We are proud to announce the TOP 12 MEANest BEARDS in the world for 2018. These men were selected by the 10 person MEAN BEARD judge panel out of the 141 MEAN BEARD contestants from 19 countries around the world. It was a very hard decision for the judges, as all the entrants have exceptional beards, all unique and special in their own way, and many with amazing stories attached to their beards signifying a deep meaning for what their beard symbolizes to them, which ultimately makes it a MEAN BEARD. You all inspire us, and make it clear that a MEAN BEARD is a symbol of strength, freedom, truth, patience and perseverance. You all have a different story, however, you all share the same passion, and that is a great passion for the beard. Thank you to all contestants you all have a MEAN BEARD. Stay MEAN and look forward to the 2019 contest!
The TOP 12 MEANest BEARDS of 2018, in no particular order are:
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| First Name | Michael |
| Last Name | Wallage |
| Instagram Username | mickthechopswallage |
| Hometown | Ripley |
| State/Province/Region: | Derbyshire |
| Country | UK |
| Bearded Since: | 1980's |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | Since a serious accident I'm disabled so no longer work. I was a truck driver for 30+ years. I enjoy baking and I'm a committed competitive beardsmen and charity fund raising. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | When it comes to beards my mantra.... Train and don't trim. Life in general.... I'm just here for the craic. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | Following a very serious RTA I was faced with the fact that one of my legs would be amputated. In fact, I was lucky.... sort of !!! 9 major operations and over 10 years of limb reconstruction saved the limb. Driving a truck and my passion for the gym was out of the question, I needed another point of focus to live..... that focus was bearding. I watched Whisker Wars on TV, knew I could do that...even from a wheelchair. My goal World Champion. |
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| First Name | Gerry |
| Last Name | Spiller |
| Instagram Username | |
| Hometown | Grantham |
| State/Province/Region: | New Hampshire |
| Country | United States |
| Bearded Since: | 2015 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | Owner of a professional moving company. Travel. trail running. fishing. Most importantly family and friends. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Work hard play harder. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | My wife's grandfather inspired me to grow a beard he never did. Now I'm a second place national champion. It's been a great journey meeting friends from around the world who knew That a beard would unite us. |
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| First Name | ROBERT |
| Last Name | MICHAELIS |
| Instagram Username | samnrob |
| Hometown | lakeland |
| State/Province/Region: | Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Bearded Since: | 7/4/16 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I am a Truss designer (engineering homes) I have 4 kids which I dedicate my life to! I have a beautiful wife who is a RN. I enjoy fitness and spending time with my family! I love to inspire others to be GREAT! |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Stay Motivated! Be Dedicated! |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I started growing a beard in 2015, I would grow it then trim it. I battled addiction and have been clean for almost 5 yrs. I started growing a beard around the same time so it went hand in hand. I really stopped trimming it 7/4/16 on my Birthday! I have let it go for over 2 yrs! I also got into being healthy and working out to better my life for me and my family! I'm down 60lbs and inspiring others! |
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| First Name | Lewis |
| Last Name | Aylmer |
| Instagram Username | beardedmunkyla |
| Hometown | Hull |
| State/Province/Region: | Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Bearded Since: | January 2014 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I work as a driver for a company that supplies Industrial Products like Tools, Maintenance, PPE & Janitorial stuff. Most of my time is spent with my awesome Alaskan malamute called Torben, and the rest is looking forward to my beard club meets and going to competition for charity. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | #?*@ it! If it doesn't kill you stand up brush yourself off and work to a new goal |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I got bullied as a teenager for having a goatee. Chose to lose it to join the British Army Reserves, when I left I missed having facial hair, so decided to grow it back. The longer it grew the more complements I got, which help my shyness and anxiety. I found out about competitions and the chance I'd always wanted to help raise money and awareness for charities. It's made me a stronger man. |
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| First Name | Lee |
| Last Name | Baldwin |
| Instagram Username | Big Beard General |
| Hometown | Fergus |
| State/Province/Region: | Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Bearded Since: | August 2015 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | Operations Manager for a steel fab company. Actor/beard model. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Life is too short.....live in the moment. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | Grew the beard on a $20 bet which has since spun into beard modelling and appearing in numerous TV shows, commercials, music videos, and 2019 poster boy for Broil King BBQs worldwide. |
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| First Name | Adam |
| Last Name | Jones |
| Instagram Username | Whiskerjones |
| Hometown | Ottawa |
| State/Province/Region: | Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Bearded Since: | 2013 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I'm a starving artist, always creating. Jack of all trades, master of none. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Be the change you wanna see. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I started growing out of laziness but my beard has helped me gain self confidence and self esteem. |
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| First Name | Mychael |
| Last Name | Anders |
| Instagram Username | Mykeanders |
| Hometown | Grants Pass |
| State/Province/Region: | Oregon |
| Country | United States |
| Bearded Since: | 2013 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I work for an international helicopter company, that specializes in firefighting and heavy construction. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Speak about it or be about it. There is no middle ground. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I am a veteran that spends his free time between my amazing children and helping other veterans transition back to real life. It is a passion of mine to help others who served. |
