ZZ Top would surely shed a tear at the sight of the 2009 World Beard and Mustache Championship contestants.

Texas photographer Dave Mead traveled to Anchorage, Alaska to capture these portraits of men with gravity defying facial hair.

Fans of the bush-ranger beard or the Salvador Dali up-curl moustachehad the chance to see the Magnificent Specimens on display at Chelsea Market in New York City last month.

Read the original blog post here on TrendLand.