A 29-year-old in China is making a living as an Obama impersonator

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Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Xiao Jiguo has won the genetic lottery.

His facial features uncannily resemble those of someone you're probably familiar with -- the president of the United States, Barack Obama. Xiao, now 29, had been working as a waiter and earning barely enough to get by. Then things started to change.

In 2012, a friend of Xiao's uploaded a video of him singing. His voice was OK, but that wasn't what racked up the views; many people who watched commented that Xiao looked like Obama. Shortly thereafter, he competed in a televised talent show called the Chinese Dream Show, the N Strait Times reported.

The rest is history. Xiao currently stars in a web miniseries where he, as Obama, goes on a series of dates with women. He no longer has to worry about the cost of living.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Xiao has watched tons of videos of Obama to learn his mannerisms, and even had minor plastic surgery done recently. He is featured in a new ad campaign for the plastic surgery clinic in Guangzhou where he got the work done.

"Besides waxing my eyebrows, I only need a shirt, a tie and a black suit to get by," he said, according to The Global Times.

He has also started learning English to make his appearances more Obama-like.

But as Obama's second term draws to a close, the demand for appearances may begin to wane. Xiao dreams of being an actor with his own singing career.

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