Lookalike contest multiplied the Carols

The Trousdale entrance was packed Friday to see the USC president’s doppelgangers.

By HANNAH CONTRERAS
Carol Folt was copied and pasted on the north Trousdale entrance on Friday afternoon for her lookalike contest, featuring a variety of students in bobs and blazers to honor her iconic hairdo. (Teo Gonzales / Daily Trojan)

On Friday afternoon, an event that hardly anyone thought would actually happen took place just outside the North Trousdale entrance to campus: the President Carol Folt lookalike contest. Posters had appeared about a week earlier advertising the contest and asking students to “Come in your best bob and blazer.”

Lookalike contests have gained popularity throughout the country after the massively successful Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in New York City, where the man himself showed up. Unfortunately, the real Carol Folt could not find the time in her schedule to attend, but everyone who did enjoyed themselves.


Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

Students from all years and majors showed up for the contest, and there were even some alumni among the crowd who had wandered over due to homecoming weekend. As the clock ticked closer to 3:30 p.m., the stated start time of the contest, more and more Carol Folts appeared out of the woodwork.

“It’s just really fun,” said Tony Liu, a sophomore majoring in economics. “There’s some people here that definitely really pull off the ‘killer bob’ look. Carol Folt’s iconic killer bob, it’s like her signature. So I think a lot of people are here to honor her killer bob.”

There were seven Carol Folts who competed in the contest. There were three real killer bobs, two Carols who were rocking wigs, one Carol whose wig didn’t arrive on time and a Carol who was wearing a piece of paper around their head that read “Killer Bob” as an alternative to spending $60 on a wig.

Jackson Sinatra, a sophomore majoring in theatre with an emphasis in acting, arrived on the scene early wearing a black skirt, a black button-up, a red leather jacket and a little black purse. He had curled his hair to resemble the real Folt’s bob, and he was excited to participate in the contest.

“It’s important for all of us to come out and show our support,” Sinatra said. “This campus doesn’t have enough Carol Folt going on, so we gotta do our part.”

The crowd slowly grew as the Carol Folts were organized into a line and curious students on their way to campus stopped by for a few minutes, stunned that the competition was real. The winning Carol was decided on by cheers. Each Carol was introduced as “Carol” and then their first name, and then the crowd cheered to determine who was the most accurate. Some of the lookalikes had brought along squads of their friends or sorority sisters and fraternity brothers, and there were even some parents lurking in the crowd.

“I just felt the Trojan energy in the air,” said K Shae Reyes, a sophomore majoring in cinema and media studies. “I’m actually here on behalf of Delta Kappa Alpha. I love my brothers, and they showed up for me, and I showed up for them. And you know what? I just had Carol Folt lying within me, and it needed to come out.”

With the real Carol Folt’s retirement looming on the horizon, this was a fitting event to celebrate the ups and downs of Folt’s career as president of USC. Her tenure saw the University through the coronavirus pandemic and the encampments in the Spring 2024 semester, and students have been divided on her effectiveness as president.

“It’s a tragedy, but I hope she will have more time. Hopefully, with her new time she will be able to come and gaze upon her creation,” said Sinatra about Folt’s retirement.

The contest was eventually narrowed down to three Carol Folts, and a cheer-off was conducted between the three of them. The Carols were all excited to get the crowd revved up, and they were each asked to give their best Carol Folt impression.

Despite the competition, and the prize consisting of a trophy and a $20 bill, all of the Carols were very supportive of each other. During and after the contest, they were all laughing jovially and taking pictures with one another.

“[The other competitors] absolutely ate. Carol, Carol and Carol all ate, especially Carol Au. Carol Au brought the props. Carol Au brought the platform sandals. I’m living for it. Absolutely living,” Reyes said.

Au Chung, a senior majoring in public relations, was the eventual winner of the contest. Chung’s all-black professional outfit was topped off by a bright red leather jacket, a bobbed wig, black round sunglasses and hot pink platform sandals. When Chung first went out for applause, they whipped out a large inflatable cell phone and a whiteboard that had “I’m calling LAPD, bytch” written on it. Chung immediately received riotous applause.

“I actually had a Carol and Carol meeting last Halloween when she came by the [LGBTQ+ Student Center],” Chung said. “She clocked my tea and I clocked her tea, and we celebrated the 143rd year of the University being open.”

In the final round of three, Chung again got the loudest applause, especially as they walked to the front carrying a bedazzled clutch in the shape of a football and pulled a foam USC sword out of it. There was goodwill everywhere in the air as Chung accepted their prize and the crowd cheered for not only Chung, but all of the brave souls who tried their hand at attempting the iconic — for better or for worse — University president.

“Over time, as Carol has flopped throughout the past years, I decided I’m the better Carol. I should be the next president of USC,” Chung said.

Disclaimer: Au Chung served as digital managing editor at the Daily Trojan in Spring 2023. They are no longer associated with the paper.

© University of Southern California/Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.