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Indie Rock Icon, 45, Participates in (And Loses) His Own Lookalike Contest
Indie Rock Icon, 45, Participates in (And Loses) His Own Lookalike Contest originally appeared on Parade.
Which is more cringe, as they say: showing up to your own lookalike contest, only to find out no one else did; or showing up, entering and losing? Such an existential crisis was waiting for Conor Oberst, the frontman for indie rock group .
Oberst, 45, rose to fame in the 1990s, playing in several bands that include The Faint and Commander Venus. In the mid-90s to the early 2010s, Oberst's work with Bright Eyes made him an indie darling, as his heartfelt music incorporated elements of alternative, emo, and folk. With dark, shaggy hair and piercing eyes, Oberst was a 2000s heartthrob for sad kids and a prime subject for a lookalike contest.
Conor Oberest Enters (and Loses) Conor Oberest Lookalike Contest
The event took place on Aug. 1 at a community space named Floors, Floors, Floors in Omaha, Nebraska. The event was a benefit for the youth music organization Omaha Girls Rock. According to the winner's account on Instagram, "no one showed up for the actual contest."
The winner, named Bailey JoLisa Hackett, "felt bad that there were hardly any entries," so she had her friend run home to grab some clothes. "I donned my sunglasses, messed up the hair, and put the hood up. With American Spirits in hand and one in mouth, I entered the contest because why not?...THEN, the real Conor Oberst shows up."
"And I won. Somehow?" said Hackett.
Both Oberest and his bandmate Mike Nogis attended the event. Conor even provided the winner with a prize. "I was cleaning out my closet, so you get a big bag of my clothing," he says in a video for the night.
Entrants were given an American
As for why Oberst didn't win the event, the organizers previously said that he was disqualified from winning. "He can play, but he can't win!" they said on Instagram (h/t Billboard).
Bright Eyes will return to the road later this month for a run of dates in support of their 2024 album, Five Dice, All Rock Icon, 45, Participates in (And Loses) His Own Lookalike Contest first appeared on Parade on Aug 4, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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