Mulletfest contestants compete for Australia’s best mullet

Some like it rugged and dirty, while others prefer it neatly coiffed and conditioned. 

No matter which style you prefer, the mullet was the epitome of trendiness in the 1980s and it could be here to stay – at least for one Australian town. 

Kurri Kurri is a small town nestled in the Hunter Valley and one woman is trying to put it back on the map by showing off the mullet in all its glory.

Laura Johnson is the brainchild of Mullet Fest, a competition for Australia’s best mullet.

Mullet Fest is the most Australian competition: No matter which style you prefer, the mullet was the epitome of trendiness in the 1980s and it’s here to stay. Dan Brown (pictured) claims to be the inventor of the mullet

Festival host Laura Johnson (left) is the brainchild of Mullet Fest, the competition which awards Australia's best mullet. She said people across the nation were coming all the way to Kurri Kurri just to see who was crowned with Australia's best mullet

Festival host Laura Johnson (left) is the brainchild of Mullet Fest, the competition which awards Australia’s best mullet. She said people across the nation were coming all the way to Kurri Kurri just to see who was crowned with Australia’s best mullet

Laura Johnson calls the final contestants for the Junior mullet category on-stage

Laura Johnson calls the final contestants for the Junior mullet category on-stage

Each of the three judges on the panel award mullet contestants in five categories.

Whether it’s an everyday mullet or a skullet – that glorious flap of hair that tickles your fancy, or back of your neck more specifically, there is a category for every sort.

The five categories are: the everyday mullet, grubby mullet, ranga mullet , ladies mullet and junior mullet.

‘The everyday mullet is more washed and conditioned, but the grubby mullet – that’s open to interpretation,’  Laura told the Newcastle Herald.

‘We’ve got some dreadlocks coming, plaits, things like that.

Mulletfest is putting the small regional NSW town of Kurri Kurri back on the map while bringing back the mullet in all its glory. The competition takes place at Kurri Kurri's finest, The Chelmsford Hotel 

Mulletfest is putting the small regional NSW town of Kurri Kurri back on the map while bringing back the mullet in all its glory. The competition takes place at Kurri Kurri’s finest, The Chelmsford Hotel 

One of the three judges on the panel include the mastermind who claims to have invented the mullet Dan Brown - also known as 'The Mullet Lord' 

One of the three judges on the panel include the mastermind who claims to have invented the mullet Dan Brown – also known as ‘The Mullet Lord’ 

Mullet Fest shouldn’t be mistaken as a competition just for the blokes. There’s five women who are eagerly vying for the title of the best ladies mullet.

More than 180 contestants competing for ‘The best mullet of them all’ are equipped with their ‘business upfront party at the back’ game face on for the 2018 Mullet Fest held at Chelmsford Hotel in Kurri Kurri.

Laura said that people across the nation were coming all the way to Kurri Kurri just to see who was crowned with Australia’s best mullet.

‘I’ve never seen Kurri like this. Even all the people in my yoga class are coming and they’re not exactly the kind of people who care about mullets,’ Laura told VICE. 

She said one man travelled from Victoria just for the one-day Mullet festival. He arrived late last night to the regional town 150km north of Sydney.

'The everyday mullet is more washed and conditioned, but the grubby mullet, that’s open to interpretation,' Laura said

‘The everyday mullet is more washed and conditioned, but the grubby mullet, that’s open to interpretation,’ Laura said

Every man and his mullet: Five men show off their different mullet styles from the everyday  and ranga mullet to the grubby mullet

Every man and his mullet: Five men show off their different mullet styles from the everyday and ranga mullet to the grubby mullet

‘This lovely young man travelled from Victoria yesterday. He and his mum, dad and sister arrived at the pub at 11pm last night ready for the festivities today – and they’re flying home tomorrow morning,’ Laura said on the TODAY show.

Laura said she created the festival after finding out that her small town claimed to be the home of the mullet. 

Three judges are on the panel including the mastermind who claims to have invented the mullet Dan Brown or ‘The Mullet Lord’ to locals. 

Australian rules football player Warwick Capper models his legendary mullet on the field 

Australian rules football player Warwick Capper models his legendary mullet on the field 



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