Jack Passion is a 25-year-old writer, musician and the 2007 World Beard and Mustache champion, courtesy of the fiery red whiskers that extend nearly to his belly button.
Local facial hair competitions that are held annually (with the world competitions held biennially, in various cities around the world) attract wicked sideburns, 70’s porn ‘staches, ZZ Top beards and facial hair enthusiasts from all over the world. Think Miss America and slap a beard on it. Trade in the hairspray, make-up and bikinis for wax, combs and outrageous costumes.
In this world, Jack Passion is like a God.
This past March, Passion defended his beard at the local New York City Beard and Mustache Championships (NYCBMC) in Brooklyn, winning the “Full Natural Beard” category. This competition likens itself to the hype and prestige of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest with a $500 prize and categories like full beard, sideburns, patchy beard and recession beard (for those who have been growing their hair since September). The event is packed with entertainment from bearded comedy groups, bearded bands and even a beardless burlesque trio.
Now, he’s releasing his first book, Jack Passion's Facial Hair Handbook and his solo singing debut At the Opera. These projects, he says, set out to address and rectify some of the misconceptions about beards.
“We have all these facial hair stereotypes. That it's dirty, unkempt, smelly, a sign of laziness. That's why it's so awesome when someone pulls off some facial hair with class. I want to bring it back from the fringe, and let the everyday man feel comfortable with who he, naturally.”
His book, Jack Passion's Facial Hair Handbook, is a handbook for the bearded, complete with Jack’s personal tricks and grooming tips. “My book goes through the lifecycle of facial hair. It's as much a motivational book as it is a straight follow-the-steps guide book of grooming. What I focus on is arming the modern man with the theory and knowledge to grow and wear good, stylish facial hair.”
Inspiration stemmed from the volume of questions Passion received on growing beards. “It turns out there isn't any collected body of knowledge about the subject. There used to be, but in the last 75 years or so, wearing facial hair has fallen out of favor,” he says.
While Passion plans to keep his beard for a while, he wants to pursue projects outside his facial hair. “The beard gets me a lot of attention,” he says, “but I am so much more than the beard.”
His CD, At the Opera, plans to prove just that. “At the Opera is a concept album based on the Impressionist painting by Mary Cassatt. I am not afraid to be dramatically epic as I walk the line between rugged American and expatriate poet/author,” Passion said.
While Jack won’t be singing about his whiskers, he won’t leave the beard too far behind. Expect to hear “power anthems a la Bon Jovi and The Boss set on a Southern California beach played by cowboys from San Antonio,” says Passion. “It's party rock with some island roots. Picture Sheryl Crow at the beach with a huge beard.”
Despite recent acclaim, Passion’s beard success didn’t always come so naturally.
Born to blue collar parents in San Francisco, Passion’s beard days began with an unfortunate adolescent shaving incident that left him cut and bloody. “Maybe that action encouraged me to grow facial hair, or maybe it made me never want to shave,” Passion said. And the hair has been growing ever since.
Passion said he had a normal childhood, although he experienced difficulties “living in a suburb where when anyone grows the slightest bit of facial hair, it throws the town average way off.” And Passion was about to tip the scales.
At 19, Passion began growing his fiery red beard. Soon after, he solidified his spot in the facial hair community by taking his beard professional.
He entered his first beard competition on Father’s Day in 2005. And won. Passion then went to Berlin for the 2005 World Championships and placed third. “That kind of put me on the facial hair scene,” Passion said. And after two years of preparation, he traveled to Brighton, England in 2007 for the World Championship, winning the title for “Full Beard Natural.”
At the World Championships in Brighton, Passion sported, for the first time, what would soon be his signature costume: a tailored white suit. While many others dress themselves in outrageous capes, turbans, or hats, Passion keeps it simple with a sleek white suit. “I've always thought it takes a lot of balls to wear a white suit. I went to England in it, and I guess I looked like an 1800s man at a wedding. I was beard of the ball, so to speak. Since then, people have expected me to show up in and take pictures with them wearing the suit.”
Early success at these competitions thrust Passion into the spotlight and made him a celebrity. Matthew Saccoman, organizer of the NYCBMC, met Jack at the NYCBMC in 2006. “He was dressed as a pirate and I was dressed in my work clothes. My first impression was shock and righteousness. I wasn't worthy.”
Despite admiration from fellow bearders, not everyone appreciates Passion’s mane. “I've had people grab their kids and jay walk across the street so they don't have to walk by me, but I make a point to look good and smile and be nice. Having a big beard just makes it easier for them to remember that you were nice to them.”
Taking this to heart, Passion hopes to revolutionize the way people think of facial hair—both those who have it, and those who don’t.
Passion will be returning to competition this year for the 2009 National Beard and Mustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska in May.
Many think that Passion has a good chance at nabbing another title. “He is a contender and it's obvious that he's in it for the long run. A beard is only able to portray so much, but Jack is the whole package.”
To see more of Jack Passion, visit his website at http://jackpassion.com/
