A nine-year-old English bulldog has been named the 2018 winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog competition – and that’s no exaggeration.

Zsa Zsa won the title on Saturday (local time) in the competition, held in the San Francisco Bay area, where dogs with hairless bodies, lolling tongues and faces only a mother could love flaunt their imperfections.

The dogs walk down a red carpet and are evaluated by a panel of judges, with the winner taking home $1500.

As well as Zsa Zsa, this year’s competitors included a blackhead-covered Chinese-crested dachshund mutt and a bulldog bitser with excess wrinkly skin.

Last year’s winner was a 57-kilogram gentle giant named Martha – a Neopolitan mastiff with gas and a droopy face.

During the competition, she often plopped down on her side on stage with her droopy face spread across the ground when she was supposed to be showing off.

In 2016, a Chinese-crested chihuahua called Sweepee Rambo took out the prize.

At the time, Sweepee’s owner Jason Rambo claimed: “I’ve had girlfriends over the years and they were jealous of her.”

Other strong contenders this year

Rascal Deux, a Chinese crested-Dachshund, with owner Dane Andrew. Photo: Getty

Wild Thang, a Pekingese, struts its stuff on stage. Photo: Getty

Himisaboo, a Chinese-crested wiener mix, shows off its scruffy mane. Photo: Getty

Miriam Tcheng holds her Brussel Griffon pug Moe. Photo: Getty

Tee Tee is shown to judge Brian Sobel. Photo: Getty

Mrs Kravitz, a chihuahua, may have been a little too cute for the judges. Photo: Getty

-with wires