Emmitt Bailey: Wisconsin boy, 8, WINS kids' 2022 USA Mullet Championship beating 688 others
MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN: Emmitt Bailey, 8, who is also known as ‘Mullet Boy’, was announced on Sunday, August 21, as the winner of the kid's division of the 2022 USA Mullet Championship. With a total of 9,896 votes, the Wisconsin student outperformed 688 other young competitors to claim the victory. After the win, Eric Bailey, Emmitt's father, told Fox9, "I think it's cool. I really do. Some of the coolest people in the world, athletes and rock stars, they have mullets, so I mean, it's pretty cool.”
Despite the fact that 688 boys from throughout America initially entered the contest in the hopes of hearing that they have the best mullet in the nation, only 25 made it to the final round. The public was then invited to vote for their favorite, selecting the boy they thought best rocked the hairstyle where Emmitt won the public's vote. Emmitt revealed that his mom, Erin Bailey, was initially not a fan of the style and that it took him nearly two years to grow out his mullet, which he has nicknamed "Mufasa".
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The father-and-son team additionally encouraged individuals to join the mullet-heads. Despite the fact that it took two years to create. Eric said, "It does take some time to grow because this is two years in the making to get this one, but have fun with it.” The eight-year-old reportedly received a pair of Pit Viper sunglasses and $2,500 in cash for winning the competition. According to Eric, Emmitt now plans to use his money to purchase a go-kart for himself.
William Dale Ramsey of Pataskala, Ohio, came in second with 4,058 votes, followed by Epic Orta of La Joya, Texas, who received 8,404 votes.
Meanwhile, the official website of the competition reads, "Long before it was popularized by actors and rock stars in the 1980s, the Mullet has been traced back to warriors in Ancient Greece. Today mullet style and mullet culture are back, bro', and in a big way.”
Each participant paid an entry fee of $10, with $5 going to Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids, an organization that gives wigs to children whose hair is falling out as a result of illnesses like cancer, alopecia, or other problems.
The USA Mullet Championship was first developed by Michigan clothing and footwear retailer Bridge Street Exchange as a marketing strategy in 2020, and it has since taken place every summer. Owner Kevin Begola initially held the competition in his hometown of Fenton, and following its popularity, he made the decision to make it a nationwide event. Begola explained to Buzzfeed, “You'll hear a lot of people say, ‘It's not just a haircut, it's a lifestyle,’ and I really do think that's part of it. Most people with a mullet obviously can take the heat if people are kind of giving them crap about it, but I think we've kind of turned that corner. I do think the '90s country vibe is coming back hard right now.”