Bee Bearding - Yet Another Bizarre Contest!

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Over the years, we have come across some bizarre competitions ranging from nettle eating to toe wrestling and even pillow fighting. However, one of the strangest and in our view scariest, has to be the bee bearding competitions that seem to be rapidly gaining popularity in many countries around the world.

The whole premise of the contest is to see who can attract the most bees onto their bodies and, since it is impossible to physically count them, contestants are weighed before and after the event - The one with the biggest weight gain (from bees) takes home the coveted title of bee beard champion!

The most recent contest took place in China's Hunan Province. On Sunday, July 17th, two brave men faced off against each other in an attempt to not only win this competition, but also, try break the world record for attracting the largest number of bees.

42-year old beekeeper Wang Dalin and 20-year old farmer Lv Kongjiang stripped down to their shorts and then, with the help of some queen bees, began the process of accumulating as many of the insects as they could.

While they both succeeded fabulously, it was the more experienced beekeeper Wang, who managed to attract more of the buzzing insects - 28.68 kg (63.23lbs) of them to be exact! The young farmer did not do too shabbily either with a collection of 22.9kg (50lbs) of bees. However, neither was able to break the all time record of American bee maestro Mark Biancaniello, who managed to wear a whopping 39.5kg (87lbs) of the buzzing insects in 2008.

The sport of bee-bearding (if one can call it a sport) was invented in Russia in the 1830's, when competitors attracted bees to their faces with the help of one strategically placed queen bee. Over the years, adventure seekers have extended it to include their entire body in an attempt to attract as many bees as they can - Pretty Bee-ierd isn't it?

Resources: dailymail.co.uk, metro.co.uk, guardian.co.uk

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236 Comments
  • swi123
    swi123over 9 years
    that is freaky
    • animegirly
      animegirlyover 9 years
      Omg doesn't that hurt or something but it cool
      • shivi483
        shivi483over 9 years
        That is wired I bet they can't get out and It will take a while for them to go I do not want to have a try cause it is a very very wired and why would someone make this it is so bad, what happens if something happens to the people, it will be all there's fault.m
        • Omg starover 9 years
          How'd he do that??!😲😦😧
          • whatthe?over 9 years
            whoa howed he do that
            • paris_love
              paris_loveover 9 years
              that is just crazy!!! i would not last a second with out going crazy!!!
              • LKover 9 years
                stingy bees . more like clothes
                • kell-bell
                  kell-bellover 9 years
                  I would have a heart attack... bees are about my only fear....
                  • meover 9 years
                    plus I think bees are cute.
                    • meover 9 years
                      I have no idea why, call me crazy even, but that looks cozy, being all bundled up in bees....