Experience: I won a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest

The Guardian

4 hours ago

When I first saw the flyer for the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest last October, I thought it was a joke. Lookalike contests were not mainstream yet. It was also taking place in New York's Washington Square Park – a place I usually associate with chaos. But last year a TikTok of me at a London barbershop went viral before because people thought I resembled Timothée. So, a day before the contest, I headed to a charity shop and picked out an outfit that made me look like Timothée's Willy Wonka. Why not?
I was shocked by the size of the crowd on the day. There were thousands there and I was swarmed by people wanting photos. Before the contest even began, the police had arrived to shut it down. We relocated to a nearby park. It was later announced that Timothée had crashed the contest but left when the cops arrived. I missed his visit entirely.
Once the contest began, we were asked to complete a series of activities, including a bizarre Timothée-themed Q&A. Eventually, they narrowed down the contestants to me and a lookalike named Zander, who was dressed in a Dune-inspired outfit. Whoever got the loudest cheer would win. At that point, I was pretty calm. I thought Zander had a good shot of winning, too, as he looked a lot like Timothée.
After they announced I'd won, hundreds of cameras went off in front of me. The sensory overload was next level. The reporters were aggressively fighting over who would speak to me first. To top it all, I had to walk around Manhattan carrying a 6ft trophy and a massive $50 cheque.
I was invited on famous talkshows, like The Drew Barrymore Show, and fast-food companies reached out to me to film sponsored content. A highlight was attending this year's Golden Globes. I was with my mum when I received my invitation, via Instagram DM from CBS, which was broadcasting the event. My mum and I both lost it.
This would be my second interaction with Timothée, as I had already met him at a screening of the film A Complete Unknown, which I was also invited to. I had been lucky enough to sit in the front row and when Timothée came out to greet the crowd, I said: 'I kind of look like you.' I did not mention the lookalike contest, but he turned to me and asked: 'What place did you get?' After I told him, he asked for a photo with me. You'd think it would be the other way round.
Before the Golden Globes, CBS flew me out to LA. On landing, I went out for a breakfast burrito, and the waiter told me I looked like Timothée. He was so stunned to learn I was there for winning the lookalike contest that he gave me my meal for free.
At the Globes, I walked the red carpet with the winner of the Glen Powell lookalike contest. We stood there for three hours, holding signs that read: 'I won a lookalike contest and now I'm at the Golden Globes.' We spent most of the time looking at each other in disbelief, surrounded by the world's most famous celebrities.
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I thought meeting Timothée was off the cards. But just before the ceremony kicked off, he dashed through the red carpet. He stopped to acknowledge me – something he wasn't doing for anyone else. For a second time, he asked for a picture. I was grateful as he didn't have to do that.
I watched the ceremony from the trophy engraving room. I took full advantage of the unlimited food and drink, and ate about 30 lamb chops. The voice actor for Moana came up and said, 'Oh my god, you won the lookalike contest! Fuck, yeah, you did!' But I didn't recognise many people who approached me for pictures. The CBS team had to tell me who they were. I'd just think: 'Wow, that's insane.' It was hands-down the best night of my life.
Later, Saturday Night Live asked me to feature me in a promo for a show Timothée was hosting, but I was in Europe and couldn't make the 12-hour turnaround. They cast someone else who wasn't even at the contest. I was disappointed, of course, but that's how this industry works. I'm optimistic about future opportunities, but even if that was the peak, I'm still grateful for all the cool things I got to do.
As told to Maria Vieira
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