Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
In 2022, Adam Smalley discovered just how much facial hair he could grow. Through the COVID pandemic and a subsequent shoulder surgery, Adam had lots of downtime, which got him thinking about growing his mustache and beard. It was something that his job as a police officer had once prevented, but now he was open to.
When Adam returned to work at the City of Dora Police Department, his coworkers commented on his facial hair and started looking up crazy beard designs online.
“I kept growing my goatee and mustache out, and when I came back to work, we were looking at crazy, goofy beard designs. And then, we discovered a competition for facial hair out in Salt Lake City,” says Adam. “So, I decided, ‘You know what? I’ve never been to the West, so I’m going to take my vacation and go.'”
Adam took his two weeks of vacation and road-tripped to Salt Lake City, Utah, to attend the Great American Beard & Mustache Competition. His impressive mustache placed him first in the “Natural” category, meaning no products were used to style it. However, he encountered unique categories such as the “Salvador Dali” and the “English” pencil-thin mustache.
In the process, Adam met many individuals who shared his affinity for impressive facial hair. Now, he maintains a network of friends and fellow competitors in beard and mustache competitions.
After traveling around the United States to several competitions, Adam amassed a collection of medals and ribbons commemorating his mustache’s victories but has won no prize money. The clubs, organizations, and societies around the country that band together to make facial hair fun and competitive often choose to give back, the proceeds from competitions going towards charities.
When Adam decided to host his own competition, his approach was no different. With the help of many family members, supporters, and friends, including North Florida Facial Hair Society’s Daniel and Leslie Phillips, he hosted his first local competition, Bama’s Best Beards and Mustaches, in March 2024 at Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham. His chosen charity was Camp Conquest, a camp on Lake Martin for children who are burn victims. The competition raised over $3,000.
“For our first competition, I’m very happy with the money we raised. No matter what, that money can go towards something, whether that’s paying power bills, water bills, or buying new equipment for the kids. All that matters is that we were able to give back,” says Adam.
In the future, Adam hopes to host another Bama’s Best competition and continue traveling around the U.S., expanding his horizons and keeping his mustache spruced up. Looking back on his struggles with COVID and shoulder surgery, he recognizes these events as blessings. Out of those times, he gained lifelong friends, a cause worth supporting, and a knack for gnarly facial hair. WL
