Move over mummified monkey and #MPRraccoon: Meet Minnesota’s newest sweetheart, Zsa Zsa. She simply takes your breath away, doesn’t she? Zsa Zsa, a 9-year-old rescued English Bulldog who calls Anoka her home, has returned to Minnesota a winner after being crowned as the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog.

Truly a far cry from the beauty contest that is the Westminster Dog Show, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest throws pedigree out the window and instead calls for your scraggliest, droopiest, and most un-photogenic four-legged friend with a face only their owner could love.

The World’s Ugliest Dog

And Zsa Zsa, with her massive, bulky shoulders, her long, uncontrollable lolling tongue, and jutting, crooked underbite, slobbered her way into the judges’ hearts as she competed against thirteen other wonderfully weird-looking dogs. As described in a press release, “The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is really about the Cinderella stories.”

Without a doubt, the contest sincerely hopes every dog does get a chance at the Cinderella fairy tale ending as the true purpose behind the competition is to advocate for all the neglected and forgotten dogs who simply want a safe and loving home. For over 30 years, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest has brought awareness to the growing number of dogs in need of a forever home. They want to help support and encourage people to adopt dogs even if they don’t have Lassie’s good looks.

Many of the dogs participating in this not-so-beautiful beauty contest are rescues from shelters and puppy mills. And our very own crowning beauty, Zsa Zsa, is no exception. Zsa Zsa was in a puppy mill for five years in Missouri before being sent to a dog auction. Fortunately, Zsa Zsa was purchased by Underdog Rescue where her current owners Megan and Jesse Brainard adopted her without hesitation. The Brainards recalled, “From the moment we saw her beautiful face, we knew we would be her forever home. We are so excited for her, she deserves this.”

Zsa Zsa certainly has earned the grand prize. And as the winner, Zsa Zsa takes home a towering trophy along with a $1500 check and a matching prize donation to Zsa Zsa’s former rescue home, Underdog Rescue. Coming in a close second place, was another head-turner named Scamp, pictured below. Not to worry, Scamp and the other lovely pup contenders didn’t go home empty handed as each was awarded a gift basket of goodies.

Zsa Zsa brings home the prize for World's Ugliest Dog
Scamp, second place winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest

Being the less glamorous, odd dog out can be tough.

And so, we’re lucky to have the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest to roll out the red carpet and provide a stage for our more ridiculous-looking dogs where they can let their inner beauty shine and show the world the unconditional love and joy they bring to everyone around them.

Congrats to Zsa Zsa!

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