World beard champion has face mask tailored to his giant mutton chops

Burkhardt, winner of beard world championships, says he can make his facial hair work with an FFP2 mask, but guidelines from health officials say otherwise. Photo: dpa

You'd think wearing a face mask would be a problem if your beard is the width of a double bed. Not so for Juergen Burkhardt, the multiple winner of world and European beard championships.

The German photographer and designer says he has had a special mask made to suit his iconic Prussian-style beard, which curves outwards in two tusks left and right of his shaved chin.