What’s hotter than celebrities? Competitions that look like celebrities.

In recent weeks, pop culture counterparts have flocked to parks and squares from New York to San Francisco to London to battle it out for the coveted title, $50 prize and bragging rights.

This weekend, dozens of apron-wearing, smoking competitors gathered in Chicago to compete for the championship title. Jeremy Allen White lookalikeA Zayn Malik competition in New York revealed many winners and many people. internet fans.

Popular culture’s social media accounts are reporting more such contests in the coming days; Zendaya In Oakland and elsewhere Art and Patrick From “The Challengers” in Los Angeles. Many users also jokingly advert similar “in my room” celebrity crush contests.

Perhaps they’re hoping the celebrity in question will eventually show up — after all, that happened at the first lookalike contest in late October, when Timothée Chalamet met a sea of ​​his lookalikes in a Manhattan park.

Other contestants, including Harry Styles, Dev Patel and Paul Mescal, have not been named. But the events, often promoted through flyers and social media posts, have attracted large in-person crowds and a sizeable online fan base.

Erin Meyers, professor of communication Oakland University An expert on celebrity and viewer culture, he has some ideas as to why these contests have become popular.

First, he tells NPR, people are longing for moments of fun and lightness, looking for connection and real-life experiences — especially these days.

“These are not a protest. They are not an election rally,” he explains. “They’re not things that have been discussed a lot lately. They’re around something a little more fun and they’re pretty grassroots.”

Meyers notes that the viral Chalamet contest happened organically: It wasn’t organized by a company or movie studio trying to promote anything, and it was attended by people who were genuinely curious about the posters.

However, people who come to these competitions are not necessarily motivated by their undying love for celebrities.

“I think it’s not just a bunch of people who think Chalamet is the best actor or the hottest guy, but also because he’s a glam icon right now… and if your friends say you look like him, or if you can do it. Prove that you look like him.” , then you’ve proven that you’re attractive,” says Meyers.

Similar pageants, drag performances and icon impersonators, from Marilyn Monroe to Elvis Presley, have been around for decades.

But Meyers says today’s pageants are different: It’s relatively new for men to publicly demonstrate that they want to look a certain way and get approval to do so. He attributes the change to a number of factors, including social media, loneliness and consumer culture.

Some competitions featured participants of all genders, but most of the contestants and all of the celebrities were male. That’s no surprise to Meyer, who says social pressure to look like beautiful celebrities has long been “the norm for women.”

“The history of media representation is especially about giving these standards for women to live by,” says Meyers. “You’re already trying to look like Kim Kardashian or someone else, and you’re trying to imitate them in your social media posts. I guess it doesn’t seem that new.”

That’s why Meyers suspects more “campy” outfits and makeup may be seen if the Zendaya competition moves forward.

So where can they go from here? Meyers thinks the racing fad will likely die down, whether it’s because winter weather makes meetings difficult, the trend is adopted by corporate interests, or for some other reason.

“The Internet is a fickle place, and the things that are fun and exciting for people today will be forgotten in a few months. Maybe celebrities will burn out, I don’t know,” Meyers says, then pauses and corrects himself. “Well, we’ll never run out of celebrities.”

Let’s take a look at the competitions we’ve seen so far:

October 27: Timothée Chalamet in New York

In the weeks leading up to the event, posters advertising the Chalamet lookalike contest appeared in Manhattan and on social media. On that fateful Sunday, thousands of Chalamet wannabes, curious journalists and eager spectators gathered in New York’s Washington Square Park.

Chalamet made a surprise appearance wearing a black face mask and baseball cap. sneak into the crowd He revealed his identity with excited screams – unnoticed by the hordes of people claiming to bear his resemblance. He took a short photo with his fans AP reportedmany were dressed as his characters Wonka And Dune.

That wasn’t the only excitement of the day.

New York police and Parks Department officials shut down the event before it even started. Gothamist reportedorders the crowd to disperse and even arrest of one of the participants. YouTuber Anthony PoThe organizer of the event was fined $500 for not obtaining a permit, but steadfastly directed the crowd to another nearby park to get back to business.

The AP reported that the final four were asked about their “French proficiency, plans to make the world a better place and romantic intentions with Kylie Jenner.” actor connected Since 2023.

