Real life: My two year old is a mullet champion

Jay Zenke, 41, Darling Downs, WA tells her story:

The trolley wheels squeaked as I browsed the supermarket shelves.

My two-year-old son, Soren, who we called Pup, was happily munching on a pear in the trolley’s high seat when a young couple wandered over.

“Cool hair, little dude,” the man grinned.

“Show them your mullet, Pup!” I chuckled.

Loving the attention, my little boy shook his head like he was in a shampoo commercial, making his silky blonde locks to flutter around his shoulders.

The couple laughed, giving him a fist bump before wandering off.

This type of thing happened all the time.

I stopped cutting Pup’s hair after receiving an email advertising the mullet competition as part of the Sommernats festival in Canberra.

We’d planned to make the trip from WA for the car festival anyway, and the prize was was up to $1000, so we thought it’d be a fun to grow Pup’s hair into a mullet and try our luck!

As his locks grew, he loved the attention he got.

By the time the competition rolled around, it was shoulder-length and we made sure it was ‘business in the front, party in the back’.

We entered him into the Under-16’s mullet category and on the day, Pup stood, wearing big sunnies, a singlet and jeans, alongside teenagers while the judges made a decision.

Amazingly, he won his division, qualifying him for the Grand Mullet championship title. Winners from each category were invited on stage so the crowd could decide the ultimate champ.

I was so nervous for Pup.

What if he got upset and overwhelmed?

“Want me to come with you?” I asked him but he shook his head.

Seconds later, they called out Pup’s name and he let go of my hand, confidently marching on stage alone.

Our timid little man had turned into a real showman!

The crowd went nuts when they saw him.

Pup was wide-eyed, soaking it all in as the MC encouraged the audience to cheer for their favourite mullet.

“Give it to the little guy!” one man screamed, and many others agreed.

Pup’s little mullet ended up winning the grand prize.

The MC handed him a giant novelty cheque and a big wrestling belt that was too heavy for him to even hold up.

Now Pup wants to grow his mullet even longer for next year’s competition.

I’m so proud of my little Grand Mullet champion and I hope he’ll cherish this memory for years to come.