'Schlossberg Lookalike Contest Crowns New "People's Princess" in "It's a Jack-Off!" Event
A request for clones of Jack Schlossberg was made, and Washington responded.
TroibNews 
There aren’t enough Jack Schlossbergs.
At the President James Buchanan Memorial in Meridian Hill Park, only a handful of contestants have emerged from the vast crowd of hundreds.
“If no more Jacks show up,” Georgia Parolski, one of the contest organizers, declares into her neon-pink bullhorn, “I’m gonna start picking people.” She scans the audience, finger pointing. “What about you in the white jacket with the yellow stripe? Do you want in? Come up here, sir!” Co-host Ruchika Sharma, 28, squints and gestures toward someone in the distance: “I see a brunette white man over there. We’re taking last-minute entries.”
The crowd erupts with cheers.
In the end, around a dozen young men, a baby in a backwards baseball cap strapped to his mom, and at least one self-identified lesbian take part in the competition.
“It’s a Jack-off!” someone calls out.
We have gathered here to crown the “People’s Princess” — a title bestowed upon the man, woman, or baby who “brings light to the darkness of political times” and closely resembles John Bouvier “Jack” Kennedy Schlossberg.
As a Kennedy scion, Vogue political correspondent, self-proclaimed “silly goose,” and TikTok heartthrob, Schlossberg is known for sharing playful videos, such as lip-syncing to Fleetwood Mac from inside a Dunkin' Donuts or dancing shirtless with a backward cap. He also quotes Lord Byron and lays down his dating “terms,” stating, “I can’t handle anything less than all of you,” to his 436,000 followers.
Today’s event is part of a trend of celebrity lookalike contests cropping up across the nation: Timothee Chalamet drew a crowd in New York, Jeremy Allen White attracted attention in Chicago, San Francisco featured Dev Patel, London had Harry Styles, and Boston landed Tom Holland. Now, the event in Washington revolves around Schlossberg.
It’s a quintessential D.C. event. Not in the traditional sense of Old School, go-go-loving Black D.C., but rather the modern, hipper company town. As Henry Johnson, a 28-year-old contestant, puts it, “This is very D.C. You couldn’t do this anywhere else.”
The winners will earn $50 in cash, a $100 Zip Car certificate and membership, a $100 gift card for Salazar Restaurant, bragging rights — “and maybe my number,” Parolski adds jokingly through the bullhorn.
All of this originated recently when Sharma, a law student at American University, had a lightbulb moment. At 3 in the morning, she texted her friend Parolski, who works in public health research, proposing the idea of a celebrity doppelganger event in D.C. They began promoting it aggressively on social media. If you build it, they will come — and so did corporate endorsements, alongside over 1,200 RSVPs.
“We thought that D.C. needed some levity after the election,” Sharma explains, “and if we could bring folks together and remind them of a silly, fun time.”
Silliness is indeed the objective.
One by one, contestants introduce themselves. Adam, wearing a white turtleneck and white eyeliner, claims he didn’t come to compete: “I came here to husband shop!” Jay insists he should win due to his Massachusetts roots, political work, and ample chest hair. Johnson humorously deadpans that a relative who despises vaccines is his ticket to victory. Sierra Hanash, 20, a George Washington University student, decides to join at the last minute.
“I’m 6’2”,” Hanash states jokingly — they are closer to 5’2”. “And I’m proof that Jack Schlossberg is a lesbian. … I’m doing it for the girls and the gays!”
Then there's Martin Burstein, 23, from the Energy Department, who rushes on stage and starts stripping: first his shirt, then his pants. He struggles with the latter, yanking until he finally reveals the board shorts he wore underneath, topped off with a backwards baseball cap atop his sandy blonde hair.
“What’s up, y’all,” he introduces himself. “My name’s Martin. I am single, and I came here to win.”
The contest, lasting about 30 minutes, is straightforward. Contestants earn a place in the next round based on applause, which leads to trivia questions: What is Jack’s zodiac sign? Which fraternity did Jack join? What Kennedy relatives inspired the documentary, Grey Gardens? In which countries did Jack’s mother, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, serve as U.S. Ambassador?
