reveal recast with a different look; the second-biggest version of the original.
- Song Reveal — the transformation timed to the first line of the song, in a red-and-blue lit room.
- Ofrenda Reveal — the altar version: hands part in front of a Day of the Dead ofrenda, and the Catrina looks up through the candles.
- Catrín — the male version of the transformation: same lace-and-marigold elegance, with the wide-brim hat.
- Catrina Cat — the pet reveal that opened the pet floodgate: a kitten becomes a lace-dressed Catrina cat.
- Grandmother — the parade version: an abuela walking in a Día de Muertos procession turns mid-stride.
Pick the one whose motion and mood you want your clip to copy — the sample is the choreography, your photo is the face (or the cat).
Step 2 — Upload your photo
Drag the portrait into the upload area. One photo is enough for every Catrina reveal — you, your mum, your abuela, or your pet for the cat reveal. Face the camera, whole head in frame, even lighting. The AI keeps the facial features from your photo and repaints everything else: the makeup, the gown, the crown, the candlelight.
Step 3 — Generate the transformation
Each reveal has its own fixed length — 5, 10 or 15 seconds — shown in the picker, and exports vertical 9:16, exactly like the trend. Hit generate and the clip comes back as a continuous shot: ordinary photo, trigger moment, transformation, Catrina pose. Download the MP4.
Step 4 — Add the sound, label it AI, post natively
- Upload the clip to TikTok (or Reels/Shorts) directly — posting the raw file natively keeps the quality.
- Add the "Adiós señora bonita" sound from the trend's original audio so your clip joins the wave — search "adios señora bonita" or pick it from a top video's spinning disc.
- Keep the AI label on. The reveal is generated; the label is both required and what the audience of this trend expects.
- Hashtags: #fairytalecatrina #sashalacatrina #lacatrina #diademuertos #catrina — plus #catsoftiktok or #petsoftiktok for the pet versions.
Tips that separate good versions from great ones
- Match the photo to the reveal. Catrín needs a more formal angle; Flower Toss works best with a waist-up portrait; the pet reveals need the whole face of the animal.
- Lighting makes the makeup. A bright, evenly lit portrait gives the AI clean skin to paint the sugar-skull detail onto — harsh shadows smudge the line work.
- Plain backgrounds transform cleaner. The samples were shot in ordinary rooms on purpose; a cluttered background competes with the petals and candles.
- Post before the wave crests. The trend peaked on 1 November, but Catrina content revives every Día de Muertos — an evergreen seasonal clip.
- Credit the format when it fits. The flower-toss choreography belongs to @thybui.__; a small credit in the caption costs nothing and reads well.
FAQ
How many photos does a Catrina AI video need? One — a front-facing portrait for the human reveals, or one clear pet photo for the cat reveal. No duo photos, no scene images.
Can I use a photo of someone who passed away? Technically the tool works with any portrait, but this trend is a costume transformation, not a memorial. Día de Muertos memorial posts are their own tradition — a photo at an ofrenda with marigolds — and mixing the two can read as disrespectful.
Which reveal should a first-timer pick? Flower Toss. It is the most recognized version of the trend, the motion is simple, and the before/after contrast lands hardest.
Why is the clip only 5-15 seconds? Because the reveal is one continuous shot — that is the format. Short keeps the loop tight, and the loop is what racks up rewatches.
Do I own the video? Yes — you download the MP4 and post it wherever you want. Full details are on the Sasha La Catrina AI template page.
Is this the same as real Catrina makeup videos? No. Those are artists painting real sugar-skull faces — genuine skill content, no AI. This trend is the AI transformation into the fairy-tale movie version.