A rescued pug named Jinny Lu has been crowned the world’s ugliest dog at the annual contest in Santa Rosa, California.
DR reports that the winner was announced Friday at the competition in Santa Rosa, in the American state of California. The Danish broadcaster describes the winning dog as one whose tongue permanently hangs halfway out of its mouth.
The dog is the pug Jinny Lu, which originally comes from South Korea. Per DR, she was saved by animal activists there before she was brought to the United States.
Today, the NBC program that hosts the winner, reports that Jinny Lu is a 6-year-old rescue dog owned by Michelle Grady from Ukiah, California. She beat eight other contestants before a judging panel that included NBC correspondent Gadi Schwartz and California state senator Mike McGuire.
According to DR, the first prize is 5,000 dollars, equal to more than 32,000 Danish kroner, along with a televised trip to New York. The organizing Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association states that the winner also receives a trophy and a sponsored trip to the city. Spanish outlet La Razón notes that the appearance on the Today show is set for August 17.
Second place went to Pinky, an albino cross between a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua, which took 3,000 dollars. Third place went to Otto, a Chihuahua mix with a severe double-sided cleft lip and palate, which won 2,000 dollars. DR puts those sums at close to 20,000 kroner and just under 13,000 kroner.
DR notes that Jinny Lu finished second in last year’s contest. The Express also reports that she was runner-up in 2025, while La Razón writes that this was her fourth attempt at the title.
Rescue background
KJRH, a Scripps station in the United States, reports that Jinny Lu was rescued from the dog meat trade in South Korea. The station adds that she now works as an ambassador for rescue dogs, visiting schools and care facilities. Organizers credit her rehabilitation to Pug Rescue of Korea in Long Beach and Pug Hotel, a senior pug sanctuary in Rohnert Park.
The contest is held every year as part of the Sonoma County Fair. The Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association states that the 2026 fair ran from August 7 to 16, with the dog contest scheduled for Friday evening at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Entries closed on July 17.
People describes this year’s event as the 50th annual contest. DR writes that the competition has existed for more than 50 years and is organized by the Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association, a body founded in 1882 that also runs agricultural education for young people.