Since Schlossberg’s mom served in Australia — and Schlossberg has shared speaking with an Australian accent — contestants are prompted to share a little about themselves in an Aussie accent.
After the trivia, judges deliberate before narrowing the contestants down to the final four.
Hanash, advancing to the finals, acknowledges the competition: “I feel good about this.”
The judges call for applause once more for their favorites, holding a quirky black tiara above each head. It ultimately lands on Daniel Bonomo, a 25-year-old graduate student in foreign affairs at Georgetown University, whose tall and lean build coupled with a striking similarity to Schlossberg wins over the crowd.
Post-event, Bonomo shares how his girlfriend encouraged him to join. He treated the contest earnestly, studying Schlossberg’s TikToks and memorizing key lines, including Schlossberg’s romantic “terms” for the audience: “I need you. I need you and I don’t want to live without you…”
“I’m a silly, goofy guy,” Bonomo admits, still a little surprised while wearing the tiara. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to win.”
Interestingly, he’s not looking to enter politics. “I really want to work for the State department. I’m a civil servant.”
Absent from the festivities was Schlossberg himself, who had announced on X that he would attend. Some attendees, like Olivia Schwartz, a 29-year-old involved in “Dem politics,” and her friend Emma Mont, 27, working in digital communications, felt content despite his absence. They had tracked Schlossberg’s social media and knew he was still in New York. “It’s just a fun bonus if he shows up,” Mont remarks.
However, for two George Washington University students, Yael Loubat, 20, and Reva Dalmia, also 20, Schlossberg’s nonappearance was disappointing.
“I was devastated,” Loubat says.
“I genuinely thought he was going to show up,” Dalmia adds, “I didn't think it was too much of a stretch after Timothee Chalamet. … Don’t say you’ll show up and stand us up.”
Still, they remain ardent fans.
“He definitely did his part during the election to get the younger vote,” Loubat comments. “He was active on social media, trying to engage younger voters. … It’s good to inspire the younger generation.”
As for Schlossberg, he was last seen on Instagram from a car dealership, criticizing Tesla batteries for not being better for the environment.
“Why aren’t u at the Jack lookalike contest :((((,” a follower inquired.
Another added, “What all the ppl r wondering.”
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
At the President James Buchanan Memorial in Meridian Hill Park, only a handful of contestants have emerged from the vast crowd of hundreds.
“If no more Jacks show up,” Georgia Parolski, one of the contest organizers, declares into her neon-pink bullhorn, “I’m gonna start picking people.” She scans the audience, finger pointing. “What about you in the white jacket with the yellow stripe? Do you want in? Come up here, sir!” Co-host Ruchika Sharma, 28, squints and gestures toward someone in the distance: “I see a brunette white man over there. We’re taking last-minute entries.”
The crowd erupts with cheers.
In the end, around a dozen young men, a baby in a backwards baseball cap strapped to his mom, and at least one self-identified lesbian take part in the competition.
“It’s a Jack-off!” someone calls out.
We have gathered here to crown the “People’s Princess” — a title bestowed upon the man, woman, or baby who “brings light to the darkness of political times” and closely resembles John Bouvier “Jack” Kennedy Schlossberg.
As a Kennedy scion, Vogue political correspondent, self-proclaimed “silly goose,” and TikTok heartthrob, Schlossberg is known for sharing playful videos, such as lip-syncing to Fleetwood Mac from inside a Dunkin' Donuts or dancing shirtless with a backward cap. He also quotes Lord Byron and lays down his dating “terms,” stating, “I can’t handle anything less than all of you,” to his 436,000 followers.
Today’s event is part of a trend of celebrity lookalike contests cropping up across the nation: Timothee Chalamet drew a crowd in New York, Jeremy Allen White attracted attention in Chicago, San Francisco featured Dev Patel, London had Harry Styles, and Boston landed Tom Holland. Now, the event in Washington revolves around Schlossberg.
It’s a quintessential D.C. event. Not in the traditional sense of Old School, go-go-loving Black D.C., but rather the modern, hipper company town. As Henry Johnson, a 28-year-old contestant, puts it, “This is very D.C. You couldn’t do this anywhere else.”
