Timothee Chalamet to Harry Styles: Celeb lookalike contests are more than good looks and big egos

There is one thing fairly daring about telling individuals you appear to be somebody well-known – particularly in case your supposed doppelganger is likely one of the world’s largest heartthrobs.

But that hasn’t postpone the tons of of males within the UK and US who’ve taken half in a current craze for lookalike competitions.

It all began with the Timothée Chalamet competitors in New York three weeks in the past, which even attracted the true actor himself.

Since then, comparable contests have attracted crowds of younger individuals hoping to get a glimpse of somebody who vaguely resembles Harry Styles, Dev Patel or Paul Mescal.

With everlasting bragging rights, 5 minutes of fame and (paltry) money prizes up for grabs, the winners and organisers clarify why these occasions have taken off.

Our fascination with superstar lookalikes is nothing notably new – Stars in Their Eyes, a present through which beginner lookalikes impersonate singers, ran on ITV for 16 years. The format was revived as Starstruck in 2022.

But the most recent competitions all have one factor in frequent: the celebrities are all younger, enticing and male.

Avani Johnson, who was on the Timothée Chalamet contest, says she believes the most recent development has taken off as a result of “women are relishing the opportunity to objectify men in a complete switch in power dynamics”.

She provides that it additionally offers us an opportunity “to laugh at the absurdity of pageantry”.

Miles Mitchell, a 20-year-old pupil, picked up the prize for one of the best Timothée Chalamet lookalike final month on the competitors that set this development alight.

Miles was first informed he appeared like Chalamet when learning in South Korea.

“I was there at the time Dune was released, so people kept asking me in shops and restaurants if I was Timothée on a press tour.”

He says he was drawn to the competitors as a result of, as a college pupil in New York, “socialising can be really expensive so my friends and I loved the fact this was a free and fun event”.

“It was also just something a bit different and wacky that I wanted to be part of.”

The occasion took social media by storm, with one particular person commenting on X it was “a historic pop culture moment”, whereas one other mentioned the competitors “shows that the people yearn for weird town events”.

Although the true Timothée turned up and took footage with a number of the lookalikes, Miles did not get an opportunity to satisfy the American actor.

“He arrived at the same time the police did to shut down the event so I had already moved to the secondary location for the event. I’m gutted I didn’t get to meet him.”

Oscar Journeaux, a 22-year-old musician, not too long ago received a Harry Styles lookalike competitors in central London and admits he entered “for publicity”.

“I thought I could get a bit of fame and promo for my music and the industry is so hard to break into, you really have to get yourself out there.”

Oscar, who says he as soon as missed his prepare as a result of an insistent fan made him signal an autograph, provides: “People want to think there’s a deeper meaning to these events, but really we’re all just bored millennials and Gen Z looking for something to do.”

Keenan Gregor, who entered as a blond Harry, says he went alongside as a result of he “wanted to be part of something that could go viral”.

Journalist Katrina Mirpuri says she organised the lookalike contest as a result of “people need to have some fun after all the dreary news we’re having”.

Despite worrying that “no-one would turn up”, she says half of Soho Square was full of lookalikes and followers.

Even although many of the contestants did not fairly appear to be Harry, “the girls were screaming for each man as they got up to twirl, so they were doing something right”.

“Really it wasn’t about who looked most like Harry,” Katrina explains. “It was a way for people to just be positive and celebratory about each other, which is what we need when everyone is so nasty and negative on social media.”

She has now received her eye on internet hosting one other competitors however this time “for someone older, like Hugh Grant”.

Jaipreet Hundal had a reasonably good weekend when he was topped probably the most convincing Dev Patel lookalike in San Francisco.

“The best bit was that when I turned up, some people thought I was the real Dev Patel and they were so excited that he had come to the event,” he tells the BBC.

The 25-year-old says trying just like the Slumdog Millionaire actor has “given him a glimpse of what it’s like to be a celebrity”.

He explains that the development is standard now as a result of “it’s a great way to get people together to have a wholesome time”.

Sudev Namboodiri, who drove hours to enter the competitors and will get informed he seems to be like Dev on an nearly each day foundation, says it “wasn’t about winning”.

“It’s nice to meet new people and it was cool that hundreds of young people decided to turn up and hang out.”

After the current all-consuming election within the US, “people really need to disconnect from everything and have a bit of fun”, he provides.

Julyus Odreman has spent a decade being mistaken for Zayn Malik, however can not see it himself as a result of he says he’s “nowhere near as handsome”.

Julyus, from Venezuela, says his mates suppose he seems to be a lot like Zayn that “people don’t even call me by my real name any more”.

The resemblance to the previous One Direction star means he typically will get “stopped by groups of girls on the subway or the street”.

He additionally as soon as needed to faux to be the British singer when he met his good friend’s four-year-old son, who was “so insistent that I was really him”.

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

He’ll be channelling Zayn on Saturday at a lookalike competitors in New York, organised by Jaz Arnold, who was impressed by the Timothée Chalamet contest.

“Zayn is super hot and it’s hard to imagine we can find someone as beautiful as him,” she says.

She provides that it is “hilarious and brave” that numerous individuals suppose they give the impression of being nearly as good as Zayn and she will be able to’t wait to see who exhibits up.

For Jaz, the competitors can be about bringing individuals collectively.

“In big cities, it’s hard to feel part of a community so I wanted to do something fun that is welcoming and accepting.”

She additionally says younger individuals “are so tired of social media and the state of the world” {that a} foolish occasion like this “is pure escapism, even if it is just for an hour or two”.