More than a thousand facial hair aficionados flocked to Texas on Friday to participate in the biannual World Beard and Mustache Championships being held in Austin over the weekend.
Saturday’s festivities include the ‘mustache-only and female beard-only categories’ of the competition, according to the Austin Facial Hair Club website.
But the main attraction is set for Sunday, where mustache, partial, full bearded participants will be ranked during the ‘free style’ portion of the competition, followed by the ‘best in show’ awards to mark the end of the event.
Every two years, the WBMC website boasts, the completion ‘showcases the very best in men’s and women’s whiskers.’
‘Projected to be the largest competition to date, the three-day event will include live entertainment, local food vendors, family friendly activities and dozens of facial hair competitions,’ it adds.
The origins of the competition are ‘shrouded in controversy,’ according to WBMC, but the ‘modern competitive bearding event began with a 1990 event organized and hosted by the First Höfener Beard Club in its hometown Höfen/Enz, Germany, a small village in the Black Forest.’
Whiskerina competitor HOLLY HURRELMEYER acts in a short video presentation later played during her time onstage at the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships
JULIE MARTIN, a Whiskerina competitor, poses during the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships hosted this year by the Austin Facial Hair Club
Whiskerina competitor ASHLEY DRAKE acts in a short video presentation later played during her time onstage
Whiskerina competitor DONNA COLES is set to compete for facial hair glory on Saturday during the women’s competition
MELISSA LARUE, a Whiskerina competitor, poses during the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships hosted this year by the Austin Facial Hair Club
Whiskerina competitor KRISTIN WAGNER derives inspiration from the movie ‘Back to the Future’ for her entry into this year’s WBMC
Whiskerina competitor ANGELA WEBB choose to go far-east for her theme in this year’s facial hair competition
Whiskerina competitor MELISSA FULKERSON dawns a toga and golden crown to compliment her powerful goddess beard
Whiskerina competitor CALLA GONZALEZ acts in a short video presentation later played during her time onstage at the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships
Whiskerina competitor ADRIANNE BURLILE brings a whole new meaning to Texas long-horn with her entry into the biannual WBMC
Whiskerina competitor BRIT WRIGHT acts in a short video presentation later played during her time onstage at the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships
Whiskerina competitors line up during the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships hosted this year by the Austin Facial Hair Club
An Instagram photo taken by ‘campbowiebeard,’ a beard and mustache grooming company, shows a line of participants and audience members waiting in line
Paul (pictured right), owner of the Camp Bowie Beard Company, takes a picture with other participants at this year’s World Beard and Mustache Chamionship