The celebrity impersonator industry is booming in China, with lookalikes popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
Any celeb with a hint of fame is bound to have a knock-off version.
We reckon Mandopop king Jay Chou probably has the most doppelgangers out there. You can read about them here and here.
And these are just the impersonators. There are a lot more lookalikes if you include regular Joes like these street food vendors. There’s even one here in Singapore.
The celeb impersonators look so much like the real stars that you can hardly tell them apart.
Even among them, competition is fierce, and standing out requires a creative edge.
Like this Nicholas Tse impersonator, who has been gaining attention in the mainland.
Instead of singing, he has crafted a persona as “Chef Nic”, offering private home dining experiences for high SES clients — a service in high demand in China.
Hong Kong star Nicholas, 44, has been making waves in F&B following his 2014 food travelogue show, Chef Nic, which propelled him into the ranks of celebrity chefs.
Known for his unconventional cooking methods, he later launched a bakery business, lifestyle and food line, and even received the ‘Friend of Michelin’ award twice.
But unlike the real McCoy, knock-off Nic, who goes by the name of Yi Feng, is an actual chef.
He sticks to traditional, practical cooking techniques that produce sumptuous dishes and his culinary skills have earned him popularity in China.
Yi Feng bears such an uncanny resemblance to the actor that he’s reportedly been mistaken for the real deal.
Maybe the two Nics should compete in a cook-off?