Summer in New York is always filled with unexpected events, but this June will be remembered by Manhattan residents for a particularly long time. For several hours, a street on the Lower East Side turned into a center of attraction for hundreds of people, thanks to the Pedro Pascal lookalike contest. The event was organized by the Mexican restaurant Son Del North.
Why the idea for the public event emerged
The reason for the festival was Pedro Pascal’s statement about the lack of options for Mexican dishes in New York, which was widely quoted in the media. The Son Del North team, led by founder Anisha Garcia and her brother, decided to reinterpret this stereotype and show visitors new facets of urban cuisine. As Garcia recalls, their previous experience of organizing lookalike contests convinced them of the idea’s success. It is worth noting that they had previously held a similar contest among Timothée Chalamet lookalikes.
How the team prepared for the unusual contest
The initiative quickly gained support among the staff and regular customers. To hold the celebration, the organizers reserved a part of Orchard Street in the heart of Manhattan. The grand prize included $50 in cash and free burritos for one year. This attracted both gastronomy fans and seekers of unusual events.
In addition, finalists received gift cards ($50 and $25), and the top 10 participants received free beans with cheese. Before the event began, the restaurant owners worried that bad weather would scare off potential participants. In reality, the rain did not stop the hundreds of people who decided to be part of this unique celebration.
The participants turned out to be very diverse people. There was not a single celebrity among them, only vibrant individuals united by a sense of humor and a craving for new experiences. For example, one contestant said he came to participate at the insistence of his girlfriend, who was convinced of his resemblance to the actor. Another participant admitted that in recent months he had already been mistaken for Pascal on the city streets several times.
Among the finalists, there were those who specifically changed their image to participate: some shaved their mustaches, others tidied up their beards. Many noted that they decided to leave home for a fun, spontaneous adventure and to support friends. Thus, the city’s community briefly united around the search for the perfect lookalike. The participants attracted attention not only with their resemblance but also with their creativity. Some even came on stage with their pets.
Who became the main Pedro Pascal of New York
In the final, the jury chose the three best lookalikes. But the decision of the public was unambiguous: number five received the loudest support. The winner, George Guntas, works as a lighting technician for television and has long avoided social networks. He admitted that it was his colleagues who encouraged him to participate, having noticed his resemblance to the actor. When asked by a journalist, Guntas joked that he had finally been noticed—now he exists as the official Pascal lookalike.
The contest as a driver of urban unity
Experts believe that the wave of such urban events is not accidental. Lookalike contests and large-scale gastronomic gatherings become tools for local unity, with their popularity illustrating the desire of city dwellers for closer contact, even through an ironic storyline. In global cities, including Tokyo, Barcelona, and Melbourne, such projects often define the new face of neighborhoods. This is changing perceptions of urban culture and involving ordinary citizens in the life of local brands.
As for the use of celebrity images, this has long been an effective advertising tool for all kinds of businesses. Today, celebrities become part of the gaming industry or advertise various brands, including in the gambling market. Therefore, the lookalike contest held undoubtedly attracted many new customers.
Material prepared with support from https://crazytimegame.org/