Longmontap Jaxson Finken has embraced the mindset of “business in the front, party in the back.”
Sporting a mullet that stretches past his shoulder blades, 9-year-old Finken is representing the city in the kids division of the U.S.A. Mullet Championships.
The online competition sees mullet-wearers across the country battle for the title of the “most epic hairdo,” at least according to the contestap After going up against over 900 participants in the 9-through-12 age bracket, Finken advanced to the second round of the championship on Tuesday.
“He’s far exceeded our expectations,” said Priscilla Hale, Finken’s stepmom. “Anything from here is just icing on the cake.”
The Hygiene Elementary School student has been growing out his hair since the spring of 2021. His mullet was inspired by several people, from players on the Colorado Avalanche hockey team to an uncle who rocked the hairstyle when he was Finken’s age.
“My friend had long hair and a mullet, and I said, ‘I want that,’” Finken explained, pointing to another inspiration for his hairdo. “So I asked my mom if I could have one, and she said, ‘Heck yeah.’”
Hale stumbled across the mullet contest on social media last year, and Finken immediately took interest. They missed the registration deadline in 2022 but were able to enter the competition in full force this summer.
“I’ve just always let him express his hair however he wants, because at the end of the day, you can cut it off and start over,” Hale said. “At this age itap important for (kids) to learn how to, if they start something, just finish it.”
Finken is wearing a traditional mullet: short, parted hair in the front and long, wavy locks in the back. It even has a name – Mullet Royale – which is a nod to getting a “Victory Royale” in one of Finken’s favorite video games, Fortnite.
To advance to round three, Finken will need to make the top 25 of the second round’s 100 competitors. He got 875 votes in the first round and is aiming to surpass that number in the second. As of Friday afternoon, more than 450 votes have been cast for Mullet Royale.
Hale said Finken is the only contestant from Colorado to make it to round two. She hopes the attention her stepson’s hair has gotten from his classmates and other Longmont residents will put both the city and state on the “mullet map.”
“Maybe Longmont will be the mullet capital of Colorado, who knows?” she said.
Each contestant also accepts donations on their voting page. This year, all proceeds benefit , a nonprofit that provides accessible and affordable homes to critically injured veterans founded by a former NFL defensive lineman who was famous for sporting a mullet of his own during his playing days.
The cause is especially important to Finken, whose dad and grandfather have both served in the military.
Finken said he has “10 out of 10” confidence in his mullet. Even if he doesn’t make it to the final round, he wants to keep his hairdo intact and enter the contest again next year.
“The mullet is staying for the foreseeable future,” Hale confirmed.
Round two voting is open until the end of the day Monday. To vote for Finken, visit .
