A Manhattan man used a smirk and the ever-bizarre get-up of a Knicks jersey under a suit jacket to win a Mayor Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest in Manhattan on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Amadeo Fusca, who at age 40 is six years older than Hizzoner, beat out about 10 other contestants to take home the $100 prize in front of around 200 cheering young people gathered for the Washington Square Park event.<\/p>\n
Fusca \u2014 a comedian and actor who has already racked up millions of views posting skits on social media impersonating Mamdani<\/a> \u2014 said he began emulating the mayor in his professional work after his friends bombarded him with pictures of Hizzoner while he was running for office, pointing out their striking resemblance.<\/p>\n Amadeo Fusca holds his $100 prize after winning a Mayor Zohran Mamdani look-alike contest Sunday in Washington Square Park in Manhattan. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post<\/p>\n Mamdani look-alike contestants woo Sunday\u2019s young Manhattan crowd. REUTERS<\/p>\n \u201cIt was kind of the perfect storm of people constantly hitting me up,\u201d said Fusca, who has starred in episodes of the hit TV show \u201cNCIS\u201d and in the film \u201cThe Alto Knights,\u201d to The Post after his win.<\/p>\n He said he eventually fully embraced the Mamdani comparisons and even asked his barber for the mayor\u2019s haircut.<\/p>\n \u201cThe funny thing is, I was growing my hair, and I was like, \u2018No, I\u2019m growing my hair, I don\u2019t really want to do that.\u2019 And then when [Mamdani] won [the mayor\u2019s race], it was just insane, the messages I was getting,\u201d Fusca said.<\/p>\n \u201cI went to the barber that morning and said, \u2018Here, cut my hair, and make me look like this now.\u2019 And like, I have to look like this all the time now!<\/p>\n \u201cI started doing Instagram videos to parody him and take on his shape,\u201d the actor said. \u201cIt started to get more love, and I sort of realized recently that people are hiring me to do their variety shows.\u201d<\/p>\n Fusca wore a Knicks Josh Hart jersey to the contest \u2014 just like the mayor wore to the team\u2019s championship parade. REUTERS<\/p>\n The real Mamdani heads toward the city\u2019s celebration of its hometown hoops champs in June. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n Fusca, who lives just a few blocks from the mayor\u2019s Gracie Mansion residence on the Upper East Side, said he gained even more acclaim while attending Knicks watch parties.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople were reacting like crazy, beyond what I even thought,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just kept going to watch parties, and I kept inhabiting this field of people. It\u2019s crazy how happy people get.\u201d<\/p>\n Fusca grinned as he held up his cash prize in front of the crowd while clad in a New York Knicks jersey tucked beneath his suit jacket \u2014 an homage to Mamdani\u2019s outfit after the home team\u2019s NBA Finals win.<\/p>\n The competition drew a crew of Mamdani wannabes, including bearded contestants sporting the mayor\u2019s signature suit-and-tie look with a bike helmet, which Hizzoner started wearing this month after scrutiny for biking without one.<\/a><\/p>\n Other contestants wore aprons while shirtless in a nod to Mamdani\u2019s rap career under the stage name Mr. Cardamom.<\/p>\n The contest, hosted by Sonder, an app designed for Gen-Zers to connect and form friendships, is the latest installment in a series of look-alike contests at the Greenwich Village park.<\/p>\n In June, an adorable young New York Knicks fan won $5,000 in a Jalen Brunson look-alike contest<\/a> at Washington Square Park and was surprised with a clutch FaceTime with the NBA Finals MVP.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t