A Philadelphia woman took top honors at one of the city’s most unusual Independence Day traditions, winning the annual “Night of 250 Benjamin Franklins” look-alike contest despite bearing little physical resemblance to the Founding Father.

Benjamin Franklin was a white man. A Philadelphia icon. Printer, inventor of the lightning rod and bifocals, kite-flying scientist, diplomat, and one of the greatest Founding Fathers who helped create this Republic. His image is on the $100 bill for a reason.

Kiya Burgess, 25, a local seamstress, won the “Night of 250 Benjamin Franklins” contest Friday night on Independence Mall right by the Liberty Bell. She beat more than 30 other contestants with her handmade costume, powdered wig, and prop kite.

The crowd clapped her to victory. She took home the cash pot from the $1 entry fees and reportedly said, “Thank you so much for picking me, and stay weird.”

Kiya Burgess: I love cosplay. I love dressing up, and I already had this costume, so I just wanted to come and show everyone, you know, what I made because I like to sew, and you know, this is one of my first costumes.

Reporter: Why do you think you won today?

Kiya Burgess: I don’t know. I think it’s because of the wig. Like, the wig is very curly. I think it’s also just like, um, because I I made it. I don’t know though. It was so unexpected. I was not expecting to win.

WATCH:

🚨BREAKING🚨 A black woman in Philadelphia won the July 4th Ben Franklin look-a-like contest. pic.twitter.com/zy2T1Yoppa

— David Santa Carla 🦇 (@TheOnlyDSC) July 4, 2026

The contest, held as part of Philadelphia’s celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday, invited participants to don Franklin-inspired attire rather than requiring any physical resemblance to the nation’s most famous Philadelphian.

Contest organizer Elena Jackendoff said she expected only a small turnout after posting flyers around the city, but more than 30 participants arrived in costume.

Jim Hᴏft Jim Hᴏft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016.

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