International Ms. Leather

Last updated
International Ms. Leather
International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack.jpg
IMsLBB logo (2024)
NicknameIMsL
StatusActive
Genre
Inaugurated1987 (1987)
Organised byIMsLBB LLC
Website www.imslbb.org

International Ms. Leather (IMsL) is an annual leather subculture fetish convention and competition, originally focused on women but now inclusive of all genders. Since 1999, [1] the convention has also included a Ms. Bootblack (IMsBB) contest. [2] [3]

Contents

After Ms. Leather events had been held in San Francisco since 1981, the first formal International Ms. Leather convention took place in 1987. [4] [5] The first International Ms. Leather was Judy Tallwing McCarthey. [6] [7]

In 1988, International Ms. Leather received the Large Club of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards. [8] In 2009, International Ms. Leather received the Chuck Renslow President's Award from the Leather Archives & Museum. [9] In 2009, 2013, and 2017, International Ms. Leather received the Large Event of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards, and in 2018 International Ms Leather Bootblack received that award. [8]

International Ms. Leather moved in 2014 from the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco to San Jose. [2]

The Leather Archives & Museum’s photos, videos, and oral histories chronicling International Ms. Leather (and International Mr. Leather) were featured in a 2015 documentary by Christina Court, titled High Shine: 15 Years of International Ms Bootblack. [10]

The International Ms Leather (IMsL) Foundation began its work in 2015. [11] The foundation’s website states, “We are committed to fostering healthy environments for Women to succeed in Leather and Kink spaces by providing education, programming, and financial support.” [12] In 2016 that foundation received the Nonprofit Organization of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards. [8]

International Ms. Leather has had a focus on community leadership from the start. [4] The contestants must meet objectives and deadlines set before the convention, and at the event are judged on costuming, speech, a fantasy performance, knowledge of the leather scene as demonstrated in a quiz and an interview, and also organizing skills as demonstrated in having two others set up an auction table for them at the convention. [13]

Producers of the event have included Audrey Joseph [14] and 1993's International Ms. Leather winner Amy Marie Meek (later Amy Meek-DeJarlais). [1] [15] "Amy Marie Meek – International Ms. Leather" received the International Deaf Leather Recognition Award in 2001. [16]

Judges have included Kitty Tsui. [17]

