November 30th 2024.
Recently, there has been a surge in popularity of lookalike contests. If I were to mention the names Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, and Jeremy Allen White, how would you react? As three of the most talked-about men in pop culture at the moment, you would likely take notice. But what about Miles Mitchell, Jack Wall O’Reilly, and Ben Shabad? These names may not hold the same weight for most people, but for those of us who spend a lot of time online, we know that these men are the reigning champions of celebrity lookalike competitions.
This trend has taken over my TikTok for you page for the past month, and while it's all in good fun, I couldn't help but notice the lack of diversity. Out of the 15 contests that have taken place since October 27th, only two have centered on women. It all started in New York when YouTuber Anthony Po posted flyers around the city announcing a lookalike contest for Timothée Chalamet. The event quickly went viral and on the day of the contest, things got pretty wild. Police had to disperse the crowd, one person was even arrested, and Timothée himself made an appearance to see his many doppelgangers. In the end, 21-year-old Miles Mitchell, dressed as Timothée's character from "Wonka," took home the $50 prize. And from there, these lookalike contests have taken on a life of their own.
I've since seen versions of these contests centered on Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Paul Mescal, Dev Patel, and even the late Heath Ledger, popping up all over the world with people who bear a slight resemblance to the chosen celebrity entering themselves into the competition. Overall, these events are meant to be lighthearted and fun, with the winner receiving a small cash prize and bragging rights. There have been a few exceptions, like when Glen Powell offered his lookalike, Maxwell Braunstein, the chance to have a family member cameo in his next movie. But for the most part, the prizes are minimal.
However, what bothers me about these contests is not the accolades but the fact that there are no female celebrity lookalike contests. You may be thinking, is it really that big of a deal that there haven't been lookalike contests for Margot Robbie, Kim Kardashian, or Beyoncé? But I would argue that it is. While there have been two attempts at a Zendaya and Rachel Sennott lookalike contest, both had low turnouts. And I think I know why.
Just take a look at former "Love Is Blind" contestant Chelsea Blackwell, who mentioned that some people have told her she resembles Megan Fox. When she shared this, people were quick to criticize her, even calling her delusional and ugly. The abuse got so bad that Chelsea felt the need to apologize. And when it continued to escalate, Megan herself spoke out in her defense, saying, "I believe she's telling the truth and I hope she still has that sparkle in her eye. I hope the world didn't steal it from her."
I've also experienced something similar when I dressed up as Kate Middleton for an article. While I was not claiming to look like her, I was simply emulating her fashion. Yet, the comments section was filled with people comparing our appearances in a brutal manner. And while some of the men in these lookalike contests may receive some lighthearted jokes, women are still judged and valued based on their looks. This pattern only highlights the disparity in how much importance is placed on appearance for both sexes.
Even outside of the lookalike world, celebrities are constantly criticized for not meeting society's beauty standards. Tulisa from "I'm A Celebrity" has been dragged by fans for not looking the same as she did in her twenties, despite being open about having Bell's Palsy. And Lindsey Lohan's appearance is often discussed more than her work. It's clear that there is still a lot of work to be done before women can fully embrace the fun and silliness of these contests without fear of being judged or ridiculed for their looks. So for now, I'll keep quiet about being compared to Maya Rudolph. Let's hope society can catch up soon.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
