From Pop to Personal // It’s a bird, it’s a plane — it’s Timothée Chalamet?!

Picture this — it’s Oct. 27, and you’re strolling through the streets of New York City. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and you suddenly see a horde of people. As you walk by, you start to notice similar features on the hundreds of people in the area — a mop of brown hair, sharp jaw lines and lanky frames. You certainly do a double take when you see a few of the bystanders dressed up as Willy Wonka, sporting top hats and purple overcoats. It begins to dawn on you that this is certainly not your average flash mob but none other than a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest.  

Now, you may be wondering why I am talking about the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest, and don’t worry, I’ll get to that. But let’s first start with some context. The event was organized by YouTuber Anthony Po. Po, a content creator of over seven years, has more than two million followers on YouTube, where he pulls creative stunts. He recently became known as the Cheeseball Man when his last stunt consisted of him eating a tub of cheeseballs in Union Square. Over 1000 people showed up to watch the masked man devour an entire jar of cheeseballs. Since then, Po has been planning his next future stunt, finally arriving at the idea of a lookalike contest. The event was advertised all over NYC with a series of flyers that stated its location in Washington Square Park, and a $50 cash prize would be awarded to the best Timothée Chalamet doppelganger. The flyer drew thousands of RSVPs and thus the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest was born. 

Over 10,000 tried to show up to the contest, and many participated in it. Due to the hordes of people, the police had to get involved, moving the event to Mercer Playground a few blocks away. Amidst the chaos, they were able to name a winner, Miles Mitchel, who dressed up like Chalamet from the “Wonka” movie. The event is iconic, but a surprise appearance made this an event to remember.  

Weaving in and out of the crowd was none other than the real Chalamet himself. With his head down and a mask covering half of his face, he kept his identity concealed. The contestants had no idea they were in the presence of the movie star. Chalamet eventually took off his mask and surprised a few contestants by appearing in their photos, leaving everyone in the crowd shocked. Chalamet — sporting a shorter haircut and a mustache for his next role — almost didn’t look like himself, but the fans in the crowd immediately knew it was him, amazed that he took time out of his day to show up for the fans. He truly had the opportunity to do the most iconic thing for his fans and he took it, cementing him as one of my favorite celebrities.  

So again, you’re probably wondering why I am still talking about the lookalike contest. Other than the fact that I am completely obsessed with Chalamet, this contest and Chalamet’s actions made me realize the importance of spontaneity and small acts.  

Spontaneity is something I’ve never been good at. I have to admit that I’ve always been an intense follower of a schedule. I never liked last-minute plans or schedules being up in the air. College, in this sense, has been a huge wake-up call for me. The thing about college that I was not prepared for is the fact that although my class schedule never changes, each day brings different events that I can’t plan for. Whether it’s meetings, pop-up Pitt events or even a quick trip into the city, I have started to realize that each day brings new adventures that I am not necessarily going to be able to fully prepare for. But that’s okay.

These spontaneous adventures like randomly getting on a bus to go thrifting or going to a Penguins game have become some of my favorite memories from college so far. So, although I still love a good schedule, spontaneity isn’t so bad. If the people at the Timothée Chalamet contest didn’t feel spontaneous and passed on going to the lookalike contest, they would have never met the real Chalamet. So next time a Pitt event comes up or you see a flyer for a celebrity lookalike contest, be spontaneous and go.

If there’s anything that I learned from watching Timothée Chalamet show up to his own lookalike contest, it is that small acts can go a long way. All Chalamet did was show up and take a few pictures, but he left a lasting impact on all the fans that were there. Small acts are so important and can go such a long way in making a person’s day. So next time you’re grabbing Chick-fil-A, pick up some fries for your roommate. If you see a friend absent from class, take some time to send them the notes from the day. Something as mundane as just holding a door open for someone can go a long way, trust me. It’s not hard to go the extra mile. Take a page out of Chalamet’s book and go the extra mile for someone today. 

In conclusion, the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest was more than just a viral stunt — it became a celebration of spontaneity, connection and the power of small acts. What started as a simple event quickly turned into an unforgettable experience for thousands, thanks to one simple surprise — the real Chalamet appearing. For me, it was a reminder of how sometimes the most unexpected moments are the ones that create lasting memories. Whether it’s embracing the spontaneity of college life or offering a kind gesture to someone else, it is the small, unplanned actions that can make the biggest impact and shape our greatest stories.