The first of our nefarious band of judges for the Mid-Atlantic Beard & ‘Stache Championships 9, Presented by Honest Amish is a Goatee World Champion, our MABSC 008 Best In Show, and one of the most-traveled bearding competitors EVER. 

TESTIMONY FROM THE ACCUSED PYRATE:

You see him every Tuesday at 8pm Eastern as the co-host of Talking Beards and now you can see him LIVE as he judges the scruff on your face. Our first judge is the one and only Aaron D. Johnston!

Aaron discovered competitive bearding from watching Whisker Wars and has been hooked ever since. He has been sponsored by Honest Amish for several years and now holds the title Director of Marketing. In 2017 his bearding career took off after winning a Goatee World Title. His favorite thing about the beard community is getting to help out charities while traveling and meeting new people.

🍹 If I was stuck on a deserted island and could only bring one drink with me, it would definitely be a big tall banana shake from Steak ‘n Shake with a crazy straw!

The next rapscallion in our nefarious band of judges for the Mid-Atlantic Beard & ‘Stache Championships 9, Presented by Honest Amish is a talented Whiskerina from Missouri. She’s a creative powerhouse who’s no stranger to the podium. Welcome aboard Holly Hurrelmeyer!

TESTIMONY FROM THE ACCUSED PYRATE:

I started in this crazy world in 2015 as a volunteer at the St. Louis Beard & Mustache Club competition. I showed up in a beard, because why not? I was informed I could compete and the rest is history! Since that first comp I have placed a few times, been honored to have won some best in shows, privileged to judge a few times, made it into a book, on some trading cards, and had my bearded photo end up in some gallery showings. Whew, it has been a whirlwind! 

For those of you who know me, you know I love a great costume to compliment the wondrous facial hair. I am thrilled to be getting back an East Coast comp, and to be asked to judge is an honor.

🍹 If I was hanging out on a beautiful tropical island I want all the fun tiki drinks!

The 3rd judge in our nefarious band is our furthest traveled judge ever! Our Full Beard representative, she’s one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. When she’s behind the judging table, she’s as fair and even-keeled as the trade winds. Please welcome aboard Rose Geil!

TESTIMONY FROM THE ACCUSED PYRATE:

Hello Everyone, I'm Rose and I hail from Oregon, but find myself in most all corners of the bearding world. I entered my first competition on a whim, thinking it would be fun to beat the boys. I placed second in the groomed beard category! I had no idea I would end up making lifelong friends and setting up friendly rivalries for the future. 

Some of the moments from the last 7 years I am most proud of are placing 6th at the 2017 World Beard and Moustache Championship, winning the Golden Beaver for Best in Show in Modesto, judging 2019 Nationals in Tinley Park, and being invited to judge for the first time by the Salty Saints at Snowbird. Oh yea, there's also the time I set a Guinness Book World Record for the first female with a natural beard to compete on the world level. I am beyond grateful for every opportunity to participate in this community. And I am SO looking forward to my first time visiting RVA, I can't wait to see you all there. 

🍹 My ideal beach drink would have to be lime margarita on the rocks made with a reposado and light salt.

You probably already follow our fourth judge on Instagram, Facebook, or Tiktok (not to be confused with Tick-Tock the Crocodile who ate Capt. Hook’s hand, matey)! Our Moustache representative judge is an Army vet from our fair Commonwealth of Virginia, a mere 5 leagues north of Charlottesville. Welcome aboard, Bob Baker and his mustache Elliot Norris!

Bob got out of the army in 2005 and after a series of short-lived beards, started to grow his first yeard in December of 2018. Less than a year later, in the the fall of 2019, he held the Beards & Beer Beard Competition at Decipher Brewing in Charlottesville, raising $1,100 for UVA Prostate Cancer Research!

By the spring of 2021, Bob appeared in “Alexander the Brain”, a bare-knuckle boxing short set in the 1880s. Following filming he was inspired to create a Tiktok account @bobandelliothismustache to collaborate on videos with lead actor Jacob Ames (@heelgrabber850). Within the 1st week he had over 30,000 followers and now has over 1.3 million followers – yeah, that number’s right – 1,300,000 followers, along with 23,700 followers on Instagram. 

Among his accolades is the title of 2020 National Handlebar Moustache Champion, 2022 National Freestyle Moustache Champion, along with a perfect score in Styled Moustache at last year’s MABSC 008. 

Fun fact: Bob’s closest friend/moustache Elliot Norris was named after the two great facial hair legends Sam Elliot & Chuck Norris.

🍹 What drink would you most enjoy while on a tropical beach? A Guinness.