How Luigi Mangione lookalike ended up on date with a fashion model: ‘Clearly, way out of my league’ | World News – Times of India

In an oddly surreal turn of events, New York Post reporter Shane Galvin found himself on a date with a fashion model—thanks to a striking resemblance to Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the high-profile murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. What began as a case of mistaken identity quickly morphed into a memorable evening filled with flirtation, lasagna, and lively conversation.
Dinner date inspired by a resemblance
“I’m on a date with a fashion model who’s way out of my league as a photographer snaps pictures of me trying to pour on the charm at an Italian spot—all because I look kinda like Luigi Mangione,” Galvin humorously recounted in his New York Post column. The dinner took place at Inatteso, an intimate Italian restaurant nestled in Battery Park City, where he and his date enjoyed a bottle of white wine while discussing everything but politics.
The model, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed her skepticism about Mangione’s alleged role in the murder, sharing, “She’s not convinced Mangione is the man who killed Brian Thompson,” Galvin noted. He reassured his readers, “My date doesn’t think the widely circulated photo of the smiling suspect from a New York City hostel is actually Mangione—and allow me to assure you it isn’t me.”

A night of flirting and theories
The evening flowed with easy conversation, lasagna, and playful banter. Galvin marveled at how smoothly the date went, despite his attempts to make her laugh with quirky jokes and theories, including one about the mysterious New Jersey drone phenomenon.
“I realize the date is going criminally well when I rant for 10 minutes about ‘The Telepathy Tapes’ podcast and she pretends to find it interesting,” Galvin quipped. As the night went on, he found himself reflecting on the bizarre series of events that had led him to this moment: “Perhaps like Luigi behind bars, ‘How did I get here?’”
The Instagram connection
It all started innocuously enough with a post on Instagram. After several people pointed out his resemblance to Mangione, Galvin couldn’t help but share his thoughts on the bizarre comparison. “I do not look like the CEO killer other than being Italian. But thank you for telling me that, several people,” he wrote on his story.
What followed was a flood of flirtatious comments, including one from a striking model with over 20,000 followers. “I mean… the eyebrows,” she wrote, followed by an eyes emoji. Galvin, taken aback by the attention, admitted he didn’t exactly keep his cool, but it seemed to work.
The model encouraged him further, saying, “With the whole country thirsting for Luigi, y’all are about to have a blast.”

Turning a resemblance into a social experiment
The lighthearted banter soon evolved into a plan to turn their date into a social experiment for The Post. Galvin mentioned how the resemblance had become a topic of conversation, and the model eagerly volunteered to take part in the experiment. “I volunteer to be part of the social experiment,” she said, agreeing to let Galvin document the evening—though she declined to be named in the report.
“It was an excellent date—even the photographer said so—and she’s a great gal,” Galvin remarked. He described her as someone with a busy lifestyle, balancing modeling gigs with volunteering as a foster parent for homeless dogs. “Clearly, way out of my league, and of all people, I have Mangione, I suppose, to thank for putting some stardust in her eyes.”
A promising future
The story concluded on a hopeful note, with Galvin revealing that there would be a second date. “And we have a second date—no cameras for that one,” he wrote, leaving readers wondering if this strange series of events would lead to something more.
For now, Shane Galvin’s unexpected dinner date with a fashion model stands as a reminder that sometimes, the most unusual experiences can lead to the most memorable moments. And perhaps, for better or worse, Luigi Mangione might have had more influence on Galvin’s night than he ever expected.