From Paul Mescal to Timothée Chalamet: The Rise of Celebrity Lookalike Competitions

We recently saw a Paul Mescal lookalike contest take Dublin by storm, but it seems these celebrity doppelgänger competitions are becoming a global phenomenon. Are we all secretly clinging to the dream that our favourite celebrity crush might unexpectedly show up to their own lookalike event?

Let’s be honest—probably.

And it’s not entirely unfounded—there’s hope! Just three weeks ago, Timothée Chalamet surprised fans by making an appearance at his own lookalike contest in New York, sending social media into a frenzy. Ever since, these street contests have skyrocketed in popularity, sparking a new trend. Who knows? Maybe your celebrity twin will be next in line to make an unforgettable cameo.

Here are some of our favourite lookalike contest moments from the past month (excluding Paul’s, obviously):

Timothée Chalamet showing up to his own contest and getting shut down by the police

Yes, you read that right. The police instructed the large crowd to disperse, issuing the organisers a $500 fine for hosting an unauthorised costume contest. Who knew it was illegal to have a lookalike contest for your favourite celebrity crush—especially when the star shows up?

You’d think the police would turn a blind eye!

@jadiecakes_ timothee chalamet at his lookalike contest 😭😭 #timotheechalamet ♬ original sound – jadiecakes_

Chicago crowns Jeremy Allen White lookalike with $50 and a pack of Marlboros

Chicago honoured its very own Netflix star, Jeremy Allen White, whose most acclaimed series are both proudly set in the city.

With his distinct and unique facial features, finding a true doppelgänger was no easy task—but the iconic chef’s apron and classic white T-shirt certainly made it easier to pull off the look.

@abcnews One lucky winner emerged from a sea of white t-shirts and blue aprons at the Jeremy Allen White lookalike contest in Chicago’s Humboldt Park on Saturday. #jeremyallenwhite #lookalikes #actors #thebear #tv ♬ original sound – ABC News

Harry Styles fanatics bicker over his doppelgängers in London’s Soho Square

Last week, a total of 12 Harry Styles impersonators participated in a contest organised by journalist Katrina Mirpuri. The event began trending on social media on Thursday and gained traction after being shared by the popular Twitter account PopCrave.

Over 100 spectators—mainly young women—gathered in Soho Square to judge the contestants. Don’t get your hopes up, though; Mr Styles didn’t show up for this one, and the contestants weren’t exactly doppelgängers, to say the least.

@dazed Which Harry is your winner? 👀 Entrants from today’s Harry Styles lookalike competition in London 💘 #Dazed #HarryStyles #lookalike ♬ as it was – ourfeelings🪐

Zayn Malik lookalike contest in Brooklyn leaves fans disappointed

A Zayn Malik lookalike contest took place in Brooklyn just two days ago, but fans were disappointed, to say the least. Shared by PopCrave, a large crowd turned out to see if anyone could rival Zayn’s iconic beauty. It wasn’t particularly successful.

One Twitter user summed it up perfectly, tweeting, “Seeing the contestants of that Zayn Malik lookalike contest hurt, but that just goes to show that this man’s beauty is one of a kind.”

@dilmil_ 💜 hey @Faaris — you’re number 1 for us!!! #zaynmalik #zaynmaliklookalike #dilmil #southasian and thank you @Spotlight with Sandalina ♬ pillowtalk slowed – jem 🪩🫶🏼🤍

To be honest, we’re just loving the sight of a whole bunch of good-looking people flocking together in parks to battle over who’s the real doppelgänger.

A Zendaya lookalike contest is taking place soon in California, so keep your eyes peeled on social media to see whether the Dune star makes a casual appearance.

Words by Cillian Murphy