A Manhattan actor won a Mayor Zohran Mamdani lookalike contest on Sunday, donning a New York Knicks jersey under a suit jacket to secure the $100 prize. Amadeo Fusca, 40, bested approximately 10 other contestants in the event held at Washington Square Park.
Fusca, a comedian and actor, has gained a following on social media for impersonating Mamdani. He told The Post that friends frequently sent him photos of the mayor during his campaign, noting their resemblance. "It was kind of the perfect storm of people constantly hitting me up," Fusca said.
He stated that he eventually fully embraced the comparisons and even asked his barber for Mamdani's signature haircut. "The funny thing is, I was growing my hair, and I was like, ‘No, I’m growing my hair, I don’t really want to do that.’ And then when [Mamdani] won [the mayor’s race], it was just insane, the messages I was getting," Fusca said.
Fusca began creating Instagram videos parodying the mayor, which garnered positive attention. "It started to get more love, and I sort of realized recently that people are hiring me to do their variety shows," he noted.
The competition featured other contestants who also emulated Mamdani's style. Some sported the mayor's characteristic suit-and-tie with a bike helmet, a nod to Mamdani's recent adoption of protective gear while cycling. Others referenced his past as a rapper under the stage name Mr. Cardamom by wearing aprons shirtless.
The contest was hosted by Sonder, an app aimed at connecting Gen-Z individuals. This event is part of a series of look-alike contests held in Greenwich Village. In June, a young New York Knicks fan won a Jalen Brunson lookalike contest in the same park.
