Taped on a glass panel at the Central station bus stop, an A4 sheet of paper read in bold: “Hudson and Connor Lookalike Competition”. Who? Oh, buckle up.
Heated Rivalry is a queer TV show based on the first book of Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series. It follows two closeted hockey rivals who secretly fulfil a years-long relationship off the ice, occasionally skating into quite steamy territory. Since the show’s finale, it has reached incredible milestones, launching main costars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie into unfathomable fame. While both of these actors are powerhouses in their own right, celebrity culture can only be fueled and continue to flourish through the influence of their fans.
Fan culture has seen quite an interesting evolution, but the constant thread has been its natural ability to create a connection within niche subcultures. From waiting long hours outside concert venues, to writing salacious fan fiction under covers, to reposting thirst edits on TikTok – fans have always been able to find communities through their shared interests, intensified through social media.
It is easier than ever to follow a celebrity's Instagram page and examine their day-to-day lives through their stories, comments, and liked posts. It can feel as though you know them; that’s the problem. Parasocial connections have always existed, but they have been exacerbated through the collapse of the online/offline balance. This turns into outright destruction when people misconstrue their connection to celebrities as a requited, intimate relationship.
Escapism can be intoxicating when a phone screen accurately mirrors the user’s current interests and can predict which fandoms or media they’d most likely interact with next. It seems like, out of nowhere, fancams and edits overwhelmed users' For You page, directing them to a new show: Heated Rivalry. Engaging in such content creates a positive feedback loop, shoving fans down an online rabbit hole until the community cannot be contained through virtual interactions anymore.
All it takes is a single fan to take the initiative, allowing others to come together and commemorate their shared passions. Fan projects can look like trading friendship bracelets, themed trivia, listening parties, screenings, and club nights. However, the more recent trend seems to be the beloved “lookalike contest”. Such events gained momentous attention after the Timothee Chalamet-themed gathering in 2024, which amassed enough traction that the actor himself was present. From then on, other competitions have taken place, calling for doppelgangers of breakout stars and renowned hotties to throw their hat in the ring to be cheered on by (sort-of) admiring fans.
Which is what led us, Muheba and Teagan, to The Imperial Hotel on a scorching Saturday afternoon. (Yes, it was very heated).
The Hudson and Connor Lookalike Competition was organised by content creator, Lena Tuck (@lenasdoingthings) and was hosted by the glamorous drag queen Jackie Daniels (@thejackiedaniels). A variety of doppelgangers were invited to compete for the top spot and a host of prizes: including, a $500 Tsu Lange Yor voucher, a $100 voucher from the venue, $50 from Tuck herself, and other goodies.
Hundreds of devoted fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder in The Imperial, gearing for a close-enough chance to see the “hit hockey stars”.
Globally, fans of the romance genre are relishing in Heated Rivalry’s refreshing take on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, but a certain demographic takes the spotlight: young adult women. When asked what draws the heavily female viewership to the series, fans responded: “its romance”, “compelling tension”, and inescapable “TikTok edits”. These popular tropes, staple to the tags of AO3 and BookTok, have greatly shaped the contemporary romance fandom online.
Fandom is no stranger to fantasy and fetish. It provides an escapist outlet to explore one’s desires beyond the clutches of hetero-normative patriarchy. Giving reason to women’s long standing connection to the creation and enjoyment of gay romance and erotica. As a queer narrative, Heated Rivalry stands apart from stereotypical hetero romances that impose tired misogynistic tropes. Instead, it showcases a dynamic love story unbeholden to gender expectations along with great chemistry and plenty of consent.
Back at The Imperial, fans were buzzing with rising anticipation to see the line-up; would it be everything they imagined and more, or would disappointment stifle the energy in the room? As contestants were voted off one-by-one, fan favourites were revealed when the top 2 of each category remained. Bound by the online threads and stirring with excitement over who would take doppelganger dominion, hundreds of Instagram likes had materialised to celebrate and let their freak flag fly!
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