Silhouette Stars by Ritzy Nanda and Massuda

Effect

Silhouette Stars is a visual mentalism trick that transforms a prediction into the chosen celebrity silhouette. The magician shows six black-and-white celebrity portraits (such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, or Albert Einstein). A spectator selects one, and the magician places a prediction card next to it. Initially, the prediction doesn’t match—but with a wave, it visibly changes into the selected celebrity. The gimmick is examinable at the end, making the transformation even more baffling.

Full Details

Silhouette Stars is a variation of the classic WOW gimmick, adapted for mentalism instead of card magic. The set includes:

• Six celebrity silhouette cards (forced to always land on a specific choice).
• A prediction card that visually changes into the selected celebrity.
• A plastic sleeve (the gimmick) that allows the transformation and remains examinable after the effect.

The trick relies on a self-working force, ensuring the spectator always picks the intended celebrity. The transformation happens instantly, with no suspicious moves, and the gimmick can be handed out for inspection.

Who Should Consider the Trick

• Mentalists looking for a visual, examinable prediction effect.
• Close-up performers who want a quick, high-impact routine.
• Magicians who enjoy WOW-style transformations but want something beyond card tricks.

One limitation is the fixed celebrity selection—meaning the same outcome repeats if performed multiple times for the same audience. However, the effect is strong enough that most spectators won’t see it more than once.

Difficulty

The trick is moderate in difficulty, primarily due to setup. Some reviewers, like magic-tv’s Craig, initially struggled with resetting the gimmick, while others found it straightforward. The performance itself is simple, with no complex sleight of hand required.

What Magicians Say

• magic-tv: Praised the examinable gimmick and visual impact but noted the limited celebrity choices. Ryland rated it 95%, calling it "really good," while Craig gave it 79%, appreciating the effect but admitting it wasn’t his style.
• monstermagicshop (Alex Kirk): Loved the "dramatic visual change" and examinable finish but criticized the flimsy card stock and dated celebrity options. Still, he called it a "cracking evolution" of the WOW gimmick.

Overall, Silhouette Stars is a strong, visually striking trick best suited for performers who want a clean, examinable mentalism piece with minimal sleight of hand.