Mane of a Man: Jack Passion, Beard Champion (Condensed Version)

(http://www.fearthebeard.org)

Jack Passion is a 25-year-old writer, musician and national beard champion. That’s right, a beard champion. Passion is the 2007 World Beard and Mustache champion courtesy of the red whiskers that extend nearly to his belly button. The Beard and Mustache competitions are held annually, attracting 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.

And in this world, Jack Passion is like a God.

Passion entered his first beard competition on Father’s Day in 2005. And he won. Soon after, Passion went to Berlin for the 2005 World Championships and placed third. And after two years of preparation, he traveled to Brighton, England in 2007 for the World Championship, winning the title for “Full Beard Natural.”

Since his recognition, Passion has been working on a lot of upcoming projects that he hopes will revolutionize the way people think of facial hair—both those who have it, and those who don’t.

At the end of March, he will release his first book, Jack Passion's Facial Hair Handbook and his solo singing debut At the Opera.

Passion’s book 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.”

While Passion plans to keep his beard for a while, he is looking to step out of his bearded comfort zone. “The beard gets me a lot of attention,” he says, “but I am so much more than the beard.”

His CD, At the Opera, proves 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.”