The viral Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest that captivated social media in October spawned a continuously growing list of copycats around the globe, including Irishmen dressing as actor Paul Mescal for a grand prize of 20 euros earlier this month and Chicagoans channelling “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White this past weekend.
Timothée Chalamet lookalikes went viral for gathering in Washington Square Park on Oct. 27. (AP ... [+]
New Yorkers gathered in Washington Square Park dressed as actor Timothée Chalamet, the first of many viral celebrity lookalike competitions, which drew hundreds of attendees (including the actor himself) and was shut down by police because organizer and YouTuber Anthony Po did not have a permit for the contest.
The lookalike contests went global as Dubliners assembled in Smithfield Square to compete for the title of best Paul Mescal lookalike, with many mimicking his typical style of short gym shorts, a jacket or sweater and wired earbuds (25-year-old Jack Wall O’Reilly won the contest after matching the actor’s fashion and mannerisms, Metro UK reported).
A Harry Styles lookalike contest took place in London’s Soho Square, organized by journalist Katrina Mirpuri with a grand prize of £50, attracting 12 competitors and more than 100 spectators.
South Asian men gathered in San Francisco’s Dolores Park to emulate the actor Dev Patel, with hundreds of attendees watching as San Jose, California, resident Jaipreet Hundal won the title, a check for $50 and a statue of “Monkey Man,” the action film Patel directed and starred in earlier this year.
A Jeremy Allen White lookalike contest in Chicago attracted more than 50 competitors and hundreds of spectators, many of whom copied the actor’s signature chef look from the series “The Bear,” with winner Ben Shabad taking home $50 and a pack of cigarettes.
Hundreds attended the Zayn Malik lookalike contest in Brooklyn, with 29-year-old Shiv Patel winning the competition—though the contest went viral online as many internet users felt the finalists didn’t really look much like the former One Direction singer.
Flyers have been spotted advertising a Zendaya lookalike contest at Wilma Chan Park in Oakland, California, the first in this viral series of lookalike competitions with a female subject, with prizes including $40, shampoo and conditioner.
Flyers are advertising a lookalike contest for the characters Art Donaldson and Patrick Zweig, played by Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor in the 2024 film “Challengers,” at the Westwood Park tennis courts in Los Angeles for a grand prize of $50 in cash.
A John F. Kennedy lookalike contest is scheduled to take place in Boston Common, the first in the celebrity lookalike craze to highlight a politician instead of a celebrity, for a $50 cash prize.
The viral Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest drew hundreds of attendees and dozens of people dressed up as Chalamet in his best-known film roles, including Willy Wonka and his “Dune” character. 21-year-old Miles Mitchell, who dressed as Wonka, won the $50 grand prize. The event was organized by YouTuber Anthony Po, who has pulled other viral stunts, like attracting hundreds of New Yorkers to watch him eat a jar of cheeseballs in April. The real Chalamet surprised by showing up, taking pictures with some of the lookalikes and greeting attendees. But the event became chaotic as police moved to break it up, reportedly taking four people into custody. One contestant, Matt Mannix, told Teen Vogue he was detained for more than an hour by New York police and was released with a court summons on four charges: two charges for failure to comply with directions from park staff, police officers, or park signs; one for disorderly conduct; and another for trespassing. The organizers were fined $500—10 times the grand prize money—for holding an “unpermitted costume contest.”
After the Chalamet lookalike competition, flyers for additional contests began popping up in cities worldwide, which were then posted to social media, where they went viral. The contests appear to have different organizers and are not connected to one another. Some of the attendees of the Mescal contest told the Irish Independent they had attended the competition because they heard about the viral Chalamet event. Some of the event organizers and attendees say they participated because the events are lighthearted and funny, with the Patel contest organizers telling NBC News they “made this event on a whim as a joke” and had only put up a single flyer, which went viral.
Chalamet is still the only celebrity to have attended one of their own lookalike contests held over the past few weeks.
‘You look really well’: ‘Earbuds Paul’ crowned winner of Paul Mescal lookalike contest – with top prize of €20 (Irish Independent)
Timothée Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest after police shut down crowded event (Associated Press)
Arrested Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Matt Mannix Doesn’t Know ‘What the Hell’ to Think About All This (Teen Vogue)