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| First Name | SCOTT |
| Last Name | BRADLEY |
| Instagram Username | Scott.bradley.98 |
| Hometown | Camp Hill |
| State/Province/Region: | PA |
| Country | United States |
| Bearded Since: | 2016 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | Barber. Love the outdoors, animals and people. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | HONOUR |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I grew my MEAN BEARD after having a spot of skin cancer on my face. A friend told me to enter a beard contest before trimming. I did and won best in show. I decided not to trim or cut and have won 6 trophies to date. I have met a lot of great people in my beard journey and helped a lot of charities. So I have no intentions of cutting my beard. I like being all natural and using products to shape it. |
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| First Name | Patrick |
| Last Name | Dawson |
| = | |
| Instagram Username | Patrickdawson7807 |
| Hometown | Seattle |
| State/Province/Region: | Washington |
| Country | USA |
| Bearded Since: | 2001 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I'm a bartender in Seattle, Washington. Retired puck/rock bass player!! Motorcycle riding badass!! Classic car enthusiast Beardsmen. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Behind stubble, No trouble!!! Life is short, live life and have a good time!!! Grow a MEAN BEARD!!! |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I've been growing my beard for over 17 years now!!! Growing up my uncle was a PNW lumberjack & was a big burley man with a big beard!!! Then being from Seattle & the 90's music scene I was always growing something on my face. Now being a bartender it helps people remember me!!! They might not remember my name, but they can't forget the MEAN BEARD!!! |
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| First Name | Shawn |
| Last Name | Duff |
| Instagram Username | duff905 |
| Hometown | Gastonia |
| State/Province/Region: | NC |
| Country | United States |
| Bearded Since: | Started No Shave November 2014 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I work in sales and marketing nothing fancy lol but I have a beautiful wife and 3 amazing kids that drive me to do anything possible. I love to compete in beard competitions and I am a proud member of the Beard and Moustache Club of North Carolina, Charlotte Chapter. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | Be Hairy Do Good! Our club is a bearded Brotherhood who's mission is to be the change that is needed to make the world a better place! |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I compete in beard competitions to help raise money for so many different charities. From helping homeless veterans to helping out at our local women's shelter. There will always be someone in need of help, and even if it means giving the shirt off my back, I will always be willing to lend a hand. Be Hairy Do Good! |
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| First Name | Jonas |
| Last Name | Bergkvist |
| Instagram Username | Zirilana |
| Hometown | Växjö |
| State/Province/Region: | Kronobergs län |
| Country | Sverige |
| Bearded Since: | Not counting a small break in the airforce I've been bearded for as long as I've been able. In numbers, it's about 19-20 years now. |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I work as a CNC-operator by day and by night I spend time with my cats, my girlfriend, friends, go to a lot of concerts, watch movies/shows or play video games. In the warmer half of the year I like to take long walks or bike around in nature. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | If you look though, you have to be nice. Be yourself no matter what and treat people with the dignity and respect they deserve. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | I think that a beard is just a part of my genes. I've never seen my dad without a beard and while growing up, it just felt like a beard was the only path to go down. Clean shaven never even occurred to me once. I never felt complete though until I started to grow out a full beard in September 2013. It felt like I found myself for the first time in my life. This is me. This beard will follow me into my grave many years for now. |
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| First Name | Chandra Prakash |
| Last Name | Vyas |
| Instagram Username | Cvyas12 |
| Hometown | Bikaner |
| State/Province/Region: | Rajasthan |
| Country | India |
| Bearded Since: | 2016 |
| What Do You Do? (Career, Hobbies, Interests) | I'm working in national rural health mission as a computer operator. |
| What's Your Motto / What Do You Stand For? | I want to increase the name of my country all over world. |
| Tell Us Why You Have The MEANEST Beard? (What Is Your Story? What Inspired You To Grow A Beard? Who Is The Man Behind The Beard?) | When 2016 years I was growing my beard then one astrologer told me, "you can't any prize or anything else till then beard on your face". But my father told me you grow up beard my blessings with you. Then 2017 I got Mr moustaches 2017 title in desert festival, and longest beard champion 2018 tittle. My father is my strength. I love nature. I love my country and l love my parents. |
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Look forward to this weekend! The MEAN BEARD judge panel will determine the TOP 3 and make the announcement on January 12th, and then the Champion will be announced on January 14th. When determining the MEANest BEARD Champion, the main factor is obviously the beard. However, it's not only the beard, it's also the attitude that deems a MEAN BEARD. What's the story behind the beard, what does the beard stand for? The judges will look closely at the story and who the person is behind the beard. The MEANest BEARD Champion has to be able to represent what MEAN BEARD is all about.
The champion will claim the MEANest BEARD trophy and a MEAN prize pack valued up to $1,000 which includes beard care products from MEAN BEARD Co., and awesome prizes donated from the contest sponsors - Kickasso Kustoms, Gonzalez Handmade, Ella Jude, Whiskertin Lighting, Applecreek Specialty Foods, and MEAN Clothing Company.
You may view the contestant's full stories on our blog in groups of 8, a brief on our contest photo gallery, and also on MEAN BEARD Instagram or Facebook.
Feel free to leave a comment below. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
98 comments
Thanks for the Top 12 ranking. Can’t wait to see Top 3!!!!
Wow I’m humbled to be chosen top 12 .. so many awesome beards and stories behind them!! Good luck fellas ✊