What does it mean to be a celebrity look-alike?

"You really look like that actor" or "your face is familiar": these are just a few of the phrases we often say to acquaintances and friends, or that we have heard at least once in our lives. The topic of look-alikes remains one of the most used to break the ice in a conversation and is also appreciated by art and science. An example? The study by Manel Esteller from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute in Barcelona. Inspired by an exhibition titled I’m not a look-alike!, created by Canadian artist François Brunelle, Esteller found that out of 32 pairs examined 16 had DNA almost comparable to that of identical twins, despite being individuals who do not share any degree of kinship or place of origin in common. Discovering that you have a look-alike somewhere in the world and being able to meet them is already a shocking event, but how would you react if someone mistook you for the look-alike or the impersonator of your favorite celebrity? Several creators can claim to have a lot in common with a celebrity. From the Zayn Malik look-alike to the Anne Hathaway look-alike, let's find out what it means to resemble a star so much and what hides behind the life of an impersonator.

Alessandro D’Alcantara: Zayn Malik look-alike

With over a million followers on TikTok, Alessandro D’Alcantara has been elected by the online community as the Italian Zayn Malik. The 25-year-old confessed to being mistaken for him at least once a day: "Initially I didn't understand, then when the messages and comments became really numerous I started to play on the fact of ironically being his cousin because, of course, for me, it could only be a joke, not finding us so identical. Sometimes in some shots, I must admit, we do have some similar features, and honestly, this thing has a certain effect on me, but not enough to make me think we were separated at birth, even if I would like to exchange my life with his for a day": these are the words of Emanuele, who is a concept designer, creates custom jewelry and clothing by reusing second-hand clothes, and is at the end of his university journey. Singing One Direction songs in the car with his friends is not his only secret; the creator has indeed revealed something truly unusual about his connection with Zayn. For several years now, he has been receiving birthday wishes instead of the singer. Would you like to receive them, or would you find it strange? He has gotten used to it.

Federica Zongoli: Cristiana Capotondi look-alike

It was 2006 when we fell in love with Claudia Martinelli in Notte prima degli esami. Despite much time having passed, Cristiana Capotondi remains an undisputed crush for many of us, but be careful not to confuse her with her secret twin. We are talking about Federica Zongoli, a content creator focused on lifestyle and mental health. "I don't remember the first time they told me I looked like Capotondi, it was probably my mother, who was convinced that I also looked like the actress from Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, Olivia Hussey. At first, I reacted as if it were a compliment, now I'm used to it. I recognize the look when someone is about to say it. I prefer it when they ask me if I am Federica Zongoli. That's when my eyes light up." In short, although the girl values the actress a lot, she prefers to be known for her work online. Federica started a career in the fashion world at just 18. Today, she lives near Rome and has recently left her job as a nurse to dedicate herself entirely to her online community. Her first viral videos, in reality, portrayed her while telling her extra experiences on film sets. Who knows, maybe one day we will see them acting together, but for now, Zongoli's dream is to open a creative farm with her boyfriend Bob.

Emanuela Catalano: Anne Hathaway look-alike

TikTok has crowned its princess, and it is Emanuela Catalano, the undisputed look-alike of American actress Anne Hathaway. "It was Pretty Princess the movie that first triggered something in my mother. I was attending middle school and doing homework in my room when she called me to tell me that the protagonist looked just like me." Of Sicilian origins, she lives in Rome and she has a parallel life and divides her time between content creation and a legal career; she is, in fact, a law student. How has her relationship on social media changed since she became Anne Hathaway's look-alike? Emanuela confessed to considering herself very fortunate because being associated with an actress she admires is no small thing, and above all, because Anne, beyond her character, is a very positive and appreciated person. Emanuela's goal is to prove to herself that in life, you can play many roles, just like the actress she shares features with.

Claudia Di Giandomenico: Alessandra Amoroso look-alike

From a simple resemblance to numerous appearances on television, the story of singer Claudia Di Giandomenico immerses us completely in the life of an impersonator. Born in Pescara in 1984, the woman is known on social media as the doppelganger of Alessandra Amoroso. "One day my aunt told me that there was a girl on Amici who looked a lot like me. I was surprised because not watching Amici, I didn't know who she was”: Claudia still didn't know it, but from that moment on, her life would change forever. Today, she is the frontman of the Clamoroso Alessandra Amoroso cover band and performs under her stage name Klaudia DG. In 2017, she participated as a guest on the Rai 2 show Detto Fatto with Caterina Balivo, where she was nominated the official look-alike of Alessandra Amoroso, and in 2023 she performed on Fake Show with Max Giusti on Rai 2. "I don't do it to get more followers on social media; I do it because I like to sing and I like her songs, then the rest is a consequence": these are the words of the singer, who maintains her personality.

Alessia Merola: Josephine Langford look-alike

Imagine being a book lover and then discovering that the actor who will play your favorite character in a live-action looks a lot like you. That's what happened to Alessia Merola, a TikToker with almost 1 million followers. Born in Caserta but moved to Modena, she is the look-alike of Josephine Langford, who plays the protagonist in After, a hugely successful book and film series among teenagers, including Alessia. Supported by her fans, Alessia met Hero Fiennes Tiffin, the male protagonist of the franchise, on an online call. The experience was shared by the girl during a live, and the audience was pleased to see the reaction of Hardin, who confirmed the resemblance. It doesn't end here. The content creator has become the face of the special edition cover of After 4.

Celebrity look-alikes overseas

The phenomenon of look-alikes does not end in Italy. The most loved social media couple, formed by Tom Holland and Zendaya, finds its double in creators Hunter Reilly and Whitney Brown. Leighton Meester, who plays Blair Waldorf in the original version of Gossip Girl, has found her double in Maija May. She gained a large following Taylor Madison, who recreates Kylie Jenner's looks. Let's face it, we all would have wanted to be Noah in Is It My Fault?, but there is someone who can really boast of being very similar to Nicole Wallace, and that person is Isabella Messens.