The Look-Alike Contest Trend: Rosalía, Jeremy Allen White, Paul Mescal..
Which celebrity look-alike contest could you join?
Who doesn’t love dressing up as their favorite character? It’s common to see SpongeBob, Darth Vader, or Jack Sparrow costumes at Halloween or Carnival. But it’s far less common to dress up as a real person, let alone for a contest where the winner is the one who looks most like the chosen celebrity. Yet this is the latest trend that’s growing in popularity.
It all started with a viral Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest in New York, organized by a YouTuber. Thousands of people showed up, whether to participate or simply to watch this curious event. The frenzy reached new heights when Chalamet himself made a surprise appearance, taking photos with fans and his doubles.
Timothée Chalamet makes a surprise appearance at a look-alike context in New York. pic.twitter.com/npXCIzN6Fw
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 27, 2024
The trend was quickly followed by Paul Mescal, the star of Gladiator 2. To celebrate the movie’s release, a look-alike contest for the Irish actor was held in his home country. Suddenly, hordes of men appeared dressed as his characters—from Connell in Normal People to Lucius in Gladiator 2—and even in his signature casual looks, featuring short shorts, button-down shirts, and wired headphones.
@los40usa 👀✨¿Te pareces a algún famoso o famosa? ¡Pues entonces tienes que presentarte a un ‘look-alike contest’! Estos concursos son la nueva tendencia y además de pasarlo bien, puedes llevarte un premio. ¿A cuál te presentarías? ⬇️ #lookalikechallenge #lookalikecontest #rosalia #paulmescal #pesopluma #harrystyles #zayn ♬ sonido original – Chelsea Hotel Mag
Marcus O’Laoire, the event’s organizer, praised Mescal as one of the best things to come out of Ireland in recent years. He added, “There’s enough negativity in the world right now, so if you can bring a couple of hundred people together in Smithfield Square for a look-alike contest, that’s as good a reason as any.”
A few days later, it was Jeremy Allen White’s turn in Chicago, where a The Bear look-alike contest drew over 50 participants—including a baby! Many contestants opted for the signature style of White’s character in the show. The winner, Ben Shabad, walked away with a pack of cigarettes and $50 as a prize.
Rosalía Joins the Trend (Sort of)
The latest to inspire a contest—albeit indirectly—was Spanish superstar Rosalía. Her look-alike contest took place in Paris, the capital of fashion and romance. The winner, a TikToker from Madrid, sparked debate on social media, with opinions ranging from praise for her resemblance to accusations that she didn’t deserve the win.
@nssfrance Premier «LOOKALIKE CONTEST» à Paris et aujourd’hui nous sommes chez @cortado.paris et son concours de sosies de Rosalía. C’est ainsi que s’est déroulé l’événement. Que pensez-vous de la gagnante ? Est-ce qu’elle se ressemble à @La Rosalia ? #lookalike #lookalikecontest #larosalia #rosalia #paris #parislife #parisian #livinginparis #rosaliamotomami #sosies #concours ♬ BIZCOCHITO – ROSALÍA
Other stars like Zendaya, Zayn Malik, Tyla, Tom Holland and Harry Styles have also been “targets” of this trend. However, none have been as involved as Hit Man actor Glen Powell, who promised that the winner of his look-alike contest would get to include a cameo of their parents—or any family member—in his next film.