Latest news with #WorldBeardandMoustacheChampionships
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Brit bullied for facial hair at 12 wins World Beard and Moustache Championships
East Yorkshire engineer Lewis Aylmer, 33, has scooped top prize at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after first growing a beard aged 12 A man who was bullied as a schoolboy for his facial hair has been crowned winner at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in the United States. Engineer Lewis Aylmer, from Hull in East Yorkshire, had the last laugh over his mean peers after scooping first place at the event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Judges awarded the 33-year-old, who started growing a beard at the age of just 12, the top prize in the Under 15cm Full Beard with Styled Moustache category. Lewis washes, blow-dries, and oils his beard almost every morning to keep it in winning shape. He explained: "When I was in school, I used to get called all sorts of names. It got bad with the bullying, we'd get in to fights. I never expected to win as each of my competitors had great beards and moustaches of their own. I had been doing these events for fun for almost a decade so winning was a cherry on top moment." Lewis started growing his first beard in 2005 and had a four-inch goatee by the time he was teen aged 17. He then had to shave it off when he enrolled as an army reservist in 2009 before re-growing it in 2012 after he parted ways - and he hasn't shaved it since. However, it wasn't until two years later, in 2014, he decided to turn it from a short stubble into a full-blown beard which helped him win the competition. He had heard about competitive beard growing through a social media post and took his first podium in October with a third place finish in the British Beard and Moustache Championships in Liverpool. He said: "Unless you have a beard or are part of the community, you don't hear about events like these. Even I didn't know about them when I had a beard." Lewis then continued to compete and went on to win the British national title in 2018 and 2024. He has also travelled to Belgium and Germany to take part in similar competitions. In his latest win, Lewis brushed aside 400 competitors at the 2025 World Championships in the US. Lewis has revealed the judges were looking for a handlebar-style moustache with big curls and perfect symmetry. To keep his moustache fixed in the perfect position he revealed he used three different waxes. He said: "When the judges were inspecting they didn't say much other than it 'looks great' and it was 'very even'. I wasn't sure of my position as they didn't give anything away at all until they released the score. "When I got three tens from the seven judges people were saying 'you've won, you've won'. I was really nervous throughout the whole event. Though it was really fun as everybody was friendly and positive just there for a good time." Recalling the moment he was crowned as having the world's best beard Lewis said he was "shocked" hearing his name. He added: "I was really emotional - there was great competition too - I was just shocked mainly." He scored 65.5 points out of a total 70 to scoop the award. Lewis said being part of the beard community has helped him "build confidence" in himself. "I am a fairly closed-off person and I also suffer with anxiety also being bullied at school didn't help," he said. "It made me feel part of something and feel less of a loner really. I'll now happily walk up to people and talk to them competitions instead of keeping myself to myself."
