Celebrity lookalike contests are taking over.

The creators of the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in Manhattan several months ago had no idea what they unleashed onto the public. Since the Chalamet lookalike competition in New York City, similar contests have popped up across the country and have even made it overseas to Ireland too.

These aren't official contests, however. Grassroots organizers have post old-fashioned fliers across cities in the U.S. or online, which then spread like wildfire, especially on X and TikTok. The original Chalamet competition was organized by several YouTube and internet personalities that only promised the winner a $200 trophy and $50 oversized check. It's a big reward for just simply looking like a male celebrity but it's also a nod for servicing audiences with a fun, lighthearted distraction from the suck of the world right now. (And it's a lot more than some of the other follow-up contests have offered as prizes.)

Related

Most of the contests so far have targeted doppelgängers for Hollywood's buzziest male celebrities (think current internet boyfriends like Paul Mescal, Dev Patel and Jeremy Allen White) with a couple of exceptions. A big draw of the experience as an audience member is potentially bagging a date with a lookalike of your choice. I was at the Chalamet competition when several women begged to get a shot with the Chalamet dupes.

While the public has embraced the whimsy attached to each lookalike competition, celebrities have also capitalized on the buzz around them. Last month, Chalamet showed up to the competition briefly held in Washington Square Park. He took some photos with other lookalikes before mayhem ensued and several people were arrested. Similarly, Texas-born heartthrob Glen Powell also showed a little love to his lookalikes by offering them a cameo in one of his movies. His mom was even one of the judges.

As these lookalike competitions continue to make their way across the country and engage........

© Salon