THE man made famous by being “the most interesting man in the world” while pitching Dos Equis beer loaned his expertise on perfectly groomed facial hair to help judge a contest looking for the best beard in Vermont, the U.S.

Jonathan Goldsmith, whose close-cropped beard was a key part of the image of the cigar-smoking sophisticate, judged the Best Beardies competition Saturday.

This year’s competition raised US$45,000 for Make-a-Wish Vermont, topping the nearly US$30,000 it brought in last year.

The contest’s 2018 Top Beardie was Chip Fortune, of Colchester, whose mountain man-style beard won over the judges.

The other winners were: Troy Headrick, of Burlington, urban beard; Louie Coli, of Westford, freestyle beard; Dillon Mears, of Plainfield, people’s choice; and Steve Jalbert, of Barre, top fundraiser.

The winners each won a plaque, a gift card for beard care products and bragging rights.

Goldsmith said before the competition that a beard reveals the personality of the man who sports it.

“If it’s wild looking, unkempt — that has some statement. If it’s immaculately trimmed, it might mean that he keeps a clean desk,” said Goldsmith, a Vermont resident who now promotes tequila. “If it’s really long, I would say that it’s somebody who is his own man and doesn’t really care about convention.”

(SD-Agencies)