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Blackpool barber brings Oktoberfest themed beard and moustache championships to resort
This video More videos Blackpool's hairiest men will host the Beard and Moustache Championships this autumn - and the theme is Oktoberfest. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Blackpool's facial hair enthusiasts are bringing a fun beard-growing competition to town - and say that lederhosen is 'strongly advised'. Beard and moustache growers are invited to take part in the 'Okto-beard-fest' on September 27 - with fake beards also welcomed with their own category. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Sandgrown Beardsmen are hosting the Bavarian-themed contest at Rhythm & Brews on Church Street, in preparation for hosting the much larger World Beard and Moustache Championships event in 2027. Watch Blackpool's beard club on TV Go inside Blackpool's facial hair club in a special episode of Unconventional Brits, which will be repeated on Shots! TV this Saturday at 10am. Watch on Freeview channel 262 and Freely channel 565. Watch Unconventional Brits episode 24 - Sandgrown Beardsmen special at this link. Watch new episodes of Unconventional Brits every Friday at 19:15 on Shots! TV - Freeview channel 262 and Freely channel 565. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In the 12 minute TV show, video journalist Lucinda Herbert visits 'Beardy HQ' - the Bearded Fool Barber Shop on Newhouse Road, to find out what goes on in the world of competitive beard-growing. Brian Eva, Chair of Sandgrown Beardsmen | Shots! TV James Taylor, a Sandgrown Beardsmen regular, said: 'It's a chance to say if I'm not feeling too great, and I like to think anyone else can come to me if they have a problem. We just drink beer, talk rubbish and have a good time.' 'Razor blades are I spend a fortune on beard balms' The group range from their 20s through to men of retirement age - and come from all walks of life. John Shaw, 65, explains in the programme, that he was expected to be 'clean shaven' through his working life - so as soon as he took early retirement he grew a beard. He adds: 'Do you know how expensive razor blades are? I'd had enough. I didn't expect that I'd be paying a fortune in beard balms.' James Taylor at a Sandgrown Beardsmen meet up | Sandgrown Beardsmen While the club is mostly aimed at men, women are also invited and welcome to join in with their meets. And the competitions they take part in, also have categories that women and youngsters can get involved with too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad World Beard and Moustache Championships 2027 comes to Blackpool Brian Eva, the chairman, has already began organising the World Beard and Moustache Championships event, which is staged in a different country every two years. It will be held in the appropriately impressive surroundings of the Winter Gardens in August 2027, bringing competitors to Blackpool from all over the globe, with many expected to come from Germany from the United States, leaders in the beard field.
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Blackpool barber brings Oktoberfest themed beard and moustache championships to resort
This video More videos Blackpool's hairiest men will host the Beard and Moustache Championships this autumn - and the theme is Oktoberfest. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Blackpool's facial hair enthusiasts are bringing a fun beard-growing competition to town - and say that lederhosen is 'strongly advised'. Beard and moustache growers are invited to take part in the 'Okto-beard-fest' on September 27 - with fake beards also welcomed with their own category. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Sandgrown Beardsmen are hosting the Bavarian-themed contest at Rhythm & Brews on Church Street, in preparation for hosting the much larger World Beard and Moustache Championships event in 2027. Watch Blackpool's beard club on TV Go inside Blackpool's facial hair club in a special episode of Unconventional Brits, which will be repeated on Shots! TV this Saturday at 10am. Watch on Freeview channel 262 and Freely channel 565. Watch Unconventional Brits episode 24 - Sandgrown Beardsmen special at this link. In the 12 minute TV show, video journalist Lucinda Herbert visits 'Beardy HQ' - the Bearded Fool Barber Shop on Newhouse Road, to find out what goes on in the world of competitive beard-growing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Brian Eva, Chair of Sandgrown Beardsmen | Shots! TV James Taylor, a Sandgrown Beardsmen regular, said: 'It's a chance to say if I'm not feeling too great, and I like to think anyone else can come to me if they have a problem. We just drink beer, talk rubbish and have a good time.' 'Razor blades are I spend a fortune on beard balms' The group range from their 20s through to men of retirement age - and come from all walks of life. John Shaw, 65, explains in the programme, that he was expected to be 'clean shaven' through his working life - so as soon as he took early retirement he grew a beard. He adds: 'Do you know how expensive razor blades are? I'd had enough. I didn't expect that I'd be paying a fortune in beard balms.' James Taylor at a Sandgrown Beardsmen meet up | Sandgrown Beardsmen While the club is mostly aimed at men, women are also invited and welcome to join in with their meets. And the competitions they take part in, also have categories that women and youngsters can get involved with too. World Beard and Moustache Championships 2027 comes to Blackpool Brian Eva, the chairman, has already began organising the World Beard and Moustache Championships event, which is staged in a different country every two years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It will be held in the appropriately impressive surroundings of the Winter Gardens in August 2027, bringing competitors to Blackpool from all over the globe, with many expected to come from Germany from the United States, leaders in the beard field.
