In late 2024, multiple news outlets reported a large rise in the prevalence of look-alike contests across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, as well as later contests in India and Brazil, which were attributed to the initial popularity of a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest in October that year. Celebrities at the center of these contests included Paul Mescal, Jeremy Allen White, Zendaya and political figure Jack Schlossberg, though fictional characters such as Tommy Shelby were also included as well as other figures such as Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

They were often advertised using flyers and held in town squares, and mostly held in the wake of the 2024 United States presidential election. While look-alike contests have existed since the early 1900s at the latest, these contests sparked various responses and analysis as to their sudden, grassroots rise in popularity, as well as commentary on third places, dating culture, remakes and sequels, and the inclusion of women and racial minorities in the contests.

The initial event, named the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest of 2024, was held in Washington Square Park in Manhattan, New York, by YouTuber Anthony Po on October 27, 2024. Po, a 23-year-old YouTuber with over 1.8 million followers, had previously gained online attention for eating cheese balls as "Cheeseball Man" in Union Square.

To advertise the event, Po posted flyers around New York which featured QR codes that led to an anonymous invite on website Partiful, causing speculation on social media and over 2,000 RSVPs on this invite. Chalamet himself was sent photos of these fliers and saw them while shooting for the film Marty Supreme in the city; he later stated that "there were posters everywhere in New York," and that one of the fliers for the event had to be moved as it was in the background of a shot. On the campaigning platform Cajole, a page was created which offered to pay $5,000 to charity if Chalamet himself attended and competed in the contests; this reached its goal on October 23. Timothée Chalamet fan accounts, most prominently Club Chalamet, were credited with popularising the contest through large social media followings and encouragements to attend.

On October 26, a day before the Chalamet contest, Po hosted a contest for look-alikes of the YouTuber Kai Cenat, which 20 to 50 people attended. Several hundred people attended the event itself, an unexpectedly large number for its organizers. Several women attended the event with signs and t-shirts that declared that they were single or included their phone numbers. Prior to the contest itself beginning, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) gave a dispersal order due to a lack of an event permit. Po arrived riding a penny-farthing bicycle and dressed as Charlie Chaplin, referencing Chaplin's famous loss at his own look-alike contest. He led part of the group to the nearby Mercer Playground, by New York University, to begin the event. Back at Washington Square Park, the real Timothée Chalamet made a brief appearance, posing for pictures with the various look-alikes for less than a minute before leaving. The NYPD detained four people, including one look-alike contestant for disorderly conduct; he was placed in handcuffs and put in a patrol car.

Contestants included a corgi in a wig nicknamed "Timothée Corglamet", as well as multiple look-alikes dressed as Chalamet's characters from Wonka and Dune, and one contestant, Vincent Panetta, as Chalamet's Bob Dylan from the upcoming A Complete Unknown. After judging from YouTuber and TikToker Benjamin De Almeida, the contestants were reduced to four finalists, all of which were asked about their proficiency in French, plans to improve the world and romantic intentions with Kylie Jenner. 21-year-old Miles Mitchell won the $50 prize for dressing as Chalamet's Willy Wonka; another contestant claimed that Mitchell won because he was giving out chocolate, though Po credited Mitchell's "charisma". Mitchell was also given a 5-foot-tall comically large trophy worth $250.

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation fined Po $500 after the event. He has stated he does not have the intention to host any other look-alike contests, as "people would know it was [him]." Chalamet's team offered to pay the fine, and relayed a message from the actor: "They basically [said] like, 'We thought it was awesome. Thanks so much, It was all good and fun' ". Po declined their offer, as the money was already covered by Partiful. Production costs for the event ascended to $4,000. The contest was later parodied on Saturday Night Live. In mid-December, Chalamet met Mitchell in person during a screening of A Complete Unknown in New York. Mitchell also walked the red carpet at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in 2025 with Glen Powell look-alike contest winner Maxwell Braunstein.

Numerous similar contests took place the following November. Many of these contests were similarly held in public squares and advertised with flyers. These simple flyers were often printed in black and white and featured an image of the contests' subjects. Alongside this, some women jokingly advertised impromptu contests in their own bedrooms or inboxes online. Some people attended these contests in the hopes of finding a romantic partner, with some bringing business cards with QR codes to their Instagram profiles to the events. On November 21, Rolling Stone reported that "dozens more contests are scheduled between now and the end of the year".