By Tim Binnall
A pug named Jinny Lu is sitting pretty after being crowned the World's Ugliest Dog for 2026. The curious-looking canine reportedly took home the coveted title this past Friday at the wildly popular annual competition held at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California. The precocious pug with the ever-present exposed tongue boasts a rather remarkable backstory as, four years ago, she was saved from the South Korean dog meat trade and brought to the United States. Since that time, Jinny Lu has become something of a local celebrity in her new home state of California, making a multitude of appearances at schools and senior centers as a representative for rescue dogs.
Making Friday's victory even sweeter is that the pug finished in 2nd place at last year's contest after competing for the title the previous two years. Fortunately, the fourth time proved to be the charm for Jinny Lu and her owner, Michelle Grady. The pair received a $5,000 prize, appeared on the Today Show this morning, and the delightful dog's unforgettable face will be featured on a series of limited-edition cans of Mug Root Beer, which sponsored the event. Jinny Lu now proudly stands alongside the peculiar pantheon of previous World's Ugliest Dog winners, including Petunia, Wild Thang, Scooter, Mr. Happy Face, Scamp the Tramp, and Sweepee Rambo, among other unsightly champions crowned over the years.