With the explosive growth of live streaming and short-form video platforms, impersonating celebrities has become more popular and more profitable than ever. Netizens scrolling through social media often encounter “copycat” versions of Liu Yifei dancing to trending music, lookalikes of Zhao Lusi, Zheng Shuang, Wang Zuxian, and even entire groups of idol copycats. There’s “Yunnan BIGBANG” and the boy group ESO, whose members adopt names like Lu Ha, Huang Zicheng, Wang Erbo, and Lin Junyue—obvious stand-ins for Lu Han, Huang Zitao, Wang Yibo, and JJ Lin.
Thanks to facial likenesses combined with carefully crafted makeup, styling, and gestures and expressions, many of these impersonators easily attract millions of views and turn those clicks into real revenue on social platforms.
In fact, celebrity impersonation is nothing new in China. The trend dates back to the late 1990s, when lookalikes became a popular segment on television variety shows. By 2006, the industry had grown so much that a 600-member troupe emerged, made up entirely of people who looked or sounded like famous stars. The group boldly described itself as the largest imitation culture organization in China, even in all of Asia. These performers earned money through stunt roles, special appearances, and entertainment shows designed to exploit their resemblance to real celebrities.
Between 2010 and 2015, programs like Avenue of the Stars, China has talentAND Stellar transformation has pushed celebrity lookalikes even further into the spotlight. Some have gained national exposure on CCTV and other major television networks, gaining fame and fortune. It’s no surprise that some people even turn to cosmetic surgery to enhance their resemblance to famous people.
According to QQ, then, similarity alone was not enough. Successful impersonators had to master gestures, expressions, and even vocal tones. Many have spent years studying every movement of the original star. Today, however, fame can come in just 15 seconds. As long as someone remotely resembles a celebrity and knows how to get attention, sometimes through over-the-top or even borderline antics, they can go viral overnight.
An example is the so-called “Little Ruby Lin”, which recreated Zi Wei’s look My beautiful princess. Despite barely capturing the character’s personality and often relying on comedic gimmicks, he reportedly earned 100,000 yuan (about $14,000) from a single live stream and gained 700,000 followers in just one month.
Another case is “Foshan Zhang Han,” a former factory worker whose resemblance to actor Zhang Han helped him earn enough to buy a Maybach worth 1 million yuan and even start his own company. His number of followers on short video platforms has reportedly surpassed that of the real Zhang Han.
Even more famous is ESO, the boy group “imitators” of EXO. Despite questionable singing and dancing skills, the group attracted huge attention, appeared at events and even held meetings with fans. Audiences are often stunned that these imitators, clearly inferior in talent and image, continue to command the crowd, the stage lighting and the screaming fans.
The most successful among them is Lu Ha, Lu Han’s lookalike, who reportedly earns 5 million yuan a month (nearly $750,000). Once struggling with odd jobs, his life has completely transformed: he now owns an 11 million yuan villa, a 2.77 million yuan Ferrari, runs his own company and got married at the end of 2025, winning in both his career and personal life.
QQ notes that these “fake” celebrities entertain audiences by shattering the perfect images of real stars and doing things the originals would never dare do. They are particularly popular with small and medium-sized brands, as their commissions are a fraction of those of high-level celebrities, while still ensuring a strong viral impact.
However, this line of work exists firmly in a “gray area” from a legal perspective. If they’re not careful, impersonators can face lawsuits from real celebrities for damaging their image, leading not only to account bans but also massive compensation claims.
One notable case involved influencer Wang Baoruo, who produced videos referencing the scandal involving actor Wang Baoqiang, his ex-wife and former manager. The result was a lawsuit seeking 6.5 million yuan (about $900,000) in damages.
As profitable as it may be to imitate celebrities, the risks are just as real. Without caution, today’s viral success could quickly turn into a costly legal nightmare, leaving imitators with nothing to show for their fame.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