After a judging round based on audience applause, Staten Island’s Miles Mitchell, wearing a purple Willy Wonka suit and throwing candy from his briefcase into the crowd.

Mitchell, a senior at Seton Hall University, later told the student newspaper: Setonian She said she decided to participate after friends sent her flyers for the event and found her costume at Goodwill the day before.

“Okay, why not?” I thought. said Mitchell. “I’m not doing anything today.”

Organizer Po, he told Gothamist It said earlier this month that it had nothing to do with the various similar competitions that have emerged since then.

“I’m not trying to beat a dead horse,” Po said. “If other people want to do this for fun, I encourage it, I think it’s cute. But I have other things to do.”

7 November: Paul Mescal in Dublin

Inspired by the Chalamet competition, Irish fans quickly followed suit, calling for a clone of one of their own: actor Paul Mescal, who rose to fame on the series. Normal People and the stars in the upcoming movie Gladiator II.

Activity, Advertised on TikTok and local flyers brought about 200 people and about half a dozen contestants to Dublin’s Smithfield Square on Thursday. USA Today And Vulture. Most people wore short athletic shorts and wired headphones; So is Mescal. often photographed wearing out and about.

The contestants were tested in part while delivering one of Mescal’s lines. Normal People: “You look really good.”

Jack Wall O’Reilly, 24, won the top prize: a check for “twenty euros or three pints.” He was given a megaphone after winning address the crowd and offered a word of encouragement.

““I think there’s a Paul Mescal in all of us,” he said.

Mescal was in Dublin but was unable to attend the event because he was busy promoting Gladiator II. However, he later told the British radio station: Absolute Radio He had heard about it while he was in the city. During the interview, Mescal was shown photos of various contestants and asked to guess who won; He made the right choice, showing off the headphones.

November 9: Harry Styles in London

Lots of Harry Styles that weekend fans and peers He flooded London’s Soho Square hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop star or at least collect the £50 prize.

Journalist Katrina Mirpuri, who organized the competition, said: he told the BBC he did so because “people need some fun after all the bleak news we’ve been getting.” And the sea of ​​cardigans, pearl necklaces, trendy sunglasses and flowing curls did not disappoint.

The winner was a 22-year-old musician. Oscar PassengerHe took off his brown jacket, prompting loud cheers from the crowd. He later said that he entered the contest to promote his rock band; This was something he had in common with the boy band’s breakout star.

“It was a pretty intense environment, from morning coffee to 100 people screaming,” Journeaux said, according to USA Today. “I guess this is a little taste of what he went through.”

November 10: Dev Patel in San Francisco

Friends Sitara Bellam, Tasnim Khandakar and Sahana Rangarajan said: San Francisco Chronicle He said they originally planned to have a Robert Pattison lookalike, but after seeing others’ plays they decided to switch to a non-white actor.

They cast British Indian actor Patel, citing the lack of South Asian actors in entertainment and mainstream media.

About 50 people attended the event at Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco; some as competitors, some as fans; A few of them also narrated the incident. History they were “husband hunting”.

Twenty-five-year-old Jaipreet Hundal emerged victorious, winning not only the title and $50 prize, but also a small monkey statue, a nod to Patel’s 2024 directorial debut. Monkey Man. He said his girlfriend encouraged him to enter and “He always says I look like Dev Patel… I really didn’t know I would win.”

“I appeal to everyone who looks like Dev Patel,” Hundal said in his victory speech. NBC News. “If the real Dev Patel comes out, I don’t know who will win, me or him?”

November 16: Jeremy Allen White in Chicago

The Jeremy Allen White lookalike contest drew more than 50 contestants to Chicago’s Humboldt Park, home of the gritty TV series that launched him to fame.

Many contestants wore the white t-shirt and blue bib combination he popularized. Bear The character is Chef Carmy Berzatto. Some even brought their cigarettes (classic Carmy). member station WBEZ.

The winner, 37-year-old mental health therapist Ben Shabad, took home a pack of Marlboro Red cigarettes in addition to the $50 prize. He received the most applause from the audience, who celebrated his victory by giving him a crown and lifting it into the air.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “This is the coolest thing I’ve done all week.”

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