International Ms. Leather Winners

Year and contest locationIMsL winnerWinner's preliminary title or sponsorWinner's cityField of contestants
1987 - San Francisco, CA Judy Tallwing McCarthey Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Arizona 15 contestants
1988 - San Francisco, CAShann CarrSponsored by Portland Power and Trust Portland, Oregon 10 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
1989 - San Francisco, CASusie ShepherdMs. Portland Leatherwoman 1989Portland, Oregon11 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
1990 - San Francisco, CAGabrielle AntolovichMs. Southern California Leatherwoman 1989 Los Angeles, California 12 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
1991 - San Francisco, CAKay HallingerNorth Halsted Ms. Leather 1991 Bloomington, Indiana 12 contestants
1992 - San Francisco, CABlair KituhwaMs. San Francisco Leather 1992 San Francisco, California 10 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
1993 - San Francisco, CAAmy Marie MeekMs. Leather Nebraska 1992 Omaha, Nebraska 9 contestants
1994 - San Francisco, CAAnne C.S. Bergstedt, later known as Spencer Bergstedt (Resigned on September 13, 1994, giving the title to Cindy Bookout; Bergstedt’s resignation was not related to his being transgender) [7] Washington State Ms. Leather 1993 Seattle, Washington 11 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
Cindy BookoutMs. Oklahoma Leather 1993 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1995 - Chicago, ILPat BallieMs. LeatherMaster 1995 Phoenix, Arizona 19 contestants
1996 - Philadelphia, PAJill Carter (the first black International Ms. Leather) [18] TULSA (Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Assoc.) Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 20 contestants
1997 - San Diego, CAGenelle Moore (her brother Ron Moore had become the first black International Mr. Leather in 1984, and her win as International Ms. Leather in 1997 made them the first siblings to hold international leather titles.) [19] [20] Sponsored by the Female Leather Exchange (FLEX) Lincoln, Nebraska 11 contestants
1998 - Atlanta, GAMegan (DeJarlais) MartinMs. Baltimore Eagle 1993 Baltimore, Maryland 18 contestants
1999 - Las Vegas, NVPam MeyerMs. San Francisco Leather 1999San Francisco, California14 contestants
2000 - Toronto, CanadaJo BlasSponsored by Kim Wolf of Leatherwoman Productions San Diego, California 10 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
2001 - Dallas, TXJoni PerryMs. International Olympus Leather 2000 Springfield, Virginia 9 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
2002 - Omaha, NERuss CosgroveSponsored by 3SM Calgary, Alberta, Canada 6 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
2003 - Omaha, NETammie NelsonSponsored by Kendra McClain & the Great Lakes Leather Alliance Greenwood, Indiana 5 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada
2004 - Omaha, NELori EllisonSponsored by HPL Productions of Colorado Rio Rancho, New Mexico 5 contestants
2005 - Omaha, NEJessi Holman AhartMs. Baltimore Eagle 2005Baltimore, Maryland4 contestants
2006 - Omaha, NELady Faye FalconeerSponsored by Flesh and Fantasy & the Dallas Eagle Dallas, Texas 2 contestants
2007 - San Francisco, CALauren IdeSouthwest Ms. Leather 2006Phoenix, Arizona6 contestants
2008 - San Francisco, CAHobbitWashington State Ms. Leather 1996Seattle, Washington4 contestants
2009 - San Francisco, CALamalani SivertsWashington State Ms. Leather 2008Seattle, Washington3 contestants
2010 - San Francisco, CA Mollena Williams Ms. San Francisco Leather 2009San Francisco, California8 contestants
2011 - San Francisco, CASara Vibes New York, New York 4 contestants
2012 - San Francisco, CASynnMs. Texas Leather 2012Dallas, Texas?
2013 - San Francisco, CASarha ShaubachMs. Alaska Leather 2011/2012 Meadow Lakes, Alaska ?
2014 - San Jose, CAPattyMs. Leather Toronto 2014 Toronto, Ontario, Canada ?
2015 - San Jose, CASargeMs. San Diego Leather 2015San Diego, California9 contestants
2016 - San Jose, CALascivious JaneMs. Philadelphia Leather 2015 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 4 contestants
2017 - San Jose, CAGirl ComplexMs. Alameda County Leather 2016 Oakland, California 7 contestants
2018 - San Jose, CAGirl AngSponsored by Lucrezia and De Sade Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 6 contestants
2019 - San Jose, CAHaleyMs. San Francisco Leather 2018San Francisco, California2 contestants
2020Contest cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Virtual event held with no contest
2022
2023 - Piscataway, NJLiquid [21] Northeast Leatherperson 2020/2021New York, New York4 contestants
2024 - Piscataway, NJGoddess Indigo [21] Ms. Texas Leather 2023 Austin, Texas 2 contestants

