The United States is the world's new facial hair super power, having captured twelve titles out of eighteen categories plus overall at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska on May 23, 2009.
Possessing home field advantage, the USA was able to dethrone Germany which had dominated this competition since its inception.
Hometown favorite and Beard Team USA member David Traver was crowned overall champ, having styled his beard to resemble an Alaska snowshoe which earned him top honors in the freestle full beard category. Meanwhile Germany's Karl-Heinz Hille's elaborate moustache earned him second. San Franciscan Jack Passion placed third with his long, red natural beard. The winners took home engraved gold pans.
The next HUGE event in the sport of bearding will be the Beard Team USA Nationals in Bend, Oregon on June 5, 2010, where $5000 in cash prizes will go to best beards and moustaches in the USA. The competition is open to everyone. Even Canadians!
Unofficial Trophy Count
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| United States | 12 | 7 | 10 | 29 |
| Germany | 5 | 7 | 5 | 17 |
| England | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Belgium | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Switzerland | 1 | 1 | ||
| Netherlands | 1 | 1 | ||
| Italy | 1 | 1 | ||
| Canada | 1 | 1 |
In 2007, the World Beard and Moustache Association, an organization made up of beard clubs representing some 10% of the participants at the World Beard and Moustache Championships, accepted the proposal of the Norwegian Moustache Club to hold the 2011 world championships in Trondheim, Norway in a room with a seating capacity of 250.