An Afternoon at the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition

As a seasoned New Yorker with over two decades under my belt, I must say that the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition was a spectacle to remember. The event, though chaotic at times, showcased the unique blend of eccentricity and camaraderie that only this city can offer.

A girl at Washington Square Park called out on her phone, asking, ‘Where on earth are you?’ She exclaimed, ‘Hurry up and come here! The Timothées have gathered!’

On a particularly bright Sunday afternoon, not far from where Timothée Chalalmet used to study at NYU, a group of around 200 people gathered under the Washington Square Arch. They were there, eagerly anticipating the arrival of individuals resembling Chalamet who would be competing against each other in some unknown contest. As the event’s start time approached, curiosity and uncertainty swirled among the crowd: What kind of competition was it? Who had organized this event? Who would be judging? Would Timothée Chalamet himself show up?

The excitement for this unique event had been building up for several weeks prior. In mid-September, posters began appearing in Soho and the West Village, advertising a “Timothee Chalamet Lookalike Contest” with a $50 cash prize. Every aspect of the ad, from its QR code linking to a Partiful page listing over 2,500 confirmed attendees (and about 600 potential ones) to its casual design featuring a squashed image of Chalamet himself, hinted that this was an authentic “only in New York” kind of event – the perfect silly gathering that could potentially brighten up the city’s mood as Donald Trump made his way two miles north for his Madison Square Garden rally. One of the professional photographers said to another, “I need to get there in 30 minutes,” hinting at his eagerness to find out who would emerge victorious from this unusual competition.

At the event, there appeared to be more Chalamet look-alikes than attendees eager to meet someone resembling Timothée. Instead, what seemed to be predominant were content creators. Selfie sticks, iPhone tripods, mini microphones dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see. Given my modest height of five feet two inches, each time I lifted my camera to capture the action, it mostly resulted in photos of people taking pictures instead. It seemed as if no one was there primarily to identify who resembled the young monarch most in appearance, speech, and demeanor, but rather everyone was there to share their experience online. Was it all about sharing rather than appreciating the authentic Timothée Chalamet likeness?

Amidst the vast crowd of artists, the Chalamet impersonators flourished, enthusiastic for photo opportunities, chats on iPhones, handshakes, and even some flirtatious exchanges. Each imitator employed different styling tactics. For Spencer DeLorenzo, a 22-year-old film worker, his transformation into character demanded a hair darkening rinse and an early morning salon visit at 8:30 am to achieve those distinctive Chalamet curls. DeLorenzo exuded the same shy allure that Chalamet displays on the red carpet – quick glances away, occasional laughter. “I’m likely to spend fifty dollars on dinner tonight,” he said of the winnings. “If I meet a captivating young lady, she might join me.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself channeling Bob Dylan at this year’s red carpet event, drawing inspiration from Timothée Chalamet’s upcoming role in “A Complete Unknown.” I mean, who am I to argue with the comparisons I’ve received? It seemed only fitting.

Despite some individuals finding similarities, many weren’t convinced by the likenesses. “Having curly hair doesn’t automatically make you look like Timothée Chalamet,” remarked Ariana, a 24-year-old attendee. “With curly hair like mine, I could compete if these people are entering. What’s stopping me?” It seemed there was no consensus on what constituted an accurate Chalamet doppelgänger: “It’s not just the hairstyle,” one woman explained to another. “He’s attractive because he’s unreachable.

An Afternoon at the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition

At precisely one in the afternoon, the organizer made an entrance wearing a top hat and suit, far from being just some random guy named Gilbert as Partiful had speculated. Instead, this was Anthony Po, a well-known YouTuber, making another one of his elaborate, time-consuming performances, like when he disguised himself as “Cheeseball Man.” It was immediately apparent that the event would be as orderly as a stunt organized by a YouTube personality, with Chaumet and others coming and going while the cops tried to maintain control. After the police spoke to Po (and presumably issued a fine for crowd management), he led everyone, including Chaumets, through the NYU campus and eventually ended up at Mercer Playground, where the judging took place.

In a playground competition, Po put the Chalamets through a set of preliminary rounds: Initially, the Chalamets were placed in the spotlight where spectators either cheered or jeered them. Subsequently, they faced questions similar to Miss America (questions about their French heritage and Kylie Jenner). Later, women approached them for examination. By then, the loudspeaker had fallen silent, the commotion of the event drowned out by attendee conversations. The person behind me remarked, “I think it’s time for bagels now,” as another woman came up to examine the Chalamets.

In the end, there was a mix of boos and cheers, with the loudest applause reserved for Miles Mitchell, who donned the Willy Wonka costume, and Zander Dueve, clad as Paul Atreides. One might question if this was truly a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest, given that the contestants were actually characters portrayed by Chalamet. As a woman behind me remarked, “Perhaps one of the rules should be that you must be born here to compete.” She added, “That’s half the appeal with him.” The fact that the men in costume made it to the finals seemed to hint at an enigmatic side to Chalamet. After all, even those who had rubbed shoulders with him in Washington Square Park can’t claim to fully grasp what a heartthrob is like.

In simpler terms, Mitchell (dressed as Willy Wonka) emerged victorious, receiving a fifty-dollar check that might be overshadowed by the earnings from ad sales on Po’s video later on. Mitchell appeared unfazed by the win. The triumphant Wonka tossed candies into the audience, causing a swarm of fans to rush towards the group resembling Timothée Chalamet, who were hoping they had already won fifty dollars and might want to dine together. A man towering over me strained his neck for a better view of the winner. “He’s just wearing a Wonka costume; he doesn’t really look like Timothée Chalamet,” the man commented. The woman in front of him retorted, “So what? Do you think you could do any better?

2024-10-28 22:54

An Afternoon at the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition

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