The winners will earn $50 in cash, a $100 Zip Car certificate and membership, a $100 gift card for Salazar Restaurant, bragging rights — “and maybe my number,” Parolski adds jokingly through the bullhorn.
All of this originated recently when Sharma, a law student at American University, had a lightbulb moment. At 3 in the morning, she texted her friend Parolski, who works in public health research, proposing the idea of a celebrity doppelganger event in D.C. They began promoting it aggressively on social media. If you build it, they will come — and so did corporate endorsements, alongside over 1,200 RSVPs.
“We thought that D.C. needed some levity after the election,” Sharma explains, “and if we could bring folks together and remind them of a silly, fun time.”
Silliness is indeed the objective.
One by one, contestants introduce themselves. Adam, wearing a white turtleneck and white eyeliner, claims he didn’t come to compete: “I came here to husband shop!” Jay insists he should win due to his Massachusetts roots, political work, and ample chest hair. Johnson humorously deadpans that a relative who despises vaccines is his ticket to victory. Sierra Hanash, 20, a George Washington University student, decides to join at the last minute.
“I’m 6’2”,” Hanash states jokingly — they are closer to 5’2”. “And I’m proof that Jack Schlossberg is a lesbian. … I’m doing it for the girls and the gays!”
Then there's Martin Burstein, 23, from the Energy Department, who rushes on stage and starts stripping: first his shirt, then his pants. He struggles with the latter, yanking until he finally reveals the board shorts he wore underneath, topped off with a backwards baseball cap atop his sandy blonde hair.
“What’s up, y’all,” he introduces himself. “My name’s Martin. I am single, and I came here to win.”
The contest, lasting about 30 minutes, is straightforward. Contestants earn a place in the next round based on applause, which leads to trivia questions: What is Jack’s zodiac sign? Which fraternity did Jack join? What Kennedy relatives inspired the documentary, Grey Gardens? In which countries did Jack’s mother, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, serve as U.S. Ambassador?
Since Schlossberg’s mom served in Australia — and Schlossberg has shared speaking with an Australian accent — contestants are prompted to share a little about themselves in an Aussie accent.
After the trivia, judges deliberate before narrowing the contestants down to the final four.
Hanash, advancing to the finals, acknowledges the competition: “I feel good about this.”
The judges call for applause once more for their favorites, holding a quirky black tiara above each head. It ultimately lands on Daniel Bonomo, a 25-year-old graduate student in foreign affairs at Georgetown University, whose tall and lean build coupled with a striking similarity to Schlossberg wins over the crowd.
Post-event, Bonomo shares how his girlfriend encouraged him to join. He treated the contest earnestly, studying Schlossberg’s TikToks and memorizing key lines, including Schlossberg’s romantic “terms” for the audience: “I need you. I need you and I don’t want to live without you…”
“I’m a silly, goofy guy,” Bonomo admits, still a little surprised while wearing the tiara. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to win.”
Interestingly, he’s not looking to enter politics. “I really want to work for the State department. I’m a civil servant.”
Absent from the festivities was Schlossberg himself, who had announced on X that he would attend. Some attendees, like Olivia Schwartz, a 29-year-old involved in “Dem politics,” and her friend Emma Mont, 27, working in digital communications, felt content despite his absence. They had tracked Schlossberg’s social media and knew he was still in New York. “It’s just a fun bonus if he shows up,” Mont remarks.
However, for two George Washington University students, Yael Loubat, 20, and Reva Dalmia, also 20, Schlossberg’s nonappearance was disappointing.
“I was devastated,” Loubat says.
“I genuinely thought he was going to show up,” Dalmia adds, “I didn't think it was too much of a stretch after Timothee Chalamet. … Don’t say you’ll show up and stand us up.”
Still, they remain ardent fans.
“He definitely did his part during the election to get the younger vote,” Loubat comments. “He was active on social media, trying to engage younger voters. … It’s good to inspire the younger generation.”
As for Schlossberg, he was last seen on Instagram from a car dealership, criticizing Tesla batteries for not being better for the environment.
“Why aren’t u at the Jack lookalike contest :((((,” a follower inquired.
Another added, “What all the ppl r wondering.”
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
