CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — If you like the thought of business-in-the-front and party-in-the-back, check out this young boy from Citrus County competing in the 2023 USA Mullet Championships.
Matthew Skorupski, a 7-year-old living in the Crystal River area, has been growing out his mullet for two years and is now putting it on display.
The annual contest has different categories for women, men, kids and teens to show off their own special style of mullet with a cash prize and prize packages awarded to winners. Each of them also receives the exclusive USA Mullet Championships trophy.
With Monday being the last day to vote for Round 1, Skorupski and his mom, Amy Olivo, made sure to hand out flyers to the community which reportedly helped with numbers.
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"We went out to Walmart to pass out flyers…[and] he had so many boys who had mullets ask him to do the mullet shake for them,” Olivo said. “[Matthew] felt so cool…he gets compliments all the time…”
On Tuesday evening, news broke that the 7-year-old made it to the second round of the competition – coming in at No. 27 out of 33.
The family moved from Illinois to the Tampa Bay area back in 2022. They found out about the competition and had to wait a whole year to register.
"I found out like right in the middle [of the competition] and it was too late to register him so we’ve been waiting since last year to do it again," Olivo said.
According to the mother of seven, Matthew's hair is combed back and styled every morning.
Matthew Skorupski's mullet for 2023 USA Mullet Champs
"I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all the people that went out of their way to support my baby!" Olivo said, "It's honestly choked me up so much. Thank you with all my heart!"
People can start to vote in Round 2, for kids only, starting July 20. It'll run until July 24. Click here to vote for the local 7-year-old!
"Vote for this sweet mullet!" Skorupski said in a statement.