Battle of the mullets! Boys competing in the kids’ final of the 2023 US Championships proudly flaunt their luscious locks

The mullet has been an iconic and controversial hairstyle since the 70s – but in recent years it has seen a huge comeback.

And now kids from all over the United States have been vying for the title of National Mule Champion in an annual competition that takes place every year.

The contest was first held in 2020 and has been held every summer since. This year, the winner with the most daring haircut was a six-year-old boy from Pennsylvania.

Montgomery County’s Rory Ehrlich, who dubbed his cheddar mullet wiz, got more than 16,000 votes in the contest and beat out hundreds of other contestants for the top prize.

But he had strong competition.

Photos submitted online from across the country show an array of styles with different names.

The public voted for their favourite, while a panel of judges too rated mules based on length, style, uniqueness, and showmanship.

In second place was three-year-old Ezekiel Arita from Hawaii – with his black mullet nicknamed Mr. Aloha Mullet.

And in third place was Five-year-old Kamden Cunningham from Pennsylvania and his mule nicknamed The Kammander.

Other suitors were Three-year-old Eli Powell from Kansas and his mullet nicknamed Ginger Mane – he came in fifth.

Three-year-old Tristan Bowling from Kentucky also made the top 25 with his noble hairstyle called Hot Rod.

Mason Padilla, 11, of California and his mullet nicknamed The Chick Magnet finished in 8th place in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division.

Three-year-old Eli Powell of Kansas and his mullet nicknamed “Ginger Mane” finished in 5th place in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division

Mason Padilla of California and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Chick Magnet’ finished in 8th place in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division

Wisconsin’s Axel Wenzel and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Axel’ finished in 9th place in the online contest

Kamden Cunningham of Pennsylvania and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Kammander’ finished in 3rd place in the USA Mullet Championships

Kentucky’s Tristan Bowling and his mullet nicknamed ‘Hot Rod’ made the Top 25 in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division

North Carolina’s Brantley Kirwin and his mullet nicknamed ‘BK’ made the Top 25 in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division

Proud winner of the Kids Division Rory Ehrlich of Pennsylvania and his mullet nicknamed ‘Cheddar Wiz’

Tristan Bowling, 3, of Kentucky, placed in the top 25 in the National Mullet Championship for his noble hairstyle called Hot Rod.

Missouri’s Chasen Sachs and his mullet dubbed ‘Fully Committed’ also made the cut in the competition

Virginia’s Maverick Coleman and his mullet nicknamed ‘Mav’s Mullet’ finished in 6th place in the contest

Ezekiel Arita from Hawaii and his mule nicknamed ‘Mr. Aloha Mullet’ finished in 2nd place in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division

Alabama’s Dr. Bell and her mullet nicknamed ‘The Electric Slide’ finished in 4th place at the 2023 USA Mullet Championships

Pennsylvania’s Kamden Cunningham and his mullet nicknamed ‘The Kammander’ finished in 3rd place in the USA Mullet Championships 2023 Kids Division.

In addition to the Kids and Teens competitions, the organization is also organizing a Femulet competition (which took place in May), as well as the upcoming Men’s Mullet and 55+ Mullet.

The winners receive a cash prize and a gift from the contest sponsors. They also get a USA Mullet Championships trophy.

Child winner Rory helped raise more than $1,000 to support former NFL star Jared Allen’s Homes For Wounded Warriors charity, which helps build accessible, mortgage-free homes for seriously injured American military veterans.

And he said he would use his own price of $5,000 to buy an alpaca for his older sister.

A six-year-old boy from Pennsylvania has been crowned winner of the National Mullet Championship for his noble hairstyle

Rory Ehrlich of Montgomery County was competing in the children’s division and beating hundreds of other competitors for the top prize.

His mother, Airen Ehrlich, said he decided to grow a mullet a year ago when he went to the hairdresser “because it looked cool”.

He was asked to name his mullet as part of his contest entry and he decided to call it “chedder wiz”, which is his favorite way to order a Philly cheesesteak.

Rory decided to fundraise for Homes For Wounded Warriors because her father is a retired Air Force veteran.

The youngster jumped for joy when he found out he was a winner.

The youngster, who dubbed his mule Cheddar Wiz, got more than 16,000 votes in the contest from his local community and organizers had to verify they were real.

Rory won a USA Mullet Championship trophy and will receive a $5,000 cash prize which he says he will use to buy an alpaca for his older sister.

His mother, Airen Ehrlich, said he decided to grow a mullet a year ago when he went to the hairdresser “because it looked cool”.

Rory does not plan to change her hairstyle after her success and wants to keep the mullet

His mother said he ransacked the kitchen as he ran around celebrating.

“My chair fell over,” Rory said CBS News, before adding that he will use the winnings to “buy my sister an alpaca”. But his mother quickly put an end to this idea.

He also wants to participate in a wing party after his triumph at this year’s competition.

“We really leaned on the community and the city of Philadelphia, they came through so well with that,” Airen said.

“I still feel totally overwhelmed by emotions. The support goes beyond what you can actually put into words.

She said many votes came at the last minute and contest organizers needed to verify that they were real.

Rory doesn’t plan on changing her hairstyle after her success and wants to keep the mullet.