Darryn Lyons is best known in Geelong as the mohawked mayor. His flamboyant style saw him win the mayoral vote in 2013, but three years later he was sacked, along with his fellow councillors, by the State Government following an inquiry into allegations of bulling and a toxic culture within the City of Greater Geelong.

He was born and raised in Geelong and worked for the Geelong Advertiser as a photographer before heading to England when he was 22. He built a career, and profile, as a paparazzi photographer and appeared in reality TV show Big Brother.