Celebrity look-alike competitions are popping up across the globe and are the internet’s newest obsession.
The trend started in October when flyers advertising a Timotheé Chalamet look-alike competition were posted around New York City. The event took place Oct. 27 in Washington Square Park and was hosted by Anthony Po a YouTube content creator, who offered a $50 prize to the person who closely resembled the Hollywood heartthrob.
Thousands flocked to the park for the competition, including around 40 Chalamet look-alikes. Contestants dressed up as characters from Chalamet’s iconic roles, such as Paul Atreides from “Dune: Part One” (2021) and Bob Dylan from his upcoming biopic “A Complete Unknown” (2024).
In a YouTube video posted Nov. 1 — just days after the competition — Po revealed he was the mastermind behind the event but did not expect the chaos that would ensue. The event quickly drew police, who attempted to shut it down. Several attendees were fined and four were arrested.
At the peak of the madness, Chalamet himself surprised everyone and revealed he was at the event the whole time. Chalamet took pictures with his look-alikes and fans who attended, but his presence wreaked havoc among the crowd and temporarily paused the competition.
Despite the disruption, Po was determined to continue the competition. After moving locations, Po brought out each Chalamet look-alike. Onlookers chanted “yay” or “nay” to determine the finalists. Then, the panel of judges determined the top five Chalamet dopplegängers.
The winner was Miles Mitchell, who wore a purple trench coat inspired by Chalamet’s Willy Wonka and tossed candy to the crowd. Mitchell walked away with his $50 check and a large trophy.
The contest went viral and within days, a surge of similar look-alike competitions inspired by Po were announced worldwide.
A Paul Mescal competition took place Nov. 7 in Dublin, Ireland, with imitators donning Mescal’s signature streetwear look: athletic shorts, a baseball cap and wired earbuds. A Harry Styles competition was held in London's Soho Square two days later. Oscar Journeaux, a 22-year-old singer and guitarist who resembled Styles during his One Direction days, won the prize.
Both competitions sparked heated debates on social media about the winners. Many users argued over which contestants should have won and who most resembled the respective celebrities.
The Dev Patel look-alike contest that occurred Nov. 10 in San Francisco sparked no debates. Jaipreet Hundal, a 25-year-old from San Jose, California, looked nearly identical to the actor. Many social media users agreed the resemblance was uncanny.
Additional competitions recently took place, including a Jeremy Allen White contest Saturday in Chicago and a Zayn Malik contest Sunday in New York.
More events are already in the works, including a Zendaya look-alike competition Nov. 20 in Oakland, California, and one for her “Challengers” (2024) co-stars, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, Nov. 24 in Los Angeles.
Whether these competitions are a fleeting trend, a clever publicity stunt or simply an excuse to celebrate attractive celebrities, one thing is clear: the world has become obsessed with finding the ultimate celebrity doppelgänger.
