Celebrity lookalike contests are about more than just good looks and big egos

There’s something pretty daring about telling people you look like a celebrity – especially if your supposed doppelganger is one of the sexiest people in the world.

But that hasn’t deterred the hundreds of men in Britain and America who are taking part in the recent craze for similar competitions.

It all started at the Timothée Chalamet pageant in New York three weeks ago, which even attracted the actual actor himself.

Since then, similar contests have attracted crowds of young people hoping to catch a glimpse of someone who bears a striking resemblance to Harry Styles, Dev Patel or Paul Mescal.

With eternal bragging rights, five minutes of fame and (trivial) cash prizes, winners and organizers explain why these events are a success.

Our fascination with celebrity lookalikes is nothing particularly new – Stars in Their Eyes, a show in which amateur lookalikes impersonate singers, aired on ITV for 16 years. The format was revived as Starstruck in 2022.

But the latest competitions all have one thing in common: the stars are all young, attractive and masculine.

Timothée Chalamet pageant contestant Avani Johnson says she believes the latest trend has developed because “women are taking the opportunity to objectify men in a complete shift in power dynamics” .

She added that it also gives us a chance to “laugh at the absurdity of beauty pageants”.

Miles Mitchell, a 20-year-old student, won the award for best lookalike of Timothée Chalamet last month at the trend-setting contest.

Miles was first told he looked like Chalamet while studying in Korea.

“I was there when Dune was released, so people kept asking me in stores and restaurants if I was Timothée on the press tour.”

He said he was drawn to the competition because, as a college student in New York, “socializing can be really expensive so my friends and I liked the fact that this was a free and fun event”.

“It was just something a little different and quirky that I wanted to be a part of.”

The event caused a storm on social media, with one person commenting on the town’s strange events”.

Although the real Timothée came and took photos with some of the lookalikes, Miles did not get a chance to meet the American actor.

“He arrived just as the police closed the event so I moved to a secondary location to hold the event. It’s a shame I didn’t get to meet him.”

Oscar Journeaux, a 22-year-old musician, recently won a Harry Styles look-alike contest in central London and admitted he entered it “for publicity”.

“I thought I could gain a bit of fame and promote my music and this industry is so difficult to break into, you really have to work hard.”

Oscar, who says he once missed a train because a fan insisted he sign autographs, added: “People want to think these events have a deeper meaning, but really they all We’re all just bored Millennials and Gen Zers looking for something to entertain us.” DO.”

Keenan Gregor, who joined as blonde Harry, said that he joined because he “wanted to be part of something that could go viral”.

Journalist Katrina Mirpuri said she organized the lookalike contest because “people need a little joy after all the gloomy news we’re facing”.

Despite worrying that “no one would come”, she said half of Soho Square was filled with fans and admirers.

Although most of the contestants didn’t look much like Harry, “the girls shouted for each man as they stood up and twirled, so they were doing something right”.

“It’s not really about who looks the most like Harry,” Katrina explains. “It’s a way for people to be positive and celebrate each other, which is what we need when people are so nasty and negative on social media.”

She has now set her sights on organizing another competition but this time “for someone older, like Hugh Grant”.

Jaipreet Hundal had a pretty fun weekend when he was crowned the most convincing looking star Dev Patel in San Francisco.

He told the BBC: “The best thing was when I showed up, some people thought I was the real Dev Patel and they were so happy that he had come to the event.”

The 25-year-old said looking like the Slumdog Millionaire actor “gave him a glimpse of what being a celebrity is like”.

He explains that the trend is popular now because “it’s a great way for people to get together and have a good time.”

Sudev Namboodiri, who drove hours to participate in the competition and was told almost every day he looked like Dev, said “the aim is not to win”.

“It’s fun to meet new people and it’s great when hundreds of young people decide to come and hang out.”

After the recent tense election in the US, “people really need to disconnect from everything and have a little fun,” he added.

Julyus Odreman has spent a decade being mistaken for Zayn Malik, but he can’t see it for himself because he says he’s “not that handsome.”

Julyus, from Venezuela, said his friends think he looks so much like Zayn that “people don’t even call me by my real name anymore”.

His resemblance to the former One Direction star means he is often stopped by “groups of girls on the subway or on the street”.

He also had to pretend to be a British singer when he met his friend’s 4-year-old son, who “insisted that I was really him”.

“I didn’t want to burst his bubble because he was so excited to meet someone famous, so I just went along with it.”

He will introduce Zayn on Saturday at a similar pageant in New York, hosted by Jaz Arnold, who was inspired by the Timothée Chalamet pageant.

“Zayn is extremely hot and it’s hard to imagine we could find someone as beautiful as him,” she said.

She added that it’s “hilarious and brave” that so many people think they look as good as Zayn and she can’t wait to see who shows up.

For Jaz, the competition is also about bringing people together.

“In big cities, it’s hard to feel part of a community so I wanted to do something fun to be welcomed and accepted.”

She also said that young people are “so tired of social media and the state of the world” that a silly event like this “is a pure escape, even if it’s just for a while.” or two hours”.