A Washington Square Park look-alike contest concentrating on the stars of the hit documentary “You Can See Everything” drew large crowds and kooky New York energy Sunday afternoon.
Dozens showed up to the iconic Washington Square arch at around 1 p.m. dressed as filmmaker Nathan Fielder and subject of the movie Elizabeth Holmes. The project follows Holmes just over a month before she is set to report to federal prison for defrauding investors in her company Theranos.
Contestants donned blonde wigs and stared wide-eyed as they attempted to capture the likeness of Holmes while those portraying Fielder swung headphones around their necks and carried laptops.
“We’re getting community together. I feel like a lot of people are isolated —we’re on our phones all the time. No one really wants to talk in person, or we’re all just like busy people. So, doing an event like this is just getting people together to do something fun,” co-organizer Maddie West said.
A large crowd encircled the arch to watch, cheer on, and vote for the many Fielders and Holmes. Look-alike contests have become a viral sensation, especially in Washington Square Park. In the past the likes of Timothee Chalamet have even made guest appearances. On Sunday Kor Skeete — who appeared in Fielder’s “The Rehearsal” — was a guest MC.
“Nobody knew me from Adam, and this show launched into a big stratosphere overnight,” Skeete said. “Nathan and I became friends, and I’m thankful that this opportunity came for him.”
Each contestant pleaded their case to the audience but ultimately comedian Nicole Travolta and PR worker Joe Sivick took their crowns respectively. Both Travolta and Sivick each have been playing their characters for years, although in different ways.
“I’ve been doing impressions of Elizabeth Holmes for three years. I mean, she doesn’t blink, it’s very in the mouth, the voice, and it kind of all just comes together. Hours of front-facing camera,” Travolta said. “My Instagram family is why I’m here.”
Meanwhile, Sivick said he has taken on the persona for several Halloweens.
“I’ve been a big fan of Nathan for a really long time, and I think the spirit of Nathan is just comedy, it’s humor. It’s getting out and having fun,” Sivick said. “I was pretty nervous, and I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. So, I’m really happy. I don’t think I’ve really ever won anything. So, to win something like this for someone who I admire so much, it’s kind of the honor of my life.”
