TAKING “CONTROL”

PEOPLE She looks like Janet Jackson… she dances like Janet Jackson. . .but she’s resa hall, 24, a Dallas computer-graphics artist and research assistant who recently made the OPRAH WINFREY Show because of her remarkable likeness to the Gloved One’s sister. Hall says that since she was 8 years old she has been told she favored Penny. Jackson’s character from the TV show “Good Times.”

When she was 19. Hall began studying Jackson’s videos, dance steps, and persona. In 1987, she started performing the star’s exact routines (clad in Jacksonesque outfits) in her own shows. Originally. Hall’s first appearance was to be in a fashion show; then the coordinator asked her to be the entertainment. She has danced and lip-synced her way through many of Jackson’s signature numbers, such as “Escapade,” “Black Cat.” and “Control.” for fashion shows, trade shows, private parties, and various competitions,

The Skyline High graduate turns heads wherever she goes, but the most surprising incident came last year at the Janet Jackson concert here. People in the crowd, mistaking her for the singer, started asking for her autograph. On that particular evening. Hall happened to be wearing an outfit identical to the one Jackson was set to wear on stage, So, when Jackson’s boyfriend Rene elizondo noticed Resa in the crowd, even he was fooled.

“Hey, you’re supposed to be backstage getting ready!” he told Hall. After catching on, he look her back to meet Jackson, who was startled at the resemblance. Jackson then gave Hall front-row seats to the show and one of her signa ture key earrings.

Hall, who recently competed in a national celebrity look-alike contest, has an eye on a show business career of her own. For the time being, at least, she doesn’t mind being mistaken for the star, who recently signed an exclusive contract with Virgin Records reportedly worth $50 million. “I wouldn’t want to make a living as a look-alike, but it can help for right now,” Hall says.