Zsa Zsa, 'World's Ugliest Dog' From Minnesota, Dies

ANOKA, MN — Zsa Zsa, an English bulldog from Minnesota and the winner of the 30th annual "world's ugliest dog" contest died Monday night. The 9-year-old rescue from Anoka died in her sleep, according to the owners.

Zsa Zsa defeated 13 other dogs in the "ugliest" contest back in June. Her owners, Megan and Jesse Brainard, said she had been in a puppy mill for five years in Missouri.

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"From the moment we saw her beautiful face, we knew we would be her forever home. We are so excited for her, she deserves this," the owners said.

Zsa Zsa received a pink manicure before the contest, The New York Times reported, and donned a giant pink collar to win the judges' hearts.

"She was eating part of a Slim Jim on the table and just sneezed all over them and was drooling on them," Brainard told The Times.

Jo Ling Kent, an NBC News correspondent and contest judge, said it was no easy decision to crown the world's ugliest dog.

"It was huge responsibility and we are just so happy for Zsa Zsa," said Kent.

Daniel Hampton, Patch Staff, contributed to this report

Photo credit: Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds and Events Center