Wor
ld's Ugliest Dog Champions and their Unique Beauty It's a well-known fact that dogs are man's best friends. They come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds, and we adore them for their loyalty, playfulness, and companionship. However, some dogs stand out for their unique looks, and in some eyebrows raising cases, their ugliness. Meet the World's Ugliest Dog Champions, an annual contest that celebrates the beauty in imperfection. The competition began officially in 1976 and taken place annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. The contest includes grooming, personality, and attitude of each dog. Participants gather from all over the world to compete and maybe, just maybe, earn the title of the world's ugliest dog. As the contest has grown in popularity, so has the prize money. The winner received $1,500 in 2019, which is a considerable increase compared to the $50 prize money originally awarded in early years. The competition is not meant to celebrate the idea of an ugly dog, but rather to highlight the unique beauty of each dog. These contestants prove time and time again that looks are not everything when it comes to personality and friendliness. The idea of the contest is to encourage people to adopt rescue dogs and give those dogs a chance. As stated by the Sonoma-Marin Fair, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we celebrate all dogs, regardless of their shape, size, and looks". Several previous winners of the contest were Chinese Crested Dogs, which are notoriously known for their hairlessness, and unique skull shape, leaving them with large ears and a permanently surprised expression. One of these champions was Yoda, who had tufts of hair on his tail, head, and feet, but was otherwise entirely bald. He won the title in 2011 and passed away in 2019, leaving a significant mark as one of the most loved Ugliest Dog Champions. Another contestant that garnered a lot of attention in 2018 was Zsa Zsa, a nine-year-old English bulldog who took the crown that year. Zsa Zsa's unique looks included her protruding tongue, under-bite, and cloud of fur, leaving her with a permanent grumpy expression. Her unique qualities immediately captured the hearts of the judges and audience alike. Overall, the World's Ugliest Dog Champions is a unique celebration of our beloved pets, and it provides a platform for people to embrace and love their not so perfect canines. These contestants remind us that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and indeed, even ugly dogs deserve a chance to shine. So, let's embrace our furry friends and their differences. They make the world a much happier and colorful place.