Paul Mescal lookalike competition leaves fans baffled as 'twin' is crowned winner

A Paul Mescal lookalike competition in Dublin this week saw one man take the crown for looking the most like the Normal People star – and fans can't believe how similar they look

Fans of Paul Mescal were left in disbelief after a lookalike contest for the Irish actor this week, where one man was crowned as his doppelgänger.

The unofficial competition saw hundreds gather in Smithfield Square, Dublin, on Thursday (November 7), with many arriving in their best GAA shorts and gold chains, emulating Mescal's style.

But only one could be declared the winner, and that honour went to Jack Wall O'Reilly. Not only did he win the title, but he also bagged £20 and three free pints for his uncanny resemblance to the Normal People star as people declared they could be 'twins'.

Jack revealed that he had received numerous messages urging him to enter the contest, so he decided to give it a shot. Speaking to RTE Lifestyle, Jack said: "I think [Paul Mescal] is a very stylish man, I didn't have to buy anything for today, so that helped." He added that the competition was just a bit of fun and there were plenty of good looking Paul Mescal lookalikes present.

After a video of Jack was shared on TikTok, viewers were convinced of his resemblance to Mescal, with one saying: "You can't tell me this isn't Paul Mescal."

Another noted that he even had the same vibe and personality as the actor. Reactions to the event also poured in on X (formerly Twitter), with one user saying: "These lookalike competitions are getting so out of hand. I want one in my living room."

Others expressed regret at missing the event, while some found the whole concept amusing, with one commenting: "Only in Dublin, brilliant."

One social media user said: "Fun competition in Dublin! Paul Mescal has many lookalikes! ". "So many Paul Mescal twins," observed one fan.

Another commented: "Can we have more of these? They're actually genius and a welcome shot of joy and community in a trying time."

"I'm loving these lookalike competitions," shared another enthusiast.

Mescal recently revealed his uneasy premonition about not reaching old age. The 28 year old actor expressed to GQ his belief that his life won't be particularly lengthy.

Paul admitted: "I've always been convinced that I'm not going to live a long life. In my head it's never been drastic. It's just like a gut feeling. And maybe it's to do with the fact that I can't visualise myself as an 80-year-old man."

He elaborated: "It's always in my head. I was like: 'Going to have a family young. I'm going to not survive a long time.' Hopefully, I'm wrong. I think I will be wrong. But that's just the truth around my brain."