WASHINGTON — Hundreds of onlookers attended a John F. Kennedy Jr. lookalike contest at Barrel House Cafe & Bar on Sunday afternoon.
The event took place alongside the ongoing series “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” directed by Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning American director Ryan Murphy. The nine-part series explores the couple’s high-profile romance and enduring cultural legacy. It premiered Feb. 12 on streaming platforms FX and Hulu, with episodes airing weekly on Thursdays through March 26.
“I was watching the show and obviously thought that the actor they chose, Paul Anthony Kelly, was incredibly handsome,” said Tess Emiroglu, co-organizer of the event. “I just thought about all the lookalike contests that have been going on in the past few months, and thought D.C. is the perfect place to bring a JFK Jr. lookalike contest.”
Throughout the event, Emiroglu highlighted JFK Jr.’s cultural legacy, including his founding of George magazine, which pioneered a politics-as-lifestyle approach that blended celebrity culture with political reporting.
Emiroglu helped bring the lookalike contest to life. (Chloe Park/MNS)
Emiroglu’s co-organizer, Lucy Nuñez, framed the event as a matchmaking opportunity.
“I’m a content creator and matchmaker in D.C., so I’m always looking for ways to bring people together and have people meet each other and have a good time,” Nuñez said. “I do blind date matchmaking in D.C., and I always get so many more women than men seeking me out, so I figured a lookalike contest of a man is a great way to bring in a lot of men.”
Nuñez added that younger generations are facing a “loneliness epidemic,” driven by the rise of dating apps during the pandemic and fueled by political polarization. She said this, paired with “difficult political times” under the Trump administration, inspired her to organize an event aimed at bringing people together.
Nuñez pumped up the crowd for the event. (Chloe Park/MNS)
The event featured a runway for all the contestants, followed by a vote based on the sound of applause. The crowd crowned 25-year-old Matthew Orgera as the winner.
