New York is no stranger to celebrity lookalike contests, with past crowds turning out for doppelgängers of everyone from JFK Jr. to Timothee Chalamet.
But on Sunday, the attention shifted to a very different kind of double: men bearing an uncanny resemblance to Zohran Mamdani.
Amadeo Fusca, a part-time actor who has already made a name for himself as a seasoned Mamdani impersonator, was crowned the winner of Sunday’s Zohran Mamdani lookalike contest.
Fusca topped a lineup of contestants who descended on Washington Square Park in New York with the recognizable hair, easy grin and unmistakable enthusiasm required to spend a Sunday afternoon pretending to be the city’s mayor.
For his winning performance, the would-be mayor walked away with $100, while the second-place finisher received $50.
Anyone expecting a modest, by-the-book acceptance speech quickly learned that Fusca’s Mamdani act does not stop at appearances.
‘I wouldn’t say I won today. I’d say the city of New York won,’ Fusca told Our News Outlet.
The remark was so perfectly in character that, for a moment, it was hard to tell whether Fusca had merely won a lookalike contest or had somehow been sworn into office.
The resemblance is certainly there. But Fusca insists that winning a Mamdani lookalike contest requires considerably more than showing up with the correct hair.
Amadeo Fusca, a part time actor and New York local living in the Upper East Side was crowned the winner of today’s Mamdani lookalike contest in Washington Square Park, New York
Some of the competitors in todays Zohran Mamdani’s lookalike contest
Fusca revealed his big plans for his 100 dollar winnings: ‘A good lunch and some sports gambling!’ he declared
Fusca insisted there was more to the gig then simply having the right face, ‘It’s all about persona’ he told Our News Outlet
‘It’s all about the persona,’ he said. ‘Mamdani loves attention, so to be able to portray that effortlessly takes more than just being a lookalike.’
And Fusca knows the persona all too well.
A part-time actor and comedian, he has appeared in NCIS, That Damn Michael Che, Marvel’s Daredevil, Boardwalk Empire and Mayor of Kingstown.
He has also made a specialty of playing Mamdani, performing his stunts and bits often enough that Sunday’s contest was less an audition and more a home game.
For all the jokes, Fusca was also quick to give Mamdani credit for what he believes the mayor has done well for New York.
‘I just love the way he unites people in excitement for him, but also the lowering of rents, making childcare more affordable.’
He added ‘ I think the overall vibe of New York City is just more hopeful.’
Onlookers pointed to the administration’s focus on visible, everyday problems – including potholes and the city’s seemingly immortal scaffolding – as reasons for Mamdani’s popularity.
Some said Mamdani’s down to earth appeal comes from concentrating on issues New Yorkers actually encounter on their way to work, their day to day lives, rather than problems that require a policy degree to understand.
Competitors took the assignment seriously.
Fusca demonstrated his signature Mamdani stance that saw him walk out of Washington Square park a champion
Mamdani madness took over the park as chants and cheers erupted after Fusca’s Oscar-worthy performance
This year’s contest is the first since Mamdani became mayor. A look-alike contest was held in 2025 before he won the Democratic primary
For some, it was about the physical resemblance. For others, it was about nailing the expression, the cadence or the unmistakable enthusiasm of his ‘Knicks in five’ speech.
But there is a crucial difference between looking like Mamdani and behaving like Mamdani.
One gets you photographed. The other gets you the $100. Fusca has apparently mastered both.
And what does one do with $100?
After securing his victory and the unofficial title of New York’s most high-profile political Doppelgänger – Fusca was asked what he planned to do with his winnings.
His answer contained significantly less public policy.
He said he planned to spend the money on sports gambling and a hefty lunch.
No manifesto, no press conference and no announcement of a new city initiative.
The real Mamdani may have the city.
For now, Fusca has the $100 and, presumably, a top tier lunch reservation.
