Celebrity lookalike contests have been making waves across the United States recently. These events invite fans of actors and artists to participate and compete. While most winners receive only a small cash prize or a medal, these impromptu gatherings have drawn massive crowds, filling a void in our culture as the significance of third places seems to be dwindling.

Defining the "Third Place"

The term "third place" was coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg. It refers to a space where we come together to meet our community needs. The first place is our home, and the second is our workplace. The third place encompasses popular hangout spots like bars, coffee shops, and movie theaters. These are spaces where socializing is not only encouraged but is the very purpose of being there. You can catch up with friends, have a first date, or meet new people and have a great time without having to empty your wallet.However, in the real world, the cost of food, drinks, and tickets has started to deviate from the original purpose of these third places. This has led many to search for community elsewhere. Enter celebrity lookalike contests.

The Timothée Chalamet Craze

Last month, plans for a Timothée Chalamet lookalike competition were shared online. To everyone's surprise, the actor himself made an appearance, creating one of the funniest viral moments of the year. Since then, there seems to be a new face representing a contest every day. Fans get the chance to showcase their resemblance to Jeremy Allen White, Dev Patel, Zayn Malik, or Glen Powell, among others.These competitions take place in major cities across the country. Attendees and participants only need to have a notable resemblance to the celebrated actor or artist. Small prizes are awarded to the first-place winners, and everyone is welcome to witness the crowning of the best lookalike.

The Appeal Beyond Material

For the lookalike contenders, these competitions are the "biggest day of their lives." For those who watched the events in person or online, it held significant cultural value, similar to a convention, sporting event, or a big-name music artist's concert. And it was all free. The fact that one of the most famous actors of our generation showed up added to the excitement.Anthony Po from Rolling Stone said, "Every in-person thing costs money or it's too serious. Community is also something that you can find online but it's so different. People just want to be together in person and do something dumb. And this is a very low-barrier-to-entry way to do that."

The Affordable and Social Aspect

Competitors and spectators are flocking to these lookalike contests mainly because they can afford it. You might even make a few bucks. Moreover, it guarantees that you'll meet people who are fans of the same actor or artist. Even if you're not a fan, you can still gather, meet new people, and maybe get the number of a Jack Schlossberg lookalike without having to pay.It's a great deal that allows people to come together and have fun. As @emojuxx mentioned, groups of like-minded individuals gathering in person to achieve a common goal and share experiences can lead to the building of strong relationships.

Room for Improvement

There is definitely room for improvement. Some suggest that independent zines and organizations should set up booths to rally support for important causes. We also eagerly await more women-led contests. It's surprising that there hasn't been a Chappell Roan lookalike competition yet. We hope to see more from this trend and more lookalike competitions in the future, perhaps even in Orlando.The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy.