20 years and I’m still loving every moment of it.’
Laura, was first discovered when she was working in the front desk of a car dealership in 1996.
Producers for The Ricki Lake Show noticed her doppelganger Mariah Carey looks and featured Laura on the show.
Mariah Carey impersonator, Laura Pasqualoni
She explains: ‘One day, I was working in a car dealership and the next, I was off to New York City and sent out on the streets with a camera crew to see if people thought I was Mariah Carey herself.
As an impersonator, Laura has appeared on countless television programs, lip-synched the singer’s greatest hits at international events and has even performed in Japan.
‘Although we have very similar features, it takes hours of preparation to look like her before an appearance.’
‘I have also studied all of Mariah’s video appearances, shows and interviews to perfect her mannerisms when I started this job but now my impersonation comes very naturally.
The REAL Mariah Carey
‘I am very lucky that my career as a lookalike has been so successful and profitable. I get to travel all over the world and I have been known to make quite large sums when I’ve been hired for certain jobs.
‘I love Mariah’s music and I only ever portray Mariah in the best light.’
One of the most hilarious encounters Laura has had with a Mariah Carey fan was when a member of hit rapper Drake’s team approached her.
She explains: ‘One moment that sticks out most in my mind was when I was handed a CD from one of the promoters of a then unknown Drake on the street.
Laura Pasqualoni impersonating Mariah Carey
‘He thought I was Mariah Carey and he begged me to listen to Drake’s CD! I did send the CD to the actual Mariah though, I just don’t know if she ever got it!’
Laura does look a lot like Mariah Carey, but it’s interesting that a venue would actually pay $70K for a lookalike. Like we always say- ‘we learn something new around here everyday around here’ and today I definitely just learned something new. Now pardon me while I go scout for the next Michael Jackson lookalike. If a fake Mariah can get $70 big ones, ain’t no telling what a fake MJ can earn!
