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“To celebrate Robert Irwin’s return after half a year away, we decided to have some fun,” stated Matt Stoeckel, the chief executive of Visit Sunshine Coast.
“Had Bindi Irwin been present, she might have done a double take,” he added.
On the shores of Kings Beach in Caloundra, thirty participants vied for the prestigious title and the accompanying bragging rights.
Robert Irwin lookalikes, in a variety of shapes and sizes, showcased their best impressions on a beachside runway, captivating an audience of 300.
Aspiring lookalikes attempted to charm the judges with an array of props, including toy crocodiles, blonde wigs, and the signature khaki outfits.
Stoeckel said the stakes were high with strict criteria to claim the crown.
“You had to own the crikey with confidence, you had to have that Robert Irwin physique and really be able to entertain the crowd with a bit of dance moves and some croc wrestling,” he said.
Caloundra father Ben Marshall took out the coveted title.
His striking similarity helped him win $500 in cash but it was his dance moves that got him over the line.
“I was up all night practising, so yeah, I’m glad I took out the win,” Marshall said.
The real Robert took to social media to describe the contest as “classic”.