The mullet has been an iconic and controversial hairstyle since the 1970s, but in recent years it has made a huge comeback.
And now kids from all over the US have competed for the title of National Mullet Champ in an annual competition that takes place every year.
The competition first ran in 2020 and has taken place every summer since then. This year, the winner with the boldest haircut was judged to be a six-year-old Pennsylvania boy.
Rory Ehrlich, of Montgomery County, who nicknamed his mullet cheddar wiz, received more than 16,000 votes in the contest, beating out hundreds of other entrants for the grand prize.
But he did have strong competition.
New York’s Greyson Woods and his mullet nicknamed ‘Baby Joe Dirt’ made the Top 25 in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships Kids Division
Photos submitted online from around the country show an array of styles with different names.
The public voted for their favourite, while a panel of judges too evaluated the mullion windows based on length, style, uniqueness and showmanship.
In second place was Ezekiel Arita, three years old, from Hawaii – with his dark mullet nicknamed Mr. Aloha Mullet.
And was in third place Kamden Cunningham, five, from Pennsylvania and his mullet nicknamed The Kammander.
Other contenders were Eli Powell, three, from Kansas and his mullet nicknamed Ginger Mane – he took fifth.
Tristan Bowling, three, of Kentucky also made the top 25 with his lofty haircut called Hot Rod.
Mason Padilla, 11, of California and his mullet nicknamed The Chick Magnet finished in 8th place in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships Kids Division.
Eli Powell, three, from Kansas and his mullet nicknamed ‘Ginger Mane’ finished 5th in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships Kids Division
California’s Mason Padilla and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Chick Magnet’ finished 8th in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships Kids Division
Wisconsin’s Axel Wenzel and his mullet nicknamed “The Axel” placed 9th in the online competition
Pennsylvania’s Kamden Cunningham and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Kammander’ finished 3rd in the USA Mullet Championships
Kentucky’s Tristan Bowling and his mullet nicknamed ‘Hot Rod’ made the Top 25 in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships Kids Division
Brantley Kirwin of North Carolina and his mullet nicknamed ‘BK’ made the Top 25 in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division
Proud Kids Division winner Rory Ehrlich of Pennsylvania and his mullet nicknamed ‘Cheddar Wiz’
Tristan Bowling, 3, of Kentucky made the top 25 in the National Mullet Championship for his lofty haircut called Hot Rod.
Missouri’s Chasen Sachs and his mullet nicknamed ‘Fully Committed’ also took home the award in the competition
Virginia’s Maverick Coleman and his mullet nicknamed ‘Mav’s Mullet’ placed 6th in the league
Ezekiel Arita from Hawaii and his mullet nicknamed ‘Mr. Aloha Mullet’ finished in 2nd place in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division
Alabama’s Dre Bell and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Electric Slide’ finished 4th in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships
Pennsylvania’s Kamden Cunningham and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Kammander’ finished in 3rd place in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships Kids Division.
In addition to the Kids and Teens competitions, the organization also hosts a Femulet competition (which ran in May), as well as the upcoming Men’s Mullet and 55+ Mullet.
The winners will receive a cash prize and swag from the contest sponsors. They also receive a USA Mullet Championships trophy.
The boy winner, Rory, helped raise more than $1,000 to support former NFL star Jared Allen’s charity Homes For Wounded Warriors, which helps build accessible and mortgage-free homes for critically injured U.S. military veterans .
And he has said he will use his own $5,000 prize money to buy his older sister an alpaca.
A six-year-old Pennsylvania boy has been crowned the winner of the National Mullet Championship for his high haircut
Rory Ehrlich, from Montgomery County, competed in the children’s division, beating hundreds of other competitors for the grand prize.
His mother Airen Ehrlich said he first decided to grow harder a year ago when he visited the barbershop ‘because it looks cool’.
He was asked to name his mullet as part of entering the contest and he decided to call it “chedder wiz,” which is his favorite way to order a Philly cheesesteak.
Rory decided to raise money for Homes For Wounded Warriors because his father is a retired Air Force veteran.
The youngster jumped for joy when he discovered he was a winner.
The youngster, who nicknamed his mullet Cheddar Wiz, received more than 16,000 votes in his local community’s contest and organizers had to verify they were real
Rory won a USA Mullet Championship trophy and receives a $5,000 cash prize, which he says he will use to buy his older sister an alpaca
His mother Airen Ehrlich said he first decided to grow a mullet a year ago when he visited the barber shop ‘because it looks cool’
Rory has no plans to change his haircut after his success and wants to keep the mullet
His mom said he trashed the kitchen while he was running around celebrating.
“My chair fell over,” Rory recalled CBS news, before adding that he will use the winnings to “buy my sister an alpaca.” But his mother quickly put that idea aside.
He also wants to go on a wing night after his win at this year’s game.
“We really trusted the community and the city, Philadelphia, they got so caught up here,” Airen said.
“I still feel completely overwhelmed with emotions. The support goes beyond what you can actually put into words.’
She said many of the votes came through at the last minute and that the contest organizers had to check to make sure they were real.
Rory has no plans to change his haircut after his success and wants to keep the mullet.