The popular mullet competition at Canberra’s 35th annual Summernats Festival has named its first-ever female champion over the weekend.
Tamzyn Dowell took home the top prize for ‘Best Mullet’ among the record 110 competitors in the Dirty Mullet Fest.
Mullet competitors were judged on the style and length of the hairdos as well as their stage presence and, following her win, Dowell told The Project that the uniqueness of her mullet was what helped it stand out among the rest of the competition.
“I think it’s because I’m female and not many females have mullets. I think they’re a cool haircut and I think mine is just a cool haircut in general. It’s done a little bit differently to normal mullets. I just love it,” said Dowell.
“I think a lot more women should have mullets. And I think at next year’s Summernats mullets, there’s going to be a lot more women and we’re going to rock and roll.”
The 18-year-old from Wangaratta also thanked her “absolutely amazing” hairdresser for the award-winning cut, saying she “couldn’t have a better hairdresser.”
“I just said to her, ‘I really want a mullet’ and she said ‘yes, this is what I’ve been wanting to do to you for so long’.”
“She was so excited. She nearly got tears in her eyes with how excited she was,” said Dowell.
While Dowell comes from a family of mullet-lovers (her brother sports one as well), this was her first year entering the competition.
“My brother has had a mullet for five years now. He’s been in the mullet competition for four years. He’s been trying very hard but he’s just not as good as me, apparently,” joked Dowell.
“He’s quite jealous of my win this weekend but I think his mullet’s amazing. I love it and I’m proud of him for still coming in the mullet competition even though he knew I was going to beat him.”
Dowell told the ABC she sees mullets as the “most beautiful haircut: business at the front, party at the back.”
“I love them; I think all mullets are good.”
As for what’s next on Dowell’s agenda, she plans to defend her title next year by coming back with a mullet even “bigger and better.”