PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 30 people dressed in powdered wigs and bifocals braved the heat for a Ben Franklin look-alike contest on Independence Mall Friday evening.
“There's something about chubby and bald that just, I don't know, the French like it and so it seems does the Philadelphians,” said Mitchell Kramer, one of Philly’s most recognizable Ben Franklin interpreters. He stole the show — which took place right by the Liberty Bell — and helped crown the winner.
With a kite in hand, Kiya Burgess, 25, from Philly, beat out all the other look-alikes with her handmade costume and wig.
“I love cosplay. I love dressing up, and I already had this costume, so I just wanted to come and show everyone what I made because I like to sew, and this is one of my first costumes,” Burgess said.
All the look-alikes paid $1 to enter the contest, and Burgess took home the pot of money.
“Thank you so much for picking me, and stay weird,” she said.
Elena Jackendoff organized the event as her own whimsical way of celebrating America’s big milestone. She pasted flyers across the city to rally electric look-alikes, but wasn’t expecting a big turnout.
“Clearly I only made 10 numbers and then, oh, here's a horde of people ready and willing and thrilled to participate. And so it really exceeded all expectations I could have possibly had.”
