Jinny Lu, a 6-year-old pug, received the high honor of being crowned the 50th “World’s Ugliest Dog” over the weekend.
It was Jinny Lu’s fourth time competing in the World’s Ugliest Dog contest, which is held annually during the Sonoma County fair at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California. This year, the competition was held on Aug. 14 and celebrated its 50th year.
The contest celebrates “the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,” while promoting dog adoptions, per The New York Times.
During the competition, the dog’s background and story are taken into account, and the previous winners include pets who “embody resilience and inspiration.”
A look at this year’s World’s Ugliest Dog winner
Jinny Lu is known for her floppy tongue and bulging eyes. She was the runner-up in 2025.
According to her biography, the pug was “found in a wooden box in freezing weather in the mountains of South Korea.”
She also tends to sneak onto kitchen chairs and put her tongue into everyone’s food bowls, per The New York Times. She enjoys sunbathing, greeting visitors and snuggling.
Her fun fact is that she screams at her reflection in the mirror.
The pug won a trophy, $5,000 and a trip to New York for an appearance on the “Today” show on Monday.
Jinny Lu will also be featured on limited-edition cans of MUG Root Beer. The company is a sponsor of the competition.
“Jinny Lu was adopted through Pug Rescue 4 years ago, and ever since, she has been a constant source of mischief and joy,” according to a statement from MUG.
This year’s runner-up was an albino Pomeranian Chihuahua named Pinky, who has a rosy snout. She took home $3,000 and a trophy.
Third place went to Otto, a Chihuahua mix with a cleft palate, who received $2,000 and a trophy.
The World’s Ugliest Dog contest
While the title of World’s Ugliest Dog doesn’t necessarily feel like an honor or something people would want to win, the competition is proof that where you come from does not define you.
“The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest has never really been about finding the world’s ugliest dog,” Mandy Clendenen, CEO of the Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association, said, according to People.
Some people see the concept of the competition as cruel, but the point of it is not to shame canines. The purpose of the contest is to highlight unique dogs, their individuality and inner beauty. It also helps to promote pet adoption by showing off the amazingly odd and affectionate dogs that are waiting to be adopted and loved.
“For 50 years, this event has celebrated the uniqueness of every dog while sharing an important message of compassion, rescue, and acceptance,” Clendenen said, per People. “It’s incredible to see how a small local tradition has grown into an event that captures hearts around the world.”