On Friday 14 August, the city of Santa Rosa in California hosted the 50th annual World's Ugliest Dog contest.
For this 2026 edition, it was a lovely little dog named Jinny Lu who walked away with the top prize.
Persistence pays off
It was not Jinny Lu's first time entering the competition. Her owner, Michelle Grady, explained that this was actually her beloved pet's fourth attempt.
Michelle went home with a $5,000 cash prize from the sponsor, MUG Root Beer. To make things even better, Jinny Lu's face will also feature on a limited-edition soda can.
The drinks brand also awarded $3,000 to the runner-up, Pinky, a Chihuahua-Pomeranian cross, and $2,000 to third-place winner, Otto, a Chihuahua cross.
Promoting compassion and adoption
Behind the rather provocative title of "ugliest dog" lies a heartwarming mission. The organisers have absolutely no intention of making fun of these wonderful dogs.
"The World's Ugliest Dog contest has never really been about finding the ugliest dog in the world," said Mandy Clendenen from the Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association in a statement.
"For half a century, this contest has celebrated the individuality and imperfections that make every dog unique and special." The main goal remains to promote compassion and the adoption of rescue animals, who are often overlooked because of their appearance or physical disabilities.