Hi to all of you! Have you ever interacted with someone who constantly mimics every aspect of you? Hello, Olivia, my sister-in-law, and welcome to my world. It’s like having a fashion stalker living with you, observing your interests and style all the time!
The lowdown is that I married my amazing husband, Jack, whose brother now weds Olivia, her former partner. Indeed, it is just as intricate as it seems. The strangest part of it all, though, is that Olivia has been following me about ever since I joined the family and has become an exact replica of myself.
She’s there, copying everything—from my yoga sessions to my clothes to the meals I prepare. It seems like she never stops trying to develop her own style, even if I’m unintentionally setting trends for her to follow!
Don’t get me wrong; it’s awkward enough that the ex is now the sister-in-law, but I could have handled it. Her incessant mimicry is what truly irritates me.
She’s gone too far with it. Guess who shows up for the next session of the pottery class I join? Olivia. She’s wearing virtually the exact same dress that I bought for a special occasion.
It’s really unsettling—almost like she has a hidden camera following every transaction I make! Is that even possible to imagine? My Instagram isn’t secure either. I uploaded a photo of some new boots, and the next thing I know, she’s showing off those very same boots.
The turning moment was when I posted a picture of my mouthwatering homemade carbonara. Indeed, a few hours later, Olivia shared a meal like to this on her Instagram.
I first made an effort to ignore it and avoid any fuss. But I became more and more frustrated with her copying. I had to respond to this strange impersonation somehow.
Then, one day, while visiting my in-laws, I happened to overhear Olivia griping to a friend. I heard a little bit of her discussion through the open door, and that completely turned my world upside down.
“I’m so tired of AMY making me look like her,” Olivia said. “She’s trying to change into me because she knows that Jack was mine before him.”
Pardon me? Was I the clone now? How daring!
I was furious as hell. Now that she was the one reflecting my life, why was she acting like the victim? Being direct with someone would not only make me appear horrible, but it was also not my way.
No, this required a clever, lighthearted admission of the reality. A technique to prove her infatuation without a shadow of doubt. And with that, a cunning notion was born.
The impending wedding of a friend provided the ideal occasion. About what they would dress and look like, everyone was agog.
Olivia was, as usual, devoted to my social media accounts, searching for any clues regarding my intentions for the occasion. She had no idea that I was planning a small prank specifically for her.
I shared an unexpected picture of myself on Instagram the day before the wedding—a picture of my very short black hair. Olivia didn’t need to know that I was wearing a wig, since it wasn’t genuine.
The stage was set for the wedding day. Olivia’s expression when I walked in was amazing. Her drink almost suffocated her.
“What? HOW HAVE YOU ACTIVATED? She gasped and gave me a horrified look. “Have you not cut and colored your hair?”
I pretended to be cool, trying hard not to chuckle. “Oh, my dear, definitely not! I recently tried wearing a wig for a photo session. However, it appears like you changed anything permanently based on my fictitious photo? Interesting decision!
I removed the wig nonchalantly, exposing my typical long blonde hair. Olivia’s mouth fell open.
Her expression twisted from fear to rage as she realized what had happened. “Amy, this isn’t funny!” she yelled.
I answered with a smile and a drink of my wine, saying, “Sis, I was just showing off my versatility.” Perhaps you ought to give it a go at some point.
That wedding was the start of my humorous deception campaign. I kept posting fictitious updates for a few months after that, including outrageous haircuts, new tattoos, and bizarre attire that was all done for impact.
Every time Olivia fell for the bait, the humiliating and hilariously disastrous outcomes increased. Her attempts to keep up became the source of social media teasing and family jokes.
The truth of my charade became painfully apparent at the next family get-together when I showed up with my actual hair and no tattoos in sight. My mother-in-law finally stepped in as the family giggled and Olivia tried to explain her abrupt changes in her appearance.
“Olivia, sweetheart, you don’t have to imitate Amy in order to be noticed.” You are unique in your style.
After seeing Olivia’s anguish that evening, I discovered her outdoors by herself, crying. Perhaps I had gone too far.
Saying softly, “Hey,” I sat down beside her on the bench. “I know you were just attempting to blend in.”
“I just wanted to be liked as much as you,” she said with a cry.
Olivia, you don’t have to be like me to be accepted,” I comforted her. Everything you need to do is be yourself.
Olivia ceased imitating my manner after that. The overt mimicking has stopped, albeit our connection is still a little tense.
It was an exercise in restraint and ingenuity. It showed me that sincerity is what really connects with people, even though imitation may be the purest form of flattery.
So, anyone here have experience with anything like this? How did you respond to your own personal clone? Let’s exchange anecdotes and advice on how to deal positively and amusingly with imitation!