A woman has been able to quit her job as a waitress and now earns up to £9,000 a week – all because she looks like the Duchess of Cambridge.
Heidi Agan says it was when Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement back in November 2010 that customers began commenting on how alike she looked to the future princess.
Merry Christmas all!!! Xxx pic.twitter.com/VXG4sZEdqv
— Kate Lookalike (@HeidiAgan) December 25, 2015
She told The Sun:
By February 2012, diners had begun asking for pictures with me and requesting that I served them.
It got me thinking that there could be money in looking like Kate.
Heidi contacted some lookalike agencies and soon got her first job – at Gatwick Airport promoting their customer service ahead of the 2012 Olympics.
Happy Valentine's Day all! Xx pic.twitter.com/uhBrLRyrxp
— Kate Lookalike (@HeidiAgan) February 14, 2016
She studied videos and pictures to learn Kate’s mannerisms and within months she was getting so much work she quit her waitressing job.
It seems like it’s paid off as she now earns between £500 and £3,000 per job, with around three jobs a week.
She has worked with various other royal doubles including ‘Prince William’ on an Australian shoot for a milk advert and leading Queen lookalike Mary Reynolds.
Happy new year all!! #2016 #lookalikes #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/5VqYqVbyQE
— Kate Lookalike (@HeidiAgan) January 1, 2016
Heidi seems truly dedicated to her new job as she told The Sun:
I reinvest my earnings in her wardrobe and whenever she wears something, I buy it before it sells out.
I even had a seamstress make four differently sized ‘bumps’ for me to wear when Kate’s pregnant.
There have been a few downsides too. Although the job sounds glamorous Heidi has been the victim of online trolling:
I’ve been called a transvestite version of Kate. I’ve had death threats on Twitter, but I also have a lovely fan base.
As for upcoming work, Heidi is confident that this year she will be as busy as ever:
The Queen’s 90th birthday will bring plenty of work this year, and a baby is always good for business – I’ve been so busy since Charlotte’s birth.
Nice work if you can get it.