A Hull man once bullied for his facial hair has been crowned one of the winners at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in the USA.
Lewis Aylmer travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the event, which was held from July 3 to July 5. He won in the Under 15cm Full Beard with Styled Moustache category.
He said: “It felt incredible and very emotional for me personally, after being bullied at a young age for having facial hair, to eventually go onto being a World Champion for it, is an indescribable feeling.”
Lewis has been competitive bearding since 2016 after getting into it “by accident” when he turned up at a British Beard and Moustache Championships in Liverpool and came third in his category. Since then, he has won the British championships in Blackpool 2018 and Plymouth 2024.
He said competitive bearding has helped him connect with people he would never meet normally. At the Pittsburgh World Championships “everyone was so friendly, lively, having a laugh, it was so fun”, he said.
(Image: Todd W Dupler @imagebytodd)
Lewis said his beard requires daily grooming to keep it in top condition. He said: “It just takes patience and a morning routine, just like anyone who washes their face in a morning and puts on moisturiser.
“I wash my beard and apply beard oil to the skin to keep it healthy underneath and stop dry skin then comb it through.”
When asked what the main advantages of a full beard are, he added: “I noticed having a beard often breaks the ice quickly with total strangers which helps when you have anxiety, often people will comment on it then conversation build from there.
“It’s also helped me have a reason to travel to places I wouldn’t think of, meet lots of new people that I wouldn’t meet any other way and now I can call some of those people good friends, all while raising money for charities.”
The next biennial Word Beard Championships in 2027 will take place in Blackpool, UK, hosted by Sandgrown Beardsmen.