Broken Arrow Teen's 'Modern' Mullet Wins National Championship

A Broken Arrow teenager has quite the bragging rights after his mullet was voted best in America.

It's a hairstyle made famous well before 16-year-old Tyler Billingsley was born. Rock stars, country music stars and movie stars put the mullet on the map back in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

“They're definitely making a comeback now and I think it's really cool,” said Billingsley.

He’s been rocking a mullet for about two years, carefully crafted by Eleven 01 Barber Lounge Owner Robb Cherry.

“Our top secret to a good mullet is water,” Cherry said as he trimmed Billingsley’s hair.

Cherry says Billingsley’s hair is still the "business in the front and party in the back" style, but with a twist.

“The best thing I love about Tyler's is his is more of a comb-over mullet. I call it a modern mullet because a lot of them, it was just very bushy up here, like you had bangs and then you had the mullet,” said Cherry.

But there's something else that sets Billingsley’s mullet apart from others – the color.

“It's red. Being a ginger, that definitely helps,” Billingsley said.

“As soon as Tyler walked in and I saw his red hair, I said, 'Ah, man this perfect. Perfect, perfect,’” said Cherry.

Perfect enough for Cherry to encourage Billingsley to enter the USA Mullet Championships. He did and his "modern mullet" was voted best mullet in America in the Teen Division.

“I couldn't believe it. I don't really know what to say. It was incredible,” Billingsley said.

Billingsley won a thousand dollars and Cherry got a big boost in business.

“I had about 50 calls and 23 messages about appointments. And ever since then I think I cut about 15 mullets. Some guy told me I was the mullet master,” Cherry said with a laugh.

The cut is not for everyone, but it's just right for Billingsley.

“I think the hair suits me perfectly,” said Billingsley.

“You definitely got to have confidence. Moxie, confidence, everything... and thick skin,” Cherry said with a smile.

Billingsley said he's putting the money he won toward his pickup truck.

He'd also like to win back-to-back championships, which means his mullet isn't going anywhere because he's entering the competition again next year.