2023 year in pictures - hottest photos from Edwin Castro shopping to Ryan Edwards in court & Kim Mathers' new look

AS THE year draws to a close, let's take a look at some of the hottest photos of 2023 that made some of the biggest stories.

From celebrity lookalikes to a battle over the biggest Powerball jackpot in history, The U.S. Sun has covered it all.

Over the summer, we were the first to bring you the name of the suspected Long Island serial killer Rex Heuermann.

As well as this, there were also the first images of Natalia Grace in public for the first time in years.

We're diving into some of the hottest photos of the year - how many of them do you remember?

JANUARY - KING RICHARD INTERVIEW

Serena Williams' father "King Richard" sat down with The U.S. Sun for his first interview in years to discuss the Hollywood biopic King Richard, in which he was played by Will Smith.

The former tennis coach was asked about THAT slap at the Oscars in 2022 on the night that Smith won the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena's father.

"I really appreciate him doing so very much so I could never criticize him," Richard said, adding that a 10-year ban from the Academy was too harsh.

He was nonplussed about the incident overshadowing the movie about his family, though he does condone violence.

"No, [Will Smith has] done a great deal for myself and my family. I think he did extremely well, it was very wonderful," he said.

FEBRUARY - DOLLY PARTON LOOK-ALIKE CONTEST

New York City's Mable's Smokehouse held its annual Dolly Parton look-alike contest that saw busty blondes gather to show off their garments and their knowledge of country music and the woman at its center.

"You can have perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect everything, and if you don't really know anything about Dolly, you're not gonna take it home," Mable Smokehouse owner Meghan said in an exclusive talk with The U.S Sun.

Since its beginning in 2016, fans have spent thousands on their outfits and have taken part in unusual tasks to be crowned winner at the sold-out shows.

Last year, Meghan said, they had the contestants "pin the Botox on Kenny Rogers. You just never know what's going to happen."

MARCH - KATHIE LEE TAKES A TUMBLE

Back in March, Today alum Kathie Lee Gifford was pictured for the first time in public with her businessman boyfriend Richard Spitz, 63.

The loved-up pair was seen leaving a gym in Nashville, Tennessee when she took a tumble and was helped up from the pavement by Spitz.

"Kathie Lee and Richard have been enjoying each other's company for some time," an insider told The U.S. Sun.

However, nine months on while still going to the gym, the pair have been seen looking tense as her family "disapproves" of the romance.

APRIL - TAMMY SLATON BREAKING DIET AND VAPING

1000-lb. Sisters star Tammy Slaton was seen on a junk food spree at a local Kentucky McDonald's on Easter weekend, breaking her strict diet and sparking health concerns.

The 36-year-old also visited Wendy's and Walmart as she was photographed vaping while riding an electric scooter and holding her oxygen tank.

The insider shared that sisters Tammy and Amy were at the Walmart for nearly two hours.

The pair emerged with carts loaded to the brim with Twinkies, chips, toys, and more, according to a source.

Tammy had previously spent 14 months at an Ohio weight loss rehab clinic where she reportedly quit smoking, drinking, and vaping and lost a shocking 300 pounds.

MAY - MOM OF TEEN KILLER AIDEN FUCCI IN COURT

Aiden Fucci's mother Crystal Smith was sentenced to jail time as part of a plea deal after her 14-year-old son brutally murdered his classmate Tristyn Bailey, 13.

Smith was charged with evidence tampering in Tristyn's death after she was accused of washing blood off her son's jeans following the murder.

Exclusive pictures by The U.S. Sun showed Tristyn's family exchanging hugs and talking about the proceedings outside the courthouse after the bombshell hearing.

Fucci stabbed Bailey, his 13-year-old classmate, 114 times on May 9, 2021, near a retention pond in Jacksonville.

The teen later confessed to the murder in court and received a sentence of life in prison on March 24, 2023.

Smith was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation over the evidence tampering accusations, per News4Jax.

JUNE -  NATALIA GRACE SEEN FOR FIRST TIME IN YEARS

In June, The U.S. Sun pictured Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace as she was seen for the first time with her new adoptive family.

Natalia was accused of being an "adult sociopath" with dwarfism posing as a 6-year-old after being taken in by Michael and Kristine Barnett in 2010.

Exclusive photographs showed Natalia with her new dad, 39-year-old pastor Antwon Mans, at a supermarket in Greencastle, Indiana.

The Barnetts said Natalia had tried to fatally harm the couple and their children, which she denied, and that they discovered the "truth" that she wasn't a child when she had full pubic hair and had started her period.

An interview called Natalia Speaks aired later in the summer after the release of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which concluded on May 31 on ID Discovery.

JULY - LONG ISLAND SERIAL KILLER SUSPECT IDENTIFIED

The U.S. Sun was the first outlet to name Rex Heuermann as the man who was arrested as the suspected Long Island serial killer.

Heuermann's arrest followed a raid at a property in Massapequa Park, Long Island, directly north of where the bodies of four women were found near Gilgo Beach in 2010.

The 60-year-old was arrested on July 13 outside his Midtown Manhattan office.

He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009 and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello in 2010.

