Who is Cyrena Anne Quast? The Jennifer Lopez lookalike arrested in Minnesota and taking the internet by storm
The Minnesota woman was arrested on a theft charge, but social media quickly focused on her resemblance to JLo
C yrena Anne Quast ’s name began circulating far beyond Minnesota after what would otherwise have been a relatively routine arrest suddenly became a viral celebrity -lookalike story.
The 35-year-old was arrested August 30 in connection with an alleged theft at a store in Monticello, where police say two double packs of power-tool batteries worth about $580 were taken.
According to a criminal complaint, a store employee recognized Quast from an alleged theft at the same location two days earlier and contacted authorities. Quast later admitted taking the battery packs, according to the complaint.
She was booked on a gross-misdemeanor theft charge and released the following day. The legal allegations, however, were quickly overshadowed by something else entirely, which was her mugshot.
Social media users immediately saw Jennifer Lopez
The booking photo released by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office spread rapidly online, with users comparing Quast’s appearance to Jennifer Lopez .
One commenter wrote: “Bro, I seriously thought the mug shot was Lopez.” Another added: “Omg. Get a DNA test. There’s no way that’s NOT JLo.” The comparison quickly evolved into jokes referencing Lopez’s 2002 hit “Jenny from the Block.”
“In prison she’s known as Jenny from D-Block!” one person joked. Another wrote: “She’s definitely still Jenny from the block.”
The resemblance became the dominant conversation around the arrest, with users focusing on Quast ’s facial features and overall appearance rather than the alleged shoplifting case itself.
Some even joked that she could potentially make money as a professional Lopez impersonator or stand-in.
What else is known about Cyrena Anne Quast?
Quast has been identified as a Minnesota resident associated with the St. Cloud area. Publicly available records indicate the August 30 arrest was not her first interaction with law enforcement.
Previous arrests have reportedly involved allegations including drug possession, driving while intoxicated, fleeing police and providing false identification, as well as several traffic-related offenses.
Those cases are separate from the current theft allegation. The Monticello incident remains centered on the alleged theft of the battery packs.
What transformed Quast into a viral figure wasn't the seriousness of the charge, but the way social media recast a booking photo into a celebrity comparison almost instantly.
Even people commenting on older social media posts reportedly pointed out the resemblance to Lopez . There is, of course, no suggestion the two women are related.
Still, Quast ’s arrest has become a striking example of how quickly an otherwise local news story can be pulled into the internet’s wider culture of memes, celebrity comparisons and viral fascination.
