Have you ever been told you bear a resemblance to Harry Styles?

For many young people in their 20s, including London musician Oscar Journeaux, hearing that they look like famous male celebrities is a frequent occurrence. Recently, an emerging internet trend has given them a chance to step into the spotlight.

Public “look-alike contests” have started popping up in the U.S. and Europe, following a spontaneous event in New York City on October 27, where actor Timothée Chalamet unexpectedly showed up.

At New York’s Washington Square Park, hundreds of fans donned curly wigs and slim-fit outfits to imitate Chalamet in various roles, competing for a trophy and a $50 prize. Some participants dressed as Chalamet’s character Willy Wonka, while others opted for his iconic styles from “Dune” or his laid-back New York vibe.

Since then, contests have taken place in Dublin featuring Paul Mescal, in London for Harry Styles, and in San Francisco for Dev Patel. YSL News spoke with the winners of these events to hear about their fleeting moments of fame, along with insights from the man behind the trend.

The Origin Story: Hundreds of Flyers Across NYC

In late October, flyers appeared all over New York City advertising the “Timothée Chalamet Look-Alike Competition,” complete with the date, time, location, and a photo of the Oscar-nominated actor. The buzz quickly escalated, resulting in a massive turnout, a surprise visit from Chalamet himself, one arrest, and a plethora of impersonators.

The mastermind behind this now-global phenomenon is content creator Anthony Po. Through his YouTube channel @anthpo, boasting over a million subscribers, he seeks to influence culture rather than simply following it and has chosen New York City as the backdrop for his vision. Earlier this year, he attracted crowds by showcasing his character “Cheeseball Man,” who devoured an entire tub of cheeseballs.

Po initially anticipated drawing around 1,000 attendees for the look-alike event, but around 10,000 people showed up. He and his team invested roughly $4,000 into the event, which included expenses for labor, costumes, a cardboard check, a trophy, and cash prizes for the participants. Po felt it was completely worth it, emphasizing that it was all “for the culture” and it brought together numerous look-alikes of Chalamet. The participants were later invited to a New York Jets game and formed a group chat dubbed “Brother Chalamet.”

“We want others to get their moment too. If it comes back to me, that’s just a bonus,” Po explained to YSL News. “I didn’t invent posters or look-alike contests, but blending all of these cultural elements felt like a labor of love.”

Experiencing Fame as Look-Alikes

The first winner was Miles Mitchell, a 21-year-old economics student from Staten Island. Amid a sea of other Chalamets, he garnered the loudest cheers while dressed as Willy Wonka, complete with a briefcase filled with candy he sourced from thrift stores.

Initially expecting the event to be a mere “meme gathering,” Mitchell found himself mobbed by fans, featured in media interviews, and even showcased on Vogue’s Instagram. His phone buzzed with hundreds of messages, many friends from places like Germany, Finland, Taiwan, and Korea reaching out, asking, “Why is my mom talking about you?”

“People were approaching me from all sides, asking for pictures and interviews—it was total sensory overload,” he said.

Jaipreet Hundal, a 25-year-old from San Jose working on TikTok’s Product team, had a similar experience during the Dev Patel look-alike contest held at San Francisco’s Mission Dolores Park. Many had noted his likeness to the “Monkey Man” actor, including his girlfriend who encouraged him to participate in a beige jacket, white t-shirt, and Lululemon pants.

“I thought this was just going to be a relaxed meetup for a group of Indian guys from San Francisco who look like Dev Patel,” Hundal mentioned. “But as I walked up the hill, heads started turning and phones began pointing at me, and it felt like I was hit by a wave of energy.”

New Perspectives on Fame for Contestants

Oscar Journeaux, a 22-year-old aspiring musician from West London, revealed that he was initially unsure about participating in the Harry Styles event as he wanted to lessen comparisons to the One Direction star. Ultimately, he decided it was a great opportunity to promote his rock band, Parlay. He arrived dressed in high-waisted pants and a brown jacket, which he removed to “show some skin,” eliciting the loudest cheers from the crowd.

“It was such an intense experience—one moment I was enjoying my morning coffee, and the next, I was amidst a crowd of 100 people cheering,” Journeaux remarked. “I guess it was somewhat of a glimpse into the fame he endures.”

Jack Wall O’Reilly, a 24-year-old from western Ireland involved in the film and television industry, felt compelled to attend the Dublin event dressed as Paul Mescal. He has often been compared to the “Gladiator” actor and has long admired his work.

The event attracted about 200 attendees, yet O’Reilly found himself in the spotlight with the press. His notable resemblance certainly contributed to his victory, but it was his rendition of the famous “Normal People” line, “you look really well,” that clinched the win for him.

“I’ve gained a lot of respect and understanding for public figures,” O’Reilly remarked. “I experienced a fraction of the attention and publicity they encounter, and I found it to be overwhelming. I’m still partially recovering from it.”

Messages from Look-Alikes to Their Famous Counterparts

In case their celebrity doppelgangers are reading, here’s what each look-alike would like to express.

Jaipreet Singh Hundal to Dev Patel: “Keep doing what you’re doing! You’ve excellently represented South Asian culture in Hollywood.”

Jack Wall O’Reilly to Paul Mescal: “It’s a unique time for masculinity. I think in a film like ‘Gladiator,’ he’s become a leading figure, and I’d love to know how he views the significance of masculinity in both films and television moving forward, and what it means to be a man today.”

Oscar Journeaux to Harry Styles: “I hope you don’t mind that I’m trying to capitalize on my resemblance to you. You were a young musician once, so I hope you can relate!”

Miles Mitchell to Timothée Chalamet: “I’d appreciate it if he could respond to my Instagram message and perhaps we could grab a bite to eat together.”

Another look-alike competition featuring Jeremy Allen White from “The Bear” is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Humboldt Park, Chicago.