Yes, he can: Sichuan’s answer to Barack Obama cashes in on his moment in the sun
A man from the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan who has made a living off his resemblance to US President Barack Obama since 2012 has a new job – as the face of a plastic surgery clinic in Guangzhou.
After working for a decade in coastal Guangdong province as waiter, factory worker and security guard, 28-year-old Xiao Jiguo landed an acting career after appearing as Obama on a mainland reality show in 2012. His physical resemblance to the 44th US president sealed his fate as a comedy actor, the Southern Metropolis News reported.
Earlier this month, Xiao just finished his part in a comedy movie in Guangzhou. He played a gangster who looked like Obama.
Since last month, the Guangzhou “Obama” has suddenly generated even more fans online, the report said, with a flood of media requests to visit the set.
Now, Xiao’s Obama portraits have appeared across Guangzhou thanks to a contract the actor signed with a local plastic surgery clinic.
Xiao has recently signed another contract with a company in Fujian province and has received numerous offers from people wanting to be his agent.
The impersonator only has another 15 months or so to make the most of his presidential celebrity – Obama must step down at the end of his second term, and his last working day at the White House will January 19, 2017.
