Jinny Lu, a six-year-old pug, was crowned the winner of this year’s World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California. With her distinct features, including a floppy tongue and bulging eyes, Jinny Lu stood out among eight contestants. This was her fourth attempt to win the top prize, having previously been the runner-up in 2025.
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Jinny Lu’s backstory adds to her appeal; she was discovered in a wooden box during freezing weather in the mountains of South Korea. According to her owners, she has a playful personality, often sneaking onto kitchen chairs to enjoy food and exhibiting a quirky habit of screaming at her reflection in mirrors.
The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, celebrating its 50th anniversary, aims to promote dog adoptions and highlight the unique qualities that make each dog special. Participants are judged not only on their appearance but also on their stories.
As the winner, Jinny Lu received a prize of USD 5,000, a trophy, and an opportunity for a live appearance on the Today show in New York. The runner-up, Pinky, an albino Pomeranian Chihuahua mix, earned USD 3,000, while third place went to Otto, a Chihuahua mix with a cleft palate, who took home USD 2,000. The event, filled with excitement, treated the dogs like stars as they paraded down a red carpet.