Topline:
After sweeping the world, the viral celebrity lookalike contest phenomenon is coming to Los Angeles this weekend. In a big way.
Why it matters: The lookalike contests went globally viral, after a Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest at Washington Square Park in New York likely the first one. It’s exactly what it sounds like — a competition for people who look like, or think they look like, the celebrity. But it also drew the real-deal Timothee Chalamet.
Why now: This weekend, we are counting four lookalike contests happening in Los Angeles.
Keep reading: To find out about all of them, and why I am heading to Echo Park Lake this Sunday for the Peso Pluma contest.
Timothée Chalamet. Dev Patel. Zendaya.
After sweeping the world, the viral celebrity lookalike contest phenomenon is coming to Los Angeles this weekend. In a big way.
But first, let me give you a quick primer.
Why lookalike contests are everywhere
The seemingly unstoppable trend started with a Chalamet lookalike contest at Washington Square Park in New York — likely the first ever.
It’s exactly what it sounds like — a competition for people who look like, or think they look like, the celebrity. A bunch of Chalamet lookalikes showed up — and surprising everyone, even the real actor made an appearance. The event went viral and inspired other competitions across the globe.
The organizer of the Chalamet contest in New York, YouTuber Anthony Po, recently told Rolling Stone he wanted to create something comforting, fun and grounded in community. He mentioned the anxiety of the election, and people needing to hangout and just be human. Also, the events are free and that’s the added bonus.
Why the Peso Pluma lookalike contest today at Echo Park Lake is sooooooo LA
Lookalike contests come for L.A.
This weekend, the genre is making its presence known in L.A.
Within a span of days, four (for now) of these competitions have been announced.
- Shohei Ohtani
When: Saturday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m.
Where: Japanese American National Museum Plaza, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles
Prize: A cash prize and mystery gift from JANM Store
The Peso Pluma edition
- Peso Pluma
When: Sunday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m.
Where: Echo Park Lake, 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles
Prize: $50 gift card to King Taco and a fake gold chain
Now we love Shohei. But to me, Sunday’s Peso Pluma edition of the lookalike contests most represents L.A.
Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, aka Peso Pluma (which translates to featherweight) or PP, is from Jalisco, Mexico. He’s known for his Mexican regional music, including corridos and Latin trap.
Peso is somewhat of a legend for being one artist who pushed Mexican regional music into the pop scene. His music got big thanks to TikTok. His collaboration with banda Eslabón Armado “Ella Baila Sola” was a huge hit.
And being that L.A. County is about 50% Latino and predominantly Mexican, there are many fans of his here.
For some time, Peso’s famous feature was his haircut. It was a variation of the so-called Edgar haircut — a sort of mullet with a fade and a messiness to it. Folks with the haircut may have an edge in this contest, but be advised that Peso now sports a different, sleeker style.
There's something deliberately tongue-in-cheek about these competitions — from the way they're announced (most of the time with a homemade flyer posted on a light pole) to some of the winning prizes (I mean, King Taco gift card and a fake gold chain, not saying it won't happen, but...).
I’ve tried to verify the authenticity of the post, but it’s the internet and I haven’t gotten a solid response.
Still, I'm heading to Echo Park Lake Sunday at 11 a.m. And maybe, just maybe, I'll stick around the lake until the afternoon, for a separate contest to see who looks the most like a beloved green ogre.
- Shrek
When: Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m.
Where: Echo Park Lake, 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles
Prize: $500 cash prize and a bag of onions
Sadly, that means I'd have to skip the boys in "Challengers" lookalike contest.
