Beard man a whisker away from being world champ

The three-time Yorkshire champ, who took the British title in 2014, travelled to the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Leogang, Austria.

Joiner Michael (29) came seventh in the full natural category — and is eyeing a way of making his facial fuzz into his career.

He said: “I only got into it about five years ago. It was a bet with some mates to see who could go longest without shaving and one by one they all dropped out. I had no idea where it would lead.

“The next step I’d like to take is to make it a career. I know I’m not going to be the next Brad Pitt, but there’s demand for background roles. It’s a niche market.”

Michael, of Kimberworth Park, gained extra sponsors after taking the British title in Bath a year ago, which has helped with travel costs.

Among those who contacted him after seeing his beard — believed to be the country’s longest at over two feet — were Beardilizer, which sells facial hair products, and Good Vibrations tattoo studios in Sheffield.

Michael was up against competitors from as far away as the USA and New Zealand at the international competition. 

He said: “It can be quite overwhelming when you get to these competitions. You see all the people you’ve seen on social media, who have been growing their beards since before I was born. 

“They judge it on size, there’s some really big ones there, colour, density and how much it suits your face.

“I think it helps with me having a bald head, it helps draw attention to the beard.”

Michael added: “I was extremely happy with seventh. I was to win the British competition and it’s progressed from that. 

“Obviously, there’s going to be people with beards who don’t enter but, officially, I have the seventh best in the world.

“And when I see the mates I had the bet with, they say: ‘You can stop now, we’ve accepted that you won the bet!’”