Tampa follows NYC’s viral Timothee Chalamet look-alike contest

Following New York City’s viral Timothee Chalamet look-a-like contest, which attracted thousands including the real actor himself, local event organizer, Melissa Torres, will host her own Chalamet look-alike contest right here in Tampa. Part jest, part serious, the Chalamet look-alike contest will take place at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, in front of the Tampa Museum of Art, on Sunday, November 10, from 1 to 4 PM.

“…the event is being organized, more than anything, for light-hearted fun,” says Torres. “With everything going on in the world, something so unserious as a Timothee Chalamet look-alike competition will bring joy and remind people that life is about having fun and basking in the absurdity of it all.”

Over-the-top marketing

Basking in the absurdity, indeed. Look-alikes will compete, not for bragging-rights, new cars, or all-expenses-paid trips, but for a Chili’s gift card. To add a little suspense to the absurdity, Torres does not disclose the total value of the gift card, but she does disclose that she has reached out to Chili’s public relations department, hoping for a collaboration.

If Chilli’s agrees to collaborate, it would add another layer of hilarity. And hilarity is often effective marketing. That kind of over-the-top marketing is reminiscent of the Cleveland Taco Bell story. In 2023 and 2024, an event organizer and a Cleveland Taco Bell hosted two “Baja Blast” punk rock shows in the Taco Bell’s parking lot, featuring local bands from the Cleveland area. The popular event resulted in a crowd of over 250 people, mosh pits, and projectile tacos.

Could Tampa’s Chalamet look-alike contest top NYC’s?

The NYC contest organizers were Anthony Potero, a Youtuber with nearly two million subscribers, and his producer, Paige Nguyen. According to Nguyen’s LinkedIn post, “Only a few minutes into the event, we got shut down by NYPD. We tried working with the police to keep the event contained to Washington Square Park but ultimately were kicked out. Which meant plan B: moving to Mercer Playground down the street.”

Due to the scale of NYC’s Timothee Chalamet look-alike contest, the police arrested four people. One of which was a Chalamet look-alike, hauled off in handcuffs, while the real Chalamet made a surprise appearance, taking photos with Chalamet impersonators. Nyugen’s LinkedIn post further discloses, “We ultimately got hit with a $500 fine + whatever it will take to bail the detained Chalamet out (we’re gonna get you out king) but like Anthony [Potero] said: ‘That’s the price of culture.'”

Torres doesn’t appear concerned about paying “the price of culture” either, though she says she’s taking precautions. Torres has checked with the city’s special events permitting department since it will be held in a public square. However, according to the city, any large event in public areas, excluding gatherings like birthdays, with more than 25 people, requires a permit. Like Nguyen and Potero, Torres may need a plan B.