On the eve of America's 250th birthday, Philadelphia hosted a grassroots Ben Franklin look-alike contest at Independence Mall on July 3. While brutal triple-digit heat forced the cancellation of several official events, including the massive Salute to Independence Parade, this unstructured competition proudly carried on, affectionately dubbed the "Franklin-verse."
Kiya Burgess, a 25-year-old Philadelphia native, captured the top title and won the cash prize pool. Burgess stood out by carrying a replica lightning-catching kite, crafting her own curly wig, and cleverly repurposing a Hamilton-inspired Halloween costume into a historical outfit.
The successful event was dreamed up entirely on a whim by 32-year-old Johns Hopkins student Elena Jackendoff, who promoted it using flyers and the r/philly Reddit community. Over 30 diverse "Ben dupes" participated, drawing hundreds of cheering spectators near the iconic Liberty Bell.
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