A viral internet lookalike, free Botox and imported New York bagel water are not usually the ingredients of a mayoral campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peter Simel, the Florida man who went viral earlier this year as “Palm Beach Pete” over his uncanny resemblance to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, says he is now “seriously considering” a run for mayor of Palm Beach \u2014 with a platform centered around “living your best life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel’s social media following exploded into the hundreds of thousands after a viral video sparked conspiracy theories online, described the effort as “a movement” during an interview with Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We\u2019re seriously considering, and it\u2019s a movement,” Simel said. “We want to make Palm Beach really cool and great.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel\u2019s internet fame exploded almost overnight after a video of him driving a convertible along Interstate 95 in South Florida spread online earlier this year, with stunned social media users insisting the silver-haired driver looked eerily similar to Epstein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the now-viral clip, a person filming Simel can be heard shouting, “Epstein\u2019s alive! Epstein\u2019s alive!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My name is Peter, and I am now ‘Palm Beach Pete’ on the internet,” Simel told Fox News Digital. “About two months ago, I was driving down I-95 and someone videoed me and said \u2018Epstein\u2019s alive.\u2019”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Palm Beach resident said the attention snowballed almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We had 200,000 followers in less than two days, and I got deplatformed,” he said. “This whole thing occurred, and it has a mind of its own, the internet.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel later launched an Instagram account under the handle “@not.epstein” and began leaning into the viral fame that transformed him into an unlikely internet personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel, 71, is a former International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters competitor. During the interview, Simel repeatedly emphasized wellness, fitness and enjoying the Palm Beach lifestyle as central themes of his campaign platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019m still realizing how big it is,” Simel said of his viral fame. “I guess the best litmus test is when people come up to me in the street [saying], \u2018Palm Beach Pete, we love you, you\u2019re the GOAT, you\u2019re a legend.\u2019”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, Simel appears to be transforming that momentum into a campaign-like movement complete with merchandise, slogans and a series of playful policy proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel\u2019s website includes campaign hats and proposals such as “Free Botox for All Palm Beach Residents,” and “Free Convertible Use for 1 Year,” expanded pickleball courts and a proposal to import New York City water for “better pizzas & bagels.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palm Beach County election records reviewed by Fox News Digital on Wednesday did not show any officially qualified mayoral candidates, and candidates cannot formally qualify for the race until 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fox News Digital also reached out to Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore\u2019s office regarding Simel\u2019s announcement, but did not immediately receive a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everyone on the island of Palm Beach gets the use of a convertible for a year and see how they enjoy it because it\u2019s all about living your best life,” Simel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel also proposed free drinks at Palm Beach\u2019s iconic clock tower, dog-walking services and “fitness trainer[s] for life so you can live longer and pay taxes longer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And then the funny one at the end,” he added, “is everyone gets free mother-in-law therapy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked how he planned to fund proposals ranging from free Botox to imported New York water, Simel repeatedly emphasized that the campaign would be “self-funded.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019m self-funding it,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the lighthearted platform, Simel insisted he is genuinely considering entering the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019m seriously considering throwing my hat into the ring,” he said. “You can\u2019t qualify until 2027 so we\u2019re just doing our due diligence.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel stressed that he does not view the effort as a traditional political campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019m not affiliated with any political party,” he said. “I just want to keep the people together and bring people together and keep it as a great community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked about the current mayor\u2019s apparent silence, Simel laughed off the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have no comment, other than the comment I just made,” he joked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel described the campaign less as a conventional political effort and more as a broader internet-fueled movement centered around positivity and Palm Beach culture \u2014 even if arguably the town’s most famous resident, President Donald Trump, calls it home when he’s not in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In this day and time, and we have so much division and such uncertainty in the world, it\u2019s kind of nice to have someone on a platform enjoying the benefits of living a good life and making the most out of what Palm Beach can be,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The viral sensation also said he has no plans to alter his appearance despite the comparisons that launched him into internet fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019ve always looked like this,” he said. “I\u2019m a better version of that unnamed person. And I\u2019m not gonna change for anybody.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019m me, I\u2019m 71 years old. It works. I have a full head of hair. I\u2019m lucky. I\u2019m youthful. I\u2019m vibrant. Nothing\u2019s gonna change. I\u2019m just gonna get more energetic.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simel said he already has a team helping him manage the sudden internet fame and potential campaign operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We\u2019re interviewing people for a position as campaign manager and marketing,” he said, adding that much of the effort would likely be digitally driven through influencers and online creators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My demographic are Gen Zs and these influencers have such a hold or such an influence on them,” he said. “As I get more followers, it gets bigger and bigger.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The response from family members, Simel said, has ranged from cautious amusement to full support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My daughter thinks it\u2019s hilarious, and my son is neutral about it,” he said. “For the most part, it\u2019s been very positive from everybody.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for whether “Palm Beach Pete” could someday aim even higher politically, the retiree said he\u2019s focused on taking things one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Baby steps,” he said. “How many times does a 71-year-old retired guy hang out with the coolest influencers and have a blast with it?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, Simel appears content embracing the overnight internet celebrity status that transformed him from a man driving down a Florida highway into one of social media\u2019s most unexpectedly viral personalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“All I have to say is vote early and vote often,” he said. “Vote for ‘Palm Beach Pete.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n