Heath Ledger lookalike is crowned in Sydney as celebrity competition trend hits Australia… but fans are more stunned by the uncanny runner-up

Similar celebrity competitions have swept the world and finally arrived in Australia this weekend.

After Timothy Chalamet And Jeremy Allen White‘s doppelgängers were recently crowned in the United States, Sydney hosted its own Heath Ledger match on Saturday.

Locals who bore a striking resemblance to the late Australian actor flocked to Camperdown in a bid to be crowned his most uncanny lookalike.

In addition to being judged on their physical resemblance to the star, the contestants also had to take part in a number of funny singing and acting competitions.

The wannabe lookalikes delivered their best rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, famously sung by Heath in the cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You.

They also had to show off their best ‘moody’ looks and do an impersonation of the Why So Serious? beatbox challenge, a TikTok trend where people beatbox like Heath’s Joker.

However, it was the competition’s runner-up – Samuel Preston (pictured) – who caused a social media tailspin, leaving many stunned by his uncanny resemblance to Heath.

The wannabe lookalikes all had to deliver their best rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, famously sung by Heath in the cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You (pictured)

They were also ranked based on whose beer was the coldest, and whether they had ridden across the Nullarbor Plain at the age of 16 in a classic Australian twist.

A young man named Jude Bailey was ultimately crowned the winner and took home a cash prize of $51.

Jude dedicated the victory to his mother, who convinced him to participate in the competition, the Courier mail.

He serenaded the crowd with his rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You after being declared the winner.

However, it was the competition’s runner-up who caused a downward spiral on social media, with many floored by his uncanny resemblance to Heath.

Footage shared on TikTok showed the man, believed to be named Samuel Preston, showing off his muscles in a white tank top as he stood next to his fellow competitors.

Fans shared in the comments section their shock at his resemblance to Heath and said he should have won.

“Yes, that tank top won straight away,” one person wrote, while another simply said: “White tank top.”

Locals with a striking resemblance to Australian actor Heath flocked to Camperdown in a bid to be crowned the creepiest lookalike

With a huge turnout at the outdoor event, winner Jude was seen serenading the crowd with a rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You after being declared the winner

The event was advertised on flyers all over Sydney

A third commented: ‘If you’re eyeing second place in the Heath Ledger lookalike competition.’

A fourth said: ‘This is honestly a good one,’ and another commented: ‘He acts like he knows he’s on camera.’

The event was advertised on flyers around Sydney before the big day and was organized and judged by comedian Joshua Khoury and Luca Trovato.

When asked why they decided to host a Heath lookalike competition, Joshua described him as the perfect match because he is an ‘Australian icon’.

Born and raised in Perth, Heath moved to the United States and found fame in Hollywood with his roles in the series Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight.

He tragically died of an accidental drug overdose in his New York apartment at the age of 28.

This isn’t the first time a celebrity lookalike contest has taken place in recent days as the trend is currently sweeping the world.

Earlier this month, more than fifty Jeremy Allen White lookalikes came to Humboldt Park in Chicago to show off their likeness to The Bear actor.

Earlier this month, more than fifty Jeremy Allen White lookalikes came to Humboldt Park in Chicago to show off their likeness to The Bear actor. In the photo: winner Ben Shabad

Ben Shabad, 37, was officially crowned the most convincing lookalike in front of the hundreds of people watching the match.

Video footage showed the huge crowd chanting the actor’s name and hoisting Ben into the air after his win.

“I’m so happy,” said Ben, a mental health therapist. “This is the coolest thing I’ve done all week.”

A few weeks earlier, Timothee Chalamet caused pandemonium among his fans in New York by unexpectedly showing up for his own lookalike contest.

Flanked by bodyguards, the actor posed for photos with his curly-haired doppelgängers – some of whom dressed as his characters, including Willy Wonka and Dune protagonist Paul Atreides.

Fans had traveled from as far away as St. Louis, Missouri and river waterfalls, Wisconsin for the crazy competition, where the best lookalike won $50.

Miles Mitchell, a senior at Staten Island University, was ultimately crowned the winner, tossing candy from a briefcase while dressed in a purple Willy Wonka outfit after his win.

The crazy event, advertised on flyers in New York, was one of several doppelgänger competitions organized by YouTube personality Anthony Po.

Just weeks earlier, Timothee Chalamet had caused pandemonium among his fans in New York by showing up unexpectedly for his own lookalike contest.

Miles Mitchell, a senior at Staten Island University, was ultimately crowned the winner, tossing candy from a briefcase while dressed in a purple Willy Wonka outfit after his win

Minutes after the game started — and before the real Timothee entered — police ordered the large group to disperse from Washington Square Park.

Organizers were fined $500 for an “unauthorized costume contest,” and at least one lookalike was dragged away in handcuffs as the crowd shouted, “Let him go!”

Witnesses and competitors told DailyMail.com that the scenes that unfolded were ‘insane’.

‘The people who filmed it and the people who responded to the police became an extra layer of spectacle. It was just absurd,” one person said.