LA’s wonderful world of whiskers

Proud owners of facial hair are this week dominating the streetscape of Los Angeles.

They were celebrated in all their glory, having gathered for the third annual Beard and Moustache Competition.

Hosted by the LA Facial Hair Society, each year thousands of beard keepers travel to the US city for the annual competition which sees contestants slug it out in the 12 different categories.

The winner had a Mad Hatter theme, with ‘Tea time’ written in his beard hair and a cup created out of his whiskers.

Russ Meyer actress Kitten Natividad, National Facial Hair Champion Steve Scarpa, and other judges evaluated men sporting all kinds of facial hair topiary in more than a dozen categories, including mustache, beard, goatee and best in show.

And, least anyone should think the event was a totally serious affair, the organisers also hosted rounds for children and women making the best creative use of fake hair.

The event also featured a charity raffle in aid of the Dawg Squad animal rescue centre, which benefits hairy creatures of the four-legged variety.