Unprecedented Gathering in Key West: Over 130 'Hemingways' Compete

Chris Dutton, a 39-year-old lawyer from Tampa, triumphed in an unusual contest by embodying the youthful look of Ernest Hemingway, complete with dark hair and a signature mustache.

This victory marks him as the first "young Hemingway" to win the title, and at the youngest age in the event's 45-year history. This year, the competition attracted approximately 130 participants aiming to replicate the iconic author.

Dutton's win came after seven attempts, demonstrating a narrative of determination and persistence.

The contest was a highlight of the Hemingway Days festival, which took place from July 21 to 26 in Key West, aligning with the 127th anniversary of Hemingway's birth.

Initiated in 1981 by Michael Whalton, then the manager of Sloppy Joe’s, the contest began with 36 participants and included Leicester Hemingway, the novelist's brother, among its judges.

Recognized by Guinness World Records, this is the longest-running Hemingway look-alike contest in existence.

Hemingway first visited Key West in 1928 from Havana, completing "A Farewell to Arms" during that stay. By 1931, he settled in a home on Whitehead Street, where he spent much of the decade writing works tied to the city, such as "To Have and Have Not."

In 1939, he relocated to Cuba, where he resided until 1960.

At Finca Vigía near Havana, he penned several notable works, including "The Old Man and the Sea."

In December 2023, a group of Hemingway look-alikes traveled to Cuba, participating in cultural activities that celebrated the writer, further strengthening the historical connection between the contest and the island.