Stardust Hosts Senate Hunks Lookalike Contest
The Chicago River North bar held a Sunday afternoon contest for lookalikes of three newly elected senators.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Food and Drink
Stardust bar in Chicago's River North neighborhood hosted a lookalike contest for newly elected Senate Hunks on Sunday afternoon. Contestants competed to resemble James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, or Jon Ossoff, with winners chosen by audience cheers.
Why it matters
The event offers a lighthearted local nightlife option for Chicago residents following the November election. It also reflects the bar's track record of staging celebrity-themed lookalike contests.
Winners were decided by audience cheers, with one winner per senator. Ryiad Hasan was named the winner of the El-Sayed lookalike contest.
The players
Stardust
Stardust is a Chicago bar in the River North neighborhood known for hosting themed lookalike contests.
Ryiad Hasan
Ryiad Hasan is a local contestant who won the Abdul El-Sayed lookalike contest at Stardust.
The details
Contestants were invited to dress and act like James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, or Jon Ossoff and performed before the audience. Stardust has previously hosted lookalike contests for JFK Jr. and the series "Heated Rivalry."
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Stardust hosts the Senate Hunks lookalike contest in River North.
Culture Shift
The contest continues Stardust's pattern of staging lookalike competitions, following earlier events built around JFK Jr. and the series "Heated Rivalry." Such events reflect a growing bar-culture trend of turning political and entertainment figures into interactive nightlife entertainment.
Chicago residents can attend Stardust's themed lookalike events in River North, which have been staged for multiple celebrity and political figures. Attendance requires visiting the bar during its scheduled event nights.
The takeaway
Themed bar events can give local audiences a low-cost way to engage with current political news. Checking a venue's event calendar is the simplest way to find similar contests.
Further reading
Explore more Food and Drink coverage from Chicago nightlife and bar scenes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
