WITH a proud beam, he holds a huge medal and a bust of literary legend Ernest Hemingway aloft.

    Charlie Boice was crowned this year’s “Papa” Hemingway at a look-alike contest.

    The 56-year-old retired air traffic controller won the annual competition at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Florida — a hangout of Hemingway during his time in Key West in the 1930s — on his 15th attempt.

    Dressed in a wool fisherman’s sweater in a bid to emulate photographer Yousuf Karsh’s famous portrait of the world-renowned American writer, Boice looked ecstatic as he was declared winner.

    In addition to his white beard, Boice shares the late Hemingway’s passion for marlin fishing. He was chosen as winner by a panel of former “Papa” Hemingways, all of whom look strikingly similar.

    Speaking to CBS Miami, Boice said, “Winning the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest is fantastic.

    “I feel like a champion. Hemingway was a champion.”

    During the contest, the 122 entrants had to take to the stage and attempt to convince the judges that they were the most similar to the “Papa” character of Hemingway, who committed suicide in 1961.

    Many did so by performing poetry or singing.

    While Boice, from Palm Beach Gardens, ranked in first place, disgraced Food Network chef Paula Deen’s husband, Michael Groover, from Georgia, finished in the top five Saturday night.

    Deen, who sat in the audience, cheered on her spouse as he took to the stage. Groover, however, did not make it through to the last stage of the contest, which featured three finalists.

    The competition, which helps raise money for a Hemingway Look-Alike Society-administrated college scholarship fund, is a highlight of the annual Hemingway Days festival honoring the author.(SD-Agencies)