The Ultimate Timeline of 2024’s Celebrity Look-Alike Craze

The celebrity look-alike craze of 2024 came out of nowhere—it just sort of took off. What began as a quirky event in New York City soared into a global sensation, with competitions springing up for everyone from Zendaya to Peso Pluma. The prize money? Often hilariously small. The stakes? Even smaller. But the energy? Absolutely electric.

Timothée Chalamet – New York City

In the heart of Washington Square Park in NYC, a YouTuber’s quirky idea turned into a frenzy. Dozens of Timothée Chalamet look-alikes showed up, each sporting their best tortured artist look, and the crowd went wild. Things got out of control when thousands of fans and creators flooded the park, leading to police intervention and even a few arrests. To top it off, Chalamet himself made a surprise appearance, stealing the spotlight from the hopefuls.

Winner: Miles Mitchell, embodying the Wonka-era Chalamet, snagged the $50 prize and eternal bragging rights.

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Paul Mescal – Dublin and London

Ireland saw the Chalamet madness in NYC and responded with, “Hold my beer.” In Dublin, the Paul Mescal look-alike contest was all about rocking short shorts and mullets, attracting guys who were more than ready to compete for the modest prize of 20 euros. Meanwhile, across the Irish Sea in London, another Mescal-inspired competition took place, proving that his understated charm is loved universally.

Winners: Dublin celebrated Jack Wall O’Reilly, whose natural flair secured him the win. The London winner remains an enigma, but you can bet they had a great story to share at the bar.

paul mescal lookalike competition winner – jack from Kildare! https://t.co/P094FJm54P pic.twitter.com/Ri1zvZUEKx

— alan b. (@inceptstellar) November 7, 2024

Harry Styles – London

Guys decked out in pearls, blouses, and shaggy hairstyles headed to Soho Square in London for a shot at being Harry Styles’ unofficial twin. Journalist Katrina Mirpuri organized the event, where participants embraced Styles’ mix of glam rock and boyband allure. Although the Grammy winner himself didn’t make an appearance, fans online were left wondering if anyone could truly capture Styles’ unique charisma.

Winner: Oscar Journeaux snagged the £50 prize and some bragging rights, but whether the fans agreed might be a different story.

Harry Styles lookalike contenders in London today. pic.twitter.com/BLRtef6Ont

— Variety (@Variety) November 9, 2024

Dev Patel – San Francisco

This contest shook things up by moving away from the typical white celebrities. Organized by three friends who wanted better representation, it celebrated the suave and talented Dev Patel. Contestants didn’t just stand around looking pretty—they participated in trivia rounds, dance-offs, and moments that felt more like a celebration than a competition.

Winner: Jaipreet Hundal, known for his sharp facial hair and expressive eyes, claimed the top spot and the crowd’s approval.

Moments from the sf Dev Patel lookalike contest, so blessed to have witnessed these beautiful devs pic.twitter.com/8iHso4uDl8

— ezra (@therealezrawr) November 10, 2024

Jeremy Allen White – Chicago

It was like stepping into a real-life episode of ‘The Bear.’ Chicago’s look-alike contest saw participants sporting white aprons, fake tattoos, and chain-smoking to capture that authentic vibe. Fans were thrilled with the nods to both White’s paparazzi moments and his gritty character, Carmy. The event drew in over 60 contestants and hundreds of enthusiastic fans gathering to soak in the fun.

Winner: Ben Shabad, who nailed the Carmy look, took home $50 and a pack of Marlboro Reds for his efforts.

i’m crying why does the random guy that won the jeremy allen white look alike contest have better PR-training-esque interview responses than most celebrites pic.twitter.com/xTuf4qMlB5

— daniela (@dicknsn) November 17, 2024

Zayn Malik – Brooklyn

This Bushwick event got a bit liberal with the “look-alike” definition, focusing more on the aura than actual resemblance. Still, a crowd of Zayn Malik enthusiasts showed up to watch people do their best to capture the ex-One Direction member’s laid-back confidence. Fans online, though, were debating if anyone truly pulled it off.

Winner: Shiv Patel stood out just enough to grab the title, bringing home a small trophy and some well-deserved recognition.

Zayn Malik lookalike contest winner in Bushwick ain’t know a single one direction song pic.twitter.com/3ZnkYkOEW8

— not lydia (@notlydiabro) November 17, 2024

Zendaya – Oakland

This event was notable for being the first viral look-alike contest for a female celebrity. Despite the chilly and rainy weather, Zendaya’s fans turned out in droves to celebrate her. Contestants walked the runway, answered trivia questions, and competed in a dance battle. The energy from both the crowd and the competitors made up for the gloomy weather.

Winner: Zainab Bansfield shared the title with 11-year-old Zanayah Porter, who impressed everyone with an amazing backflip during the dance-off.

The winners of the Zendaya lookalike competition. pic.twitter.com/wcGgX3XENM

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 20, 2024

Glen Powell – Austin

Austin brought out the quirky in true style with a Glen Powell look-alike event where even the actor’s mom showed up. It was a blend of hometown pride and friendly rivalry as contestants captured Powell’s laid-back charm. The prizes were quintessentially Austin: a year’s supply of queso and a cowboy hat.

Winner: Maxwell Braunstein snagged the top spot and with it, the opportunity for his parents to make a cameo in Powell’s next film—quite an impressive reward for such a chill event.

Meet the winner of the Glen Powell look alike contest in Austin today, Max Braunstein. He even FaceTimed the real @glenpowell and met his mom and aunt, who served as judges. pic.twitter.com/rvdTXTi8wA

— Mikala Compton (@MikalaCompton) November 24, 2024

Peso Pluma – Los Angeles

The Peso Pluma contest in Echo Park wasn’t just about looks, it was more about the vibe. Contestants had to bring the attitude and charm, with rounds featuring dancing and showing off their personalities. The crowd joined in, turning the whole event into a lively party.

Winner: Oscar Reyes snagged a taco gift card, a faux gold chain, and a jacket. Not bad for a day’s work.

@thirdpl #pesopluma #lookalikecontest #echopark #losangeles #latino #losangeles #quema #peso ♬ QUEMA – Ryan Castro & Peso Pluma & SOG

Tom Holland – Boston

Boston’s Spider-Man fans were crossing their fingers for a surprise visit from Tom Holland himself, but they had to make do with the next best thing. More than 200 fans showed up to see who could best channel Holland’s youthful charm and athletic looks. The contest was all in good fun, but some fans online were bummed that the actual Spider-Man didn’t swing by.

Winner: Nick Anderson took the prize, winning $50 and a bag of British candy, while basking in his striking resemblance to the actor.

Dozens attended the Tom Holland look-alike contest this afternoon in the Boston Commons. While Holland himself didn’t show up, Nick Anderson (center) took home first place.#TomHolland #Boston pic.twitter.com/HthrqNy3Ad

— Arthur Mansavage (@ArthurMansavage) November 24, 2024