Love it or hate it, the mullet is coming back, because did you know about the USA Mullet Chamionships?
Neither did we, but apparently, it's taking the competitive hairstyling world by storm.
This year, the featured contestants are predominantly children and teens showing off their "business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back style" that has long been the subject of mockery.
But the young contestants are having the last laugh because, judging by their photos, they're having the time of their lives and are fast becoming internet legends.
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Just take a look at these champs.
Here are the top three winners in the 2022 Kids Division.
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Here is a selection of the finalists who deserve honorable mentions. You'll see why.
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What a tight race!
Finalist Rustin has already become a household name.
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The championship's website proudly mentioned the heritage of the hairstyle that many thought emerged in the 80s.
Apparently, the mullet has its, er, roots, dating back to Ancient Greece, according to some historians.
"The style was as much for function as it was for fashion," the website stated.
"Cropped hair around the face with longer locks in the back allowed for both visibility and a protective layer of hair for your neck."
They even claimed Homer gave a description that was "eerily familiar" to the mullet in The Illiad, where the greatest and influential author of all time wrote, "their forelocks cropped, hair grown long at the backs."
"The Greeks weren’t the only ones sporting the mullet, though," they continued. "There is evidence that Neanderthals and our oldest ancestors would wear this ‘do, as well."
The teens didn't disappoint in their category either.
Well, we couldn't let the kiddos have all the fun.
And now, without further a-do, here are the top three winners of the 2022 Teen Division.
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We couldn't leave you hanging. Check out the locks on these young finalists.
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The question on everyone's mind is, "is the mullet making a comeback?"
Apparently, it never left.
"Some may argue that it was never in style, while others will insist that it never went out of style," said a Championship spokesperson.
"Ask the general public or a hair stylist, though, and they will probably be inclined to tell you that yes, the mullet is coming back."
"In January this year, men’s fashion blogs across the internet all declared the same thing: 2020 would be the year for the mullet."
"Beginning as a counter-culture hair style that was just getting its footing in the world of fashion once again, this year has proved to be the perfect time for the resurgence of the mullet."
The website presumed the sudden resurgence of the mullet may have had something to do with salons during the pandemic being closed, leaving many people tasked with attempting the "home-brewed haircut" either out of appreciation for the cut or perhaps "out of necessity"–with getting hair out of the face being a priority.
Apparently, the lack of access to salons wasn't the only reason for the mullet comeback.
"There have been whispers of the style in the mainstream over the last few years," they claimed, "and this was simply the boil-over point."
"In the second half of the past decade, we’d seen a steady increase of mullet action once again amongst the most famous of us."
They noted that women, especially female singers from everyone like "Kesha and Miley Cyrus to Billy Eilish and even Zendaya have been seen sporting the look."
"What may have been considered a trashy style by many even just a few years ago has become a chic look sported by those of us who have a tendency to look coolest."
Fascinating.
So, are you competing next year?
You have plenty of time to grow out your party-in-the-back, you know.
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