Following New York City’s wildly viral Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest, which attracted thousands and even drew a surprise appearance from the real actor, local Tampa event organizer Melissa Torres is gearing up for her own take on the phenomenon. Set to take place at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, in front of the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa edition of the Chalamet look-alike contest is scheduled for Sunday, November 10, from 1 to 4 PM.
“This event is being organized for light-hearted fun above all,” says Torres. “With everything going on in the world, something as unserious as a Timothée Chalamet look-alike competition is a chance to bring joy and remind people that life is about fun and embracing a little absurdity.”
Over-the-Top Marketing with a Twist
Embracing the whimsical spirit of the event, Torres has introduced a unique reward: the look-alikes will be competing, not for fame or flashy prizes, but for a Chili’s gift card. The value remains undisclosed, adding a bit of suspense, and Torres has even reached out to Chili’s public relations team in the hopes of a collaboration to elevate the humor.
This playful approach to marketing recalls the 2023 Cleveland Taco Bell story, where a Taco Bell parking lot was transformed into a “Baja Blast” punk rock venue. Featuring local Cleveland bands, the event drew over 250 people, complete with mosh pits and flying tacos—an over-the-top idea that brought major attention to the Taco Bell location and solidified a new kind of offbeat local culture.
Can Tampa’s Chalamet Contest Rival NYC’s?
NYC’s contest, orchestrated by YouTuber Anthony Potero and his producer Paige Nguyen, took an unexpected turn. After quickly drawing crowds to Washington Square Park, NYPD intervened, leading organizers to relocate to Mercer Playground. With such high attendance, four attendees were ultimately detained, one of whom was a Timothée look-alike, adding to the day’s bizarre and viral moments. Chalamet himself even made a surprise appearance, snapping photos with his look-alikes, turning the event into an iconic cultural moment.
“That’s the price of culture,” Potero famously quipped after the event, reflecting on the $500 fine they received, plus any costs to bail out the detained Chalamet impersonators. Tampa’s organizer Torres, meanwhile, seems unfazed by the challenges posed by “the price of culture.” She’s coordinating with Tampa’s special events permitting office to ensure compliance, though she admits she may need to have a backup plan in place.
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