Mulletfest 2019: ‘It’s not just a haircut, it’s a way of life’

It’s widely known as the dodgiest haircut in the world. But in a small country NSW town, Australia’s most extreme “mullets” are something to be celebrated.

If “mullet spotting” was a sport then Jessica Ambrose would be an Olympic athlete.

Ms Ambrose, a 37-year-old health professional from the NSW Central Coast, has been fascinated by the iconic hairstyle — in which the hair is cut short at the front and sides and left long at the back — since she was a little girl. She was just 10 years old when she first noticed country star Billy Ray Cyrus on television and her obsession with mullets was born. What came next was everything from the word “mullet” included in her long-term personal email address, to daily jokes about the up-and-down-do, to travelling far and wide just to get a glimpse at the most extreme mullets Australia has to offer.

“It’s not just a haircut, it’s a way of life,” Ms Ambrose told news.com.au.

Her whereabouts today will therefore come as little surprise to anyone familiar with the annual Mulletfest, held in Kurri Kurri, about 150km north of Sydney, NSW. In it’s second year, Ms Ambrose hasn’t missed one yet. And this time, she’s brought childhood friends and mullet-groupies Alicia Phillis and Erin Campbell, along with her.

A man shows off his mullet haircut at the first Mulletfest 2018 in the town of Kurri Kurri. Picture: AFP / Peter Parks.

Men wait to be judged on their mullet hairstyles at Mulletfest. Picture: Peter Parks.

There’s no age too young for a mullet. Picture: AFP / Peter Parks.

The trio has joined more than 160 people at the Chelmsford Hotel for the Mulletfest to watch those with the country’s best mullets battle it out in categories including the “every day”, the “ranga”, the “grubby”, the “extreme” and the “junior” before the ultimate title is decided — the official Best Mullet Of Them All.

“Mullet spotting is such a sport and it gives us a laugh,” Ms Ambrose said.

“There are proud mullets as far as the eye can see.

“Every category is covered — vintage mullets is my favourite.”

The festival is also affiliated with the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Friends Jessica Ambrose (left), Erin Campbell (second left) and Alicia Phillis (right) with competitors at the 2019 Mulletfest.

A MULLET DYNASTY

Mulletfest founder Laura Johnson, a hairdresser, is hoping her family has a head start in the comp.

“I come from a family of mullets,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

“My husband has a mullet, my father in law has a mullet and two of my four children have mullets, So we figured a competition about mullets would be heaps of fun, and the idea snowballed from there.”

Ms Johnson previously told news.com.au that her humble mining town could now lay claim to being the spiritual home of the mullet.

“The mullet scene is very strong here,” she said last year.

Ms Hawkins told The Guardian she was keen for more women to enter the contest. “I see plenty of lady mullets walking around town but I know they’re not signed up,” she said. “I think they’re a bit shyer than the proud male mullet.”

And although an obvious choice appears to be waiting in the wings, Ms Ambrose isn’t willing to step up to the plate, preferring instead to appreciate the mullet from afar.

“I’ll leave that to the professionals,” she told news.com.au.

Three generations of Johnson "Mullets" in Kurri Kurri: (L-R) Grandfather Kev, Ian, 17, Max, 6, father JJ, and mum and organiser Laura. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

The Chelmsford Hotel where Mulletfest is held. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

ANCIENT MULLETS

The mullet — which is often described as “business at the front, party at the back” — dates back at least to the Roman Empire but surged in popularity in the 1970s and 80s. And photos reveal the “skullet” — bald on top, long at the back — existed in the 1870s.

The 2019 Mulletfest “Best Mullet of Them All” winner will be announced at 6.30pm today.