We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Diver. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

It started with an idea to bring more awareness to the health implications affecting our Military, Law Enforcement and First Responders. Many of my friends are involved in these professions. I watched too many of our bravest pass away from professional health related issues. I wanted to help and see what we as a community could do to help alleviate the health issues related that their profession brings. My first introduction to this specialized field was a calendar that I wanted to do that involved Military, Law Enforcement and First Responders. We were full steam ahead…..then COVID hit. We were unable to finish the calendar due to lack of funding. I decided I wasn’t going to let a virus hinder my efforts so I organized my first beard competition in 2020. We raised just over $2500 for POP, the Prostate On-Site Project, which helped educate men on the importance of Prostate Exams. During that event, I was fortunate to meet up with Javier Rosa and Ray Bennett II with the Diving Devil Dogs of Arizona. I knew that this was the organization for me. I met with both of the men and asked if I could host an event for them. Being in the Bearding Community, I knew that this would be a unique event that Arizona didn’t have. We settled it and the AZ Desert Beard Battle was born! Since 2021, our group has helped raise almost $18,000 to help the Diving Devil Dogs of Arizona, which is an organization that provides services through scuba diving, overlanding and other nature specialized outings for veterans with PTSD and those who have overcome the demons of suicide. Our beard competition has since grown into one of the larger beard competitions on the West Coast and have since incorporated a Bike Show. We hope to double our efforts next year for the 1st Lt. Frank Jr. Museum and Research Center, a group that also helps Veterans with PTSD and those who have struggled with the demons of Suicide. The Diving Devil Dogs of Arizona and the Museum work hand in hand to help those who need our help! Our next Battle is Feb. 22, 2025 at Dillon’s Western Trails in Morristown, Arizona. We have two outstanding title sponsors that have joined our ranks this upcoming year. The Husband and Wife Law Team and Frontline Beard Co. I love bearding and I love charity. The combine the two is like being in Heaven!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always been a fan of the whiskers! Every man in my life has sported a beard at one point or another. Even my son has a mustache! I have followed the No Shave November for years and always wondered how I could help out. Then I learned of the Whiskerina! A whiskerina is a woman that creates her beard either from hair (Realistic) or craft materials (Craft). I fell in love with this! It was a way for me to connect, raise money, craft, and be around my favorite furry people! In 2020 I entered my first online beard comp out of Canada, where I took third place in the Craft Whiskerina category. I was hooked! I have since tried to compete in any competition that I could. My favorite part of being part of this bearding community is that I have met so many like-minded people. People who just want to do good and raise money for some much-needed organizations. I love the comradery it brings with a tad bit of competitive spirit to raise money. Since it is all fun, these events are just filled with an airiness of good spirits and happiness!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Our event is run completely off donations. If we don’t have the adequate funds to run a successful event, I put in personally. My main goal is to raise as much money as possible for the charity I am working with. We fundraise throughout the entire year, asking for donations, raffle prizes and trophies. Our main title trophies have been donated every year by a local Arizona artist, Susie Thompson. She is a 6th generation Arizonan and specializes in Western Art.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In order to run a successful event, I had to learn quickly to let go of complete control. I have huge goals for our event and with that comes allowing people into my circle that I can trust to help run the event. My only goal is to raise as much money as I can and in order to do that, the event needs to grow. With the size that we are now, I can’t do the whole event by myself. I have an excellent team that helps with all aspects of the Desert Beard Battle. We all work together to make sure that the beard and bike show is as successful as possible!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @azdesertbeardbattle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bsm9PLkXo/

Image Credits

Amber Kerr Photography
Black Sheep Fotography
Tyler Purrington Photography