The internet is full of strange coincidences, and one of the most entertaining is when people stumble upon their doppelgängers – someone who bears an uncanny resemblance to them, but is often miles away.

This was the case for South African man Mzolisto Madlala, whose Facebook post asking for help editing a picture went viral and eventually caught the attention of none other than Will Smith.

Back in January, Madlala shared a simple request on Facebook: "Hello… someone said I look like Will Smith a little bit. Could anyone add him on this picture? Thanks."

The post, although modest, sparked interest from social media users, and its journey across the globe soon took an unexpected turn.

International sensation

Over a month later, Madlala’s post made its way to the Hollywood star himself, and Smith, intrigued by the resemblance, decided to take matters into his own hands.

He shared Madlala’s post with his 69.3 million Instagram followers, writing, “Can anyone help him with this edit? Gotta be sure.”

And that simple act, Smith turned Madlala’s casual request into an international sensation.

As the post spread across social media, South Africans were quick to weigh in. The comment section was filled with lively debates on whether or not Madlala truly resembled the “Bad Boys” actor, with many cheering him on for catching the attention of the global superstar.

Delighted by the actor’s response, Madlala reshared Smith’s Instagram post on his own Facebook account, where he humorously added a hidden face emoji. Many of his friends rallied behind him, with one even joking that he might need bodyguards with his newfound fame.

While some encouraged Madlala to capitalize on his moment of viral fame and start creating content, he humbly rejected the idea, noting, “Not everyone is a content creator.” His grounded response resonated with many, showing that even in the midst of viral fame, it’s possible to stay true to oneself.

‘Genuine look-alikes’

This occurrence highlights the bizarre yet fascinating reality of doppelgängers.

Though it’s said that everyone has at least seven lookalikes around the world, the chances of two individuals sharing identical facial features are less than one in a trillion.

Yet, genuine look-alikes do exist, and they often remain unaware of each other until a chance encounter – or, more frequently these days, a viral social media post – brings them together.

Madlala’s story is just one example of how the internet can connect people from all corners of the world in unexpected ways. It’s a phenomenon that transcends borders and cultures, bringing people together over shared humor and curiosity.