The Hong Kong Telegraph - Crowds Gather at San Francisco Park for Elizabeth Holmes Lookalike Tournament

A large crowd gathered at Lafayette Park in San Francisco on Saturday for an unusual impersonation contest inspired by the A24 documentary "You Can See Everything." The event, which drew more than 1,000 people who had RSVPed via the platform Partiful, featured contestants attempting to mimic convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes and comedian-filmmaker Nathan Fielder.

The gathering was organized in response to the recent release of the film, directed by Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. The documentary explores the rise and fall of Theranos, the blood-testing company founded by Holmes, which promised revolutionary technology but was later exposed as a massive fraud. Holmes was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison in 2022 after being convicted of defrauding investors.

Contestants arrived at the park dressed in black turtlenecks, with headphones and tightly pulled-back hairstyles to replicate Holmes’ signature look. Some carried laptops or attempted to mimic her famously intense stare, while others adopted Fielder’s deadpan, absurdist persona. One participant even tossed fake $100 bills into the crowd.

The competition required more than just physical resemblance. Participants faced a series of increasingly ridiculous challenges designed to test their ability to capture the distinct personalities of the film’s subjects. These included a staring contest, a dance-off, and business pitch presentations. Those portraying Holmes were tasked with delivering a corporate pitch, while Fielder impersonators had to present their own marketing strategies.

"We expected to have a couple of our friends show up, and if a few people thought it was cool, they would reach out. We did not expect anything like this. It’s amazing," co-host Miranda Stern told KRON4 regarding the turnout.

For many attendees, the event served as a communal celebration of the documentary, which has sparked widespread discussion. Shane Boile described the film to KRON4 as "funny" and "insane," comparing it to a "rollercoaster." Emily Williams called it one of her favorite movies in recent memory.

However, not all attendees had seen the film. Jade Adu, who attended without having watched the documentary, said she was drawn by her appreciation for Fielder’s earlier television projects, such as "Nathan For You" and "The Rehearsal," as well as the growing trend of celebrity lookalike contests on social media.

"I love Nathan for You. I have seen the show. I have seen The Rehearsal; it’s so funny. I have seen so many of the lookalike competitions on TikTok and social media in general, and I was like, ‘why not?’" Adu said.

After the performances concluded, Sierra Stingl and Alex Kesin were declared the winners. They earned the title of "most A24-approved," along with a crown, headphones, and bragging rights.

The organizers, who operate under the social media handle @threegirlsinsf, stated that their goal extended beyond mere entertainment. Co-host Tanvi Kaur explained that the event was an attempt to revive San Francisco’s reputation for creativity and audacity.

"Historically, SF has been a place for weird people, creative energy, and a lot of really cool ideas. I feel like we are losing a little bit of that spark, so our whole mission is to bring that fun and audacity back to the city. I think we need more audacity," Kaur said.

The organizers expressed hope that they could continue to bring San Franciscans together through similar unconventional community events in the future.

曾-M.Zēng--THT-士蔑報