In the heart of Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighbourhood, a Zayn Malik lookalike contest unfolded, drawing a mix of intrigue, amusement, and disbelief. Inspired by the recent surge of celebrity doppelgänger events, this gathering saw hundreds descending on Maria Hernandez Park on Sunday, hoping to channel the Dusk Till Dawn singer’s smouldering charm. However, much to fans’ dismay, the finalists left many questioning if Zayn himself would recognise his supposed doubles.
The event, organised by Zayn superfan Jaz Arnold, followed the viral success of a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in Washington Square Park last month, which even saw Chalamet making a surprise appearance. Building on the trend, similar contests for Harry Styles and Jeremy Allen White have popped up in London and Chicago, respectively.
“Zayn is my favourite member of One Direction—well, past member—and he’s really hot,” Arnold shared to a media outlet. “I just wanted to see who would show up.”
The rules for entry were delightfully relaxed: anyone who believed they resembled the 31-year-old former One Direction star could participate by simply arriving before the 3:30 p.m. cut-off. With Malik’s music setting the tone, contestants strutted onstage to impress an eager crowd, while fans took part in a trivia contest, earning a dollar for each correct answer.
Among the sea of dark-haired contenders clad in leather jackets, 29-year-old Shiv Patel of Queens emerged victorious. Patel, who channelled the Zayn Malik in his Pillowtalk era, had entered the contest on a whim after years of friends insisting, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the British singer.
“I didn’t even come to this park,” Patel admitted to BKMAG. “I went to another park by accident, but then I ran over here. I came in with the idea that I might just be a spectator.”
Despite his modest expectations, Patel’s brooding demeanour and chiseled jawline won over the judges, earning him a gold medal, a boost to his social media following, and a newfound sense of viral fame. “This definitely adds to my lore,” Patel joked. “Going viral has been fun, and maybe I’ll use this momentum.”
While Patel celebrated his win, fans online were less impressed, with some expressing sympathy for Malik. Social media buzzed with quips like, “Is the lookalike in the room with us right now?” and heartfelt apologies to the singer for the less-than-convincing likenesses on display.
Additionally, not everyone agreed with the outcome. The @allurequinn X account shared photos of two other contestants, whose striking features bore a closer resemblance to Malik’s. The post quickly went viral, garnering nearly 400,000 views.
“Zayn insane face card is hard to replicate but they were robbed for sure…” the user tweeted, sparking a wave of agreement among fans.
“They should’ve been the top two,” one X user commented. Another fan wrote, “They were the best ngl they don’t look like Zayn but they fine.”
Despite their rising popularity, the identities of these two contestants remain unknown, leaving fans speculating about who they are and why they didn’t make it to the final round.
The light-hearted event may not have found a true Zayn double, but it succeeded in bringing together fans and creating a space for playful celebration. As Patel noted, “It’s so cool to see the energy of our city for things like this—everyone coming together and just having a good time.”
With the rise of celebrity lookalike contests showing no signs of slowing, and a Zendaya look alike contest lined up for 20 November in Oakland, one can only wonder which star will inspire the next gathering of doppelgängers—and whether they’ll fare any better in capturing the essence of their muse.