PHOTOS: Ninth Annual Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition raises hairs

Coney Island’s bearded lady has some competition.

Participants in the Ninth Annual Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition came out swinging on Saturday, September 3 as the yearly extravaganza encompassed Surf Avenue, and raised a few hairs to say the least.

Held at Sideshows by the Seashore (1208 Surf Avenue), the competition — presented by Adam RealMan and Coney Island USA — saw some of the “strangest and most extravagant beards and mustaches” descend upon the waterfront neighborhood, as contestants battled for titles such as “Moustachio Marvel” (or Best Moustache Natural), “Dog and Pony” (or Best Partial Beard and/or Chops), and, of course, “The Brass Ring” (or Best in Show).

Other categories included “Ballyhoo Beard” (Best Beard Styled), “Man or Beast” (Best Beard Natural), “Hokum and Hoodwinked” (Best Fake Beard or Moustache), “Come Out To Play” (Strongest Team Participation) and — for those who swung and missed — “Carny Trash,” or Worst in Show.

The show was hosted by Adam RealMan and his co-host Mistress B, as they led a panel of hirsute celebrity judges like Al and Danny Kavadlo, Katherine Turman, Matt Chrystal and Mike Zohn to “weed out the best whiskers in New York City and beyond.”

“It was a blast,” said Adam. “It gets better every year. The show was great, the contestants were fantastic. We had a huge group from Hartford, Connecticut, we had a really big group from Jersey, and, of course, there’s always a bunch of locals.”

From here, he said, it’s onto bigger and better.

“We have to keep topping it,” he said. “Next year’s gonna be a terrific party.”

Participants shelled out $20 each to compete, including Ridgeite Ronnie Parisella, who competed in the all-natural beard category for the fourth year in a row.