All of the women were sex workers in their 20s whose remains were found wrapped in burlap and dumped within a quarter-mile of each other near Gilgo Beach, on Long Island, in late 2010.

AUGUST - MADALINA COJOCARI'S GRANDMA BREAKS DOWN

In August, the mother of missing schoolgirl Madalina Cojocari appeared in court for failure to report her daughter's disappearance back in November 2022.

Outside the courtroom, Madalina's grandmother Rodica Cojocari, and the mother of Diana Cojocari, told The U.S. Sun that she believes that her granddaughter is alive and in the US.

She broke down in tears outside of court following the hearing in which her daughter pleaded not guilty.

"I love her [Madalina] very much," Rodica told The U.S. Sun. "Madalina and Diana, I love them so much."

The 12-year-old girl was last seen getting off the school bus in her suburban Cornelius neighborhood - about 20 miles north of uptown Charlotte - on November 21, 2022, and has not yet been located.

SEPTEMBER - KIM MATHERS' NEW LOOK & KAILYN LOWRY'S GROWING BABY BUMP

September was a busy month for celebrities debuting new looks with Kim Mathers looking unrecognizable with tattoos and cropped hair while Teen Mom star Kailyn Lowry showed off her growing baby bump.

Mathers, the former wife of rapper Eminem - whose real name is Marshall Mathers - was photographed for the first time in years while on a shopping trip in Macomb, Michigan.

The 48-year-old has had a tough time as of late following the death of her mother and her reported suicide attempt.

The exclusive photos feature Kim with a new rockstar look with cropped and bleached hair, as she showed off her petite frame in a revealing halterneck backless light denim jumpsuit.

She had not been photographed since 2018 and has since added dozens of tattoos to her collection, including cover-ups on her tribal designs and a full sleeve down her left arm.

Meanwhile, Teen Mom star Kailyn Lowry, 31, was seen outside her podcast studio in Delaware with a growing baby bump underneath her T-shirt less than a year after the secret birth of her fifth child.

The pictures of Lowry reignited pregnancy rumors with her bump on full display in the photographs for The U.S. Sun despite the star having yet to confirm the pregnancy.

Kailyn eventually confirmed that she was pregnant with twins in October while speaking on her podcast Barely Famous.

Last month two sources exclusively confirmed to The U.S. Sun that Kailyn had officially given birth to the babies, a boy, and a girl, though she has yet to confirm the news.

The former TV star shares both Rio and the twins with her boyfriend Elijah Scott, 25.

OCTOBER - BRITNEY SPEARS' FORMER FLAME WADE ROBSON

Australian choreographer Wade Robson was spotted for the first time since Britney Spears revealed that she had cheated on Justin Timberlake with him.

The 41-year-old arrived in Miami for a dance event following Spears' memoir which was said to reveal their fling while the singer and Timberlake were together.

The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that Spears' confession would feature in her memoir The Woman in Me.

Asked how he was feeling following the revelation, Robson stayed silent and declined to answer.

Of her fling with Robson, Britney wrote: "We were out one night and we went to a Spanish bar. We danced and danced. I made out with him that night."

Britney, 41, split up with Justin in 2002 after three years together.

NOVEMBER - RYAN EDWARDS IN COURT

Last month The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that the former Teen Mom star was found guilty of speeding over 145 mph, reckless driving, DUI, and possession of controlled a substance.

The jail sentence was suspended and to be completed on probation instead, however, he is now doing jail time after violating the conditions of his probation.

Ryan was arrested during a December 5 court hearing after District Attorney Coty Wamp told Judge Starnes that he failed to follow the terms of his plea deal. 

The father of three appeared in Hamilton County General Sessions Court on Friday, December 8 where it was revealed that Ryan passed a drug test, but that he broke other terms of his probation.

Edwards was given at least a month behind bars as Judge Starnes told him: "I’m going to move this to January 17.  My inclination is to have you serve three years."

DECEMBER - EDWIN CASTRO'S SHOPPING SPREE AND HIS RIVAL IN COURT

Powerball winner Edwin Castro who won the biggest jackpot in history has had a rocky year despite his win as rival Jose Rivera claimed to own the winning ticket, sparking a major legal battle.

However, in December Edwin was spotted shopping for real estate in exclusive photos by The U.S. Sun after Rivera spoke out about criminal charges he's facing over the $2.3 billion prize.

The 31-year-old billionaire has been enjoying his fortune without any troubles as he was seen meeting with a realtor in Los Angeles, California earlier this month.

The former mechanic rolled up in a pristine white vintage Porsche that he's added to his growing collection of luxury cars to look at properties.

Meanwhile, an exclusive report by The U.S. Sun revealed that Rivera is demanding "justice" after appearing in court for the first time since being charged with filing a false police report.

He had said that his former landlord, Urachi F. Romero, stole the winning ticket he purchased in November 2022 before it ended up in Castro's hands, which both Castro and Romero deny.

Rivera spoke out in an exclusive video interview with The U.S. Sun following his first appearance at court in Pasadena, California, to face charges.

He said: "It's ridiculous that they are trying to put charges on me for my own ticket. I don't have words for it.

"But I showed them that I am the rightful winner. I was the one who bought the ticket. I’m going to show everyone that I'm the rightful winner."