And then they saw his face, and now they’re Beliebers.
A French Justin Bieber doppelganger — who’s a dead ringer for the pop star, down to his identical tattoos — has divulged what life is like as a Bieb look-alike, including being swarmed by legions of frothing fans.
“I think our similarities lookwise more are some points of our faces, and definitely our attitudes,” professional Bieber cover artist Dylan Desclos, 27, told Jam Press of getting mobbed by Beliebers.
The Normandy native first began working as a Bieber look-alike six years ago, after going to a performance by the “Baby” singer, where fans commented on the resemblance.
“I became a look-alike simply by going to a Justin Bieber concert,” Desclos recalled. “I took a lot of photos, and I thought it was super cool.”
Fast-forward to now and the Grammy winner’s impersonator has become a national sensation, performing the singer’s covers both on stages across France, and uploading the footage to his YouTube and Instagram pages.
“One of my best shows was the date that I did in Monaco with other look-alikes such as Rihanna,” said Desclos, whose goal is to fill the void during lulls between Bieber concerts.
Along with being blessed with star-making looks, Desclos works hard to emulate Bieber.
“A lot of people told me that I look like Justin Bieber in the past, however, I do make sure to dress like him, said Desclos. “A look or signature style I would say I have of Justin’s is the same tattoos as him.”
He added, “Likewise, when I’m onstage, I need to be the most Justin I can be, and I think I’m good at mimicking him.”
The Frenchie’s efforts paid dividends as fans have a hard time distinguishing him from the bona fide Biebs — which has led to some strange and hilarious instances of mistaken identity.
“I would say the best and funniest reaction I got was people thinking I was Justin and knocking on my hotel door at 2 a.m.,” recounted Desclos. “There were so many of them, taking pictures and asking me to sign pictures of Justin Bieber.”
Some reactions weren’t quite as humorous, according to the look-alike, who recounted a terrifying encounter in which he was “mobbed with crying and hugs.”
However, Desclos said he ultimately wasn’t bothered, as he understands the power of the “Beauty and a Beat” crooner’s fanbase.
In the event that fans get too handsy, perhaps he should start training in mixed martial arts like this Michael Jackson impersonator, who delivered an epic bea-hee-tdown to a drunk who tried “starting something” in Las Vegas last year.
Unfortunately, not everyone’s such a fan of the look-alike’s pastime, with some critics slamming him for mimicking the Canuck superstar.
“Stop trying to be someone your [sic] not,” declared one detractor, while another wrote, “I don’t find it funny how this guy tries to be Justin, he lives off it.”
Others thought there was no resemblance between the two. “Anyone who thinks this guy looks even remotely close to Justin Bieber is delusional.”
However, Desclos doesn’t sweat the haters and even aims to book tour dates across Europe in the future.
The celebrity doppelganger said he plans to go “from England to Germany to Spain to Italy to Portugal — keeping my passion alive wherever I can go.”
