In an unprecedented celebration of celebrity culture, Humboldt Park in Chicago transformed into a lively arena on Saturday as over sixty participants vied for the title of the ultimate Jeremy Allen White lookalike. This colorful event saw more than a thousand fans flocking to the West Side park, creating an electric atmosphere.

The contest aimed to honor actor Jeremy Allen White, best known for his role as Chicago chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto in FX on Hulu's wildly popular series "The Bear." The honor of the day went to 37-year-old Ben Shabad, who is a therapist from Glenview. Shabad donned a striking white T-shirt and lounge apron reminiscent of Carmy's attire from the show and walked away with the coveted “Num. 1 J.A.W.” ribbon, along with a cash prize of $50 and a pack of Marlboro Cigarettes.

"This is fantastic! The turnout is incredible," Shabad exclaimed with genuine excitement. The hype around White, who has skyrocketed to fame through his endearing and relatable portrayal of a struggling chef, undoubtedly contributed to the considerable attendance.

Each contestant showcased their impression of White, with the audience's applause determining the winner. Notably, crowd favorites included a toddler impersonating "baby Jeremy" and a creative drag king rendition of White, proving that the event was not just for grown adults but created fun for all ages.

Among the competitors was Michael Dudka, a former fine dining chef who felt an uncanny resemblance to White, stating he had long been told he resembled the actor. Encouraged by his father to join the contest after hearing it on the radio, Dudka took the opportunity to channel his inner chef while jokingly admitting he just needed “a couple more cigarettes.”

Competing enthusiast Kevin Notter drove three hours from the Quad Cities with his girlfriend, whose admiration for White led them to the contest. "That's her celebrity crush, and I’m just here for the fun," Deadpan humor.Driven by a sincere desire for engaging community events, roommates Kelsey Cassaro and Taylor Vaske orchestrated the lookalike competition. Inspired by similar events in other cities like the Paul Mescal contest in Dublin and the Timothée Chalamet look-alike competition in Manhattan, they felt Chicago needed its version.

Cassaro and Vaske humorously noted that they initially put the event together as a joke, creating flyers on Microsoft Word in no time. Yet, the response exceeded their expectations, ultimately drawing a crowd larger than they had imagined.

“Chicago is known for its unique cultural phenomena, and Jeremy Allen White felt like an obvious choice to represent the city. The only other names that came to mind were Barack Obama and Michael Jordan,” Vaske remarked, emphasizing White's cultural significance.

As the creative buzz around the contest swept through social media, it led to a lighthearted dialogue, with comments reflecting the playful spirit of the event, “Will you slip the winner my number?” enticed users on TikTok.

Photographer Ronit Bezalel was on hand to capture the vivid moments of this one-of-a-kind event that successfully united fans and participants alike in an extraordinary celebration of connection and community.

With lookalike contests becoming a trend in cities across the globe, Chicago’s take on this phenomenon proved that sometimes all it takes is a celebrity’s charm—and a few laughs—to bring a community together. Who knew a simple idea could evolve into something so entertaining and memorable? Could there be more of these contests on the horizon? Only time will tell!