Jack Schlossberg look-alike contest held in Northwest DC

On November 26, 2024By Littum

Following a trend of celebrity pageants across the U.S. — and in the most DC fashion — a political heir apparent was honored in the Northwest on Sunday.

Hundreds of college-age DC-area residents participated in a Jack Schlossberg look-alike contest held at Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights. (WTOP/Ciara Wells)

Following a trend of celebrity-like pageants around the country — and in the most D.C. fashion — one honoring a political heir apparent happened at a Northwest park on Sunday.

Hundreds of college-aged DC-area residents came out for a Jack Schlossberg look-alike contest held at Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights.

The appeal is obvious: people crave community.

A scion of the famous Kennedy family, Schlossberg has been called the “people’s princess” for her boyish good looks, an appeal to young Americans and the playful new energy she brings to politics.

His occasional public appearances, often in support of political causes, have drawn comparisons to his grandfather, former President John F. Kennedy – both in appearance and charisma.

In front of the James Buchanan Memorial statue, about 10 participants stood in front of the large audience. Dressed in plain button-down shirts and black ties — one attendee decided to dress up in the 50-degree weather — the diverse group of attendees did their best to impersonate the Kennedy grandson.

One by one, the audience shouted their approval of which contestant they thought looked the most like Schlossberg.

“I think he’s the perfect look-alike subject for DC. He comes from a political family and he’s a political leader himself. … DC loves a handsome man in politics and we’re glad that we chose him over any old senator. It would have been far less fun,” said event organizer Georgia Parolski.

Although Schlossberg hinted that he would attend the event, Instagram stories made outside a Tesla location in New York proved otherwise.

“I’m a little disappointed. But he has a certain mystique to maintain,” Parolski said.

Co-organizer Ruchika Sharma said they never could have expected the turnout: “We were originally supposed to be in Dupont Circle, and the RSVP response was just unbelievable. We had to move it.”

They said over 1,200 people had RSVP’d to attend the event.

After about half an hour of bracketing out crowd favorites and asking Schlossberg trivia questions, a winner was chosen — with a $50 cash prize, a $100 Zipcar gift card and a $100 gift card to Salazar restaurant.

“I’m too online and I’m too into politics,” said winner Daniel Bonomo, a 25-year-old graduate student at Georgetown University.

Bonomo drew jeers from the audience after announcing that he was unfortunately not single. But as he stood in a tiara in front of the hundreds of spectators, he said he would always “commit to the bit.”

Organizers Sharma and Parolski said they have no intention of hosting another event, citing the rapid cycle of online trends.

“When (Sharma) wrote to me about a look alike contest, I said, ‘We’ve got to do it as soon as possible because it’s going to leave the cultural zeitgeist in a week anyway,'” Parolski said. “And I think we sent it out with a bang.”

WTOP’s Abigail Constantino contributed to this report.

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