Emma Kate Willman, an influencer from Charleston, South Carolina, has seen her social media following surge due to what many fans describe as a remarkable resemblance to Norwegian World Cup star Erling Haaland.
Willman, who initially gained an online following by posting hair tutorials and styling tips, noticed a significant increase in her Instagram notifications during the recent World Cup. "I think that I've had probably over 100,000 comments in the last two hours, saying how much I look like [Erling Haaland]," she stated earlier this week. She humorously added, "First of all, the best doppelganger you give me is a male soccer player? Really? Can't we just go back to when you guys were calling me Zara Larsson? No offense to Haaland at all, but I am very much just a little girl from Charleston."
Fans have frequently commented on Willman's videos, drawing parallels to the Manchester City forward. One user remarked on a hair styling clip, "Everyone is talking about Haaland's diet routine. Here is the beauty routine." Another commenter joked, "I dare Haaland to drop a stinker. This reel is going triple platinum," while a third wrote, "@erling found your long lost sister."
Initially taken aback by the comparisons, Willman has since embraced the situation, even imitating Haaland's signature slicked-back hairstyle in a video that has garnered over one million likes. Haaland himself has acknowledged the resemblance, commenting "Hi" with a thumbs-up emoji on one of her posts.
Willman is scheduled to travel to Miami for Norway's quarterfinal World Cup match against England. She is partnering with the sports betting company Kalshi to host an Erling Haaland lookalike contest. The event, set to take place at Bayfront Park Fountain near Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, will award the winner two tickets to the game. "I was sitting in bed last night and I had the craziest idea: What if we put everybody who looks like Haaland in the same room?" Willman said in a promotional video, adding that she found a brand willing to support the initiative.
