These contests have inspired fans to organize their own lookalike events for their favorite celebrities

Last October, a crowd of excited fans gathered around Washington Square Park in New York City for an unusual event. It wasn’t a concert, a movie screening, or even a protest—it was a lookalike contest for Timothée Chalamet.

The contest, organized by YouTuber Anthony Po, was anything but ordinary. What started as a fun event resulted in a few arrests, a $500 fine, and the ultimate plot twist—a surprise appearance by none other than the Oscar-nominated Timothée Chalamet, turning the spectacle into a moment fans would never forget.

@jadiecakes_ timothee chalamet at his lookalike contest 😭😭 #timotheechalamet ♬ original sound – jadiecakes_

These contests have inspired fans to organize their own lookalike events for their favorite celebrities. All it takes is putting up posters around the community and letting social media work its magic to draw in participants and audiences alike. The rules? Either show up as a real doppelgänger or just dress like the celebrity. 

It also opened the new wave of lookalike contests, with Dubliners turning up in droves to showcase their resemblance to Paul Mescal. This was soon followed by contests for Harry Styles, Dev Patel, Jeremy Allen White, Zayn Malik, Zendaya, Glen Powell, and many more.

READ: Timothee Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest

Lookalike contests in pop culture

Lookalike contests aren’t a recent trend in 2024; rather, they’ve experienced a resurgence this year, fueled by the viral power of social media and memes.

In fact, Charlie Chaplin Jr. recalled that his father not only entered but also placed third in his own lookalike contest held at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood between 1915 and 1921.

The 1930s also saw a wave of Shirley Temple lookalike competitions, including one in Sydney, Australia, and in a 1935 Cleveland Food Show, where more than 900 children participated. The success of the Cleveland event was so overwhelming that organizers hosted three more contests, celebrating stars like Myrna Loy, Alice Faye, and Katharine Hepburn. 

The internet transformed lookalike contests, bringing them to platforms like YouTube in the early 2000s, where fans shared their celebrity impersonations. The rise of social media in the 2010s took lookalike contests to new heights, with users sharing videos of themselves impersonating celebrities, often complete with bodyguards, and pulling off pranks in public spaces to fool unsuspecting crowds.

Drag impersonation is a celebrated part of pop culture, where performers transform into icons like Madonna, Cher, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé with dazzling costumes and theatrical flair. These acts go beyond imitation, serving as creative and often humorous tributes to larger-than-life personalities. Shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” have brought drag impersonation into the mainstream, highlighting its artistry and cultural impact.

In the Philippines, lookalike contests have also made their mark, with one of the most popular being Kalokalike on the noontime show “It’s Showtime.” In this segment, contestants who bear an uncanny resemblance to public figures step onto the stage dressed in signature outfits that define their lookalike persona. One popular contestant channeled Taylor Lautner, competed with a performance of a dramatic scene from the Twilight saga and a rendition of Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” that remained too iconic in social media even 11 years after the segment aired.

What it reveals about our society

Growing up, being told you look like Harry Styles is one of those ‘accomplishments’ you’ll always carry with pride. While some may jokingly call you the ‘budget version,’ at least you’ll have the connection of resembling a global icon. But in an age when we’re constantly looking for deeper meaning in everything, it’s worth asking—does it really have to be that serious?

In Rachel Treisman’s article, “From Chalamet to Styles: Why Are Celebrity Lookalike Contests Suddenly Everywhere?” she interviews communications professor Erin Meyers, who attributes the rise of these contests to a collective longing for lighthearted, real-life experiences in a digital world often marked by division. These fun, grassroots events provide a space for connection, where participants, regardless of their level of fandom, build a community.

While participants may not always be fans of the celebrities they mimic, the contests provide a unique platform for validation. They allow individuals to prove their creativity and their ability to embody a public figure or even just to share a moment of connection with others who enjoy the same lighthearted, humorous atmosphere.

Meyers also highlights how societal shifts and social media have influenced this trend, especially with men embracing public displays of beauty and validation. Though historically associated with women, the pressures to emulate celebrity looks are now more visible across genders, driven by evolving cultural norms and consumer influence.

Now, more than ever, societal norms around beauty and celebrity have evolved, allowing a broader range of people to partake in the fun and validation that these contests provide. This shift reflects the evolving nature of celebrity culture, consumer influence, and the way we connect with public figures in the digital age.