What’s With All the Celebrity Lookalike Contests?

Where is the winner of the Harry Styles comp? Asking for a friend 👀

Something strange has been happening all across the world. And no, for once, it has nothing to do with politics.

Instead, the entire world has been hit with multiple, celebrity lookalike contests where people have come out in hoards to enter or just to be part of the general vibes of the event.

How did this phenomenon begin? It began where all slightly unhinged and terrifying things begin of course.

With Timothée Chalamet.

The first celeb lookalike contest.

In late October, the Wonka actor himself made an appearance at his own lookalike content in New York City. Evidently, the whole event became a lot more exciting as the Timothée Chalamet had turned up. Eventually fans were confusing the real Timothée with the Timothée lookalikes and the event got a bit rowdy. So much so that the police showed up and the organisers were fined $500.

The coveted winner was eventually crowned: Miles Mitchell, a college senior who dressed as Timothée’s Willy Wonka.

So began an onslaught of lookalike contests.

After this, more and more celeb lookalike contests were being hosted by different cities around the world. Dublin hosted a Paul Mescal comp, London hosted a Harry Styles comp, San Francisco hosted a Dev Patel contest and Chicago hosted a Jeremy Allen White one.

Down under, Triple J Drive ran a Dom Dolla lookalike comp – which saw over 250 Dom Dolla lookalikes turn up.

If you think it stopped there, you would be incorrect. There were also lookalike contests being held for some lesser-known people. Washington DC held a Jack Schlossberg lookalike contest (aka the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy) and Los Angeles held a Shohei Ohtani contest (Dodgers player).

There was even an Art and Patrick lookalike contest. As in the characters from Challengers played by Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor. The winners who were crowned in LA even ate churros together.

Next comps.

The world is yet to be done with lookalike comps as there are still a few more to come during the silly season.

In December there will be a Dylan Minette, Mark Lee (from K-pop band NCT) and a John F. Kennedy lookalike competition to come.

Why the obsession?

After Timothée crashed his own lookalike contest, it’s safe to say a lot of fans are turning up to other lookalike contests in the hopes that other celebs will rock up too.

And in our cultural expertise, we think it’s also a way for fans to gather and have some fun together. It’s been a big year, people could be mentally exhausted and hanging out with other people who like the same celeb as you is emotionally relaxing.

And we can’t say we didn’t appreciate the inevitable Jacob Elordi lookalike contest.