NEW YORK – Ugly is subjective. But in this competition, it means everything.

Year after year, owners enter their pets in a contest to become the one, the only, world’s ugliest dog.

It may not sound like a badge of honour, but for the pets and their owners, this competition is proof that where you come from does not define where you end up. If you can make it here, you can truly make it anywhere.

With her floppy tongue and bulging eyes, this 2026 winner, Jinny Lu, a six-year-old pug, did not disappoint.

Jinny Lu was the runner-up in 2025. This was her fourth attempt to win the top prize.

According to her biography, Jinny Lu was “found in a wooden box in freezing weather in the mountains of South Korea”.

She likes to sneak “onto kitchen chairs and very stealthily puts her amazing tongue into everyone’s food bowls”, according to her biography. She also likes to spend time snuggling, sunbathing and greeting visitors.

Her fun fact? She screams at her reflection in the mirror.

The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, which takes place during the Sonoma County Fair at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California, celebrated its 50th year on Aug 14.

The contest promotes dog adoptions and celebrates “the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique”.

The dogs are treated as stars as they strut along a red carpet lined by adoring fans.

Judges consider the pet’s background and story. Previous winners include dogs who “embody resilience and inspiration”.

Jinny Lu won US$5,000 (S$6,400), a trophy and a trip to New York for a live appearance on the Today show, scheduled for Aug 17.

Jinny Lu, who emerged as the winner from among eight contestants, will also appear on limited-edition cans of Mug Root Beer, a sponsor of the competition.

Pinky, an albino pomeranian-chihuahua mix with a rosy snout, was the runner-up and took home US$3,000 and a trophy.

Otto, a chihuahua mix with a cleft palate, won third place, earning US$2,000 and a trophy.

And if you just cannot get enough, here are the winners from past years.

In 2025, Petunia, a hairless English-French bulldog mix from Eugene, Oregon, was crowned the winner.

In 2024, there was Wild Thang, a wide-eyed, tongue-flopping mop of long fur.

In 2023, Scooter, who also let his tongue hang loose and whose hind legs were deformed, took home the top prize. And in 2022, there was Mr Happy Face, a chihuahua mix.

The contest was suspended in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the champion was Scamp the Tramp. NYTIMES