By — Carey Reed Carey Reed Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/facial-hair-frenzy Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Facial hair frenzy: Scenes from the National Beard and Moustache Competition Nation Nov 8, 2015 5:14 PM EDT On Saturday night, hundreds of men competed for the title of best facial hair in the nation. Around 300 men paraded on the Kings Theatre stage in Brooklyn, New York to show off their coiffed beards and mustaches for evaluation in categories like Musketeer (a mustache of the long and slender variety, along with a small, pointed beard) and Amish beard (a clean shaven upper lip, combined with an unshaven area that stretches from the chin to the temple)–there were also “freestyle” groups. Scott Metts from Orlando, Florida took home the title as 2015 Just for Men National Beard & Moustache Champion. Ahead of the competition, GQ interviewed Nate “Chops” Johnson, a professional beardsman who has won more than 40 titles in the sport. Facial hair has long been a sign of wisdom and virility. In fact, a 2013 study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior found that women considered men with heavy stubble most attractive. Those with heavy beards were held in the highest regard for healthiness and parenting ability. Below is a sampling of the impressive facial hair on display at Saturday’s competition. James Mcmahon from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, poses for a photograph at the 2015 Just For Men National Beard & Moustache Championships. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/ Reuters Adam Falandys at the 2015 Just For Men National Beard & Moustache Championships. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Contestants groom their beards backstage. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Contestants show off their beards and moustaches. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Nayland Blake from Brooklyn, New York, at Kings Theatre for the 2015 Just For Men National Beard & Moustache Championships. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Contestants chat during intermission. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Chris Bates from Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters John Morrow from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, poses for a photograph. categories. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Ramesh Parekh and family watch contestants. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Carey Reed Carey Reed Carey Reed assists in covering breaking and feature news for NewsHour Weekend's website. She also helps the NewsHour Weekend broadcast team in the production of the show. She is interested in the flourishing fields of data journalism and information visualization and recently graduated, with honors, from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. @careyereed
On Saturday night, hundreds of men competed for the title of best facial hair in the nation. Around 300 men paraded on the Kings Theatre stage in Brooklyn, New York to show off their coiffed beards and mustaches for evaluation in categories like Musketeer (a mustache of the long and slender variety, along with a small, pointed beard) and Amish beard (a clean shaven upper lip, combined with an unshaven area that stretches from the chin to the temple)–there were also “freestyle” groups. Scott Metts from Orlando, Florida took home the title as 2015 Just for Men National Beard & Moustache Champion. Ahead of the competition, GQ interviewed Nate “Chops” Johnson, a professional beardsman who has won more than 40 titles in the sport. Facial hair has long been a sign of wisdom and virility. In fact, a 2013 study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior found that women considered men with heavy stubble most attractive. Those with heavy beards were held in the highest regard for healthiness and parenting ability. Below is a sampling of the impressive facial hair on display at Saturday’s competition. James Mcmahon from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, poses for a photograph at the 2015 Just For Men National Beard & Moustache Championships. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/ Reuters Adam Falandys at the 2015 Just For Men National Beard & Moustache Championships. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Contestants groom their beards backstage. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Contestants show off their beards and moustaches. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Nayland Blake from Brooklyn, New York, at Kings Theatre for the 2015 Just For Men National Beard & Moustache Championships. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Contestants chat during intermission. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Chris Bates from Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters John Morrow from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, poses for a photograph. categories. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters Ramesh Parekh and family watch contestants. Photo by Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now