International Ms. Bootblack Winners

YearIMsBB winnerWinner's preliminary title or sponsorWinner's cityField of contestants
1999Leslie AndersonAmerican Leatherwoman 1997 Bosque Farms, New Mexico 4 contestants
2000michael annSponsored by High Plains Leather Colorado Springs, Colorado 2 contestants
2001Charlie FlakeSponsored by The Denver Triangle Denver, Colorado 2 contestants
2002KariSponsored by Centaur Motorcycle Club Washington, D.C. 2 contestants
2003Slaveboi Eddie (Donna Moran)Sponsored by the Los Angeles boys of Leather & Bill Mitchell, American Leatherman 2003 Los Angeles, California 4 contestants
2004izzySponsored by the Great Lakes Leather Association Milwaukee, Wisconsin 3 contestants
2005SukaSponsored by Cellblock Chicago & the Lesbian Community Cancer Project Chicago, Illinois 1 contestant
2006Alex BettencourtSponsored by the Great Lakes Leather Alliance & Ramrod Medford, Massachusetts 2 contestants
2007Miss VSponsored by the San Francisco Boot Black Studio Alameda, California 4 contestants
2008QSouthEast LeatherFest Bootblack 2007 Atlanta, Georgia 2 contestants
2009PonyLeather Rose's House BootblackChicago, Illinois3 contestants
2010Jayson DaBoiMs. Rio Grande Leather 2010 Albuquerque, New Mexico 2 contestants
2011kd? Portland, Maine 4 contestants
2012TarnaBootblack Toronto 2012 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2 contestants
2013bellaGreat Lakes Bootblack 2012 Louisville, Kentucky ?
2014DaraOregon State Bootblack 2013 Portland, Oregon ?
2015slave tabithaSouthwest Bootblack 2009 Phoenix, Arizona 5 contestants
2016MeghanGreat Lakes Bootblack 2015Louisville, Kentucky3 contestants
2017ElisaGreat Lakes Bootblack 2016 Detroit, Michigan 6 contestants
2018TeaganSouthwest Bootblack 2017 Oakland, California 5 contestants
2019GretchenAlaska State Bootblack 2018 Anchorage, Alaska 3 contestants
2020Contest cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Virtual event held with no contest
2022
2023[vacant]N/AN/A1 contestant
2024SpankCake [21] S.A.K.E. (SoCal Asian Kink Events)Los Angeles, California4 contestants

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Baume, Matt (August 18, 2017). "Inside the Changing Leather Scene". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  2. 1 2 Horn, Tina (June 21, 2014). "Black Boots and Big Booties at the International Ms. Leather and International Ms. Bootblack Contest". VICE. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  3. ↑ Bannon, Race (April 24, 2019). "BARtab: Celebrating women - International Ms. Leather and Bootblack in San Jose". Bay Area Reporter.
  4. 1 2 Rubin, Gayle S. (1997). "Elegy for the Valley of Kings: AIDS and the Leather Community in San Francisco, 1981–1996". In Levine, Martin P.; Nardi, Peter M.; Gagnon, John H. (eds.). In Changing Times: Gay Men and Lesbians Encounter HIV/AIDS. Chicago: University of Chicago. p. 126. ISBN   9780226278568.
  5. ↑ Rubin, Gayle S. (1994). The Valley of the Kings: Leathermen in San Francisco, 1960–1990 (PhD dissertation). Vol. 2. University of Michigan. p. 419. OCLC   68797881.
  6. ↑ "Roll out the RED CARPET. Introducing Judy Tallwing McCarthey". August 15, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Lenius, Steve (August 10, 2001). "Leather Life: 15 Years of International Ms Leather".
  8. 1 2 3 🖉 "Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  9. ↑ "President's Award – Leather Archives & Museum".
  10. ↑ Creane, C. "The making of the Documentary, "High Shine: 15 Years of International Ms Bootblack" - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  11. ↑ "About". Mysite. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  12. ↑ "Home". Mysite. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  13. ↑ Bannon, Race (April 27, 2017). "Celebrating Leather Women". Bay Area Reporter– via Issuu.
  14. ↑ Lord Martine (November 30, 2001). "Ace of clubs puts her cards on the table". San Francisco Chronicle.
  15. ↑ Lenius, Steve (August 4, 2006). "Leather Life: International Ms Leather Celebrates 20 Years".
  16. ↑ "International Deaf Leather | AWARDS". July 4, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Kitty Tsui | Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community". apiqwtc.org. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "> Selection Committee - Leather Hall of Fame". www.leatherhalloffame.com.
  19. ↑ "Cuir Underground". www.black-rose.com.
  20. ↑ @leatherarchives (23 May 2020). "The winner of International Mr. Leather 1984, Ron Moore, is announced by Colt Thomas. Ron Moore was the first black…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. 1 2 3 "HOME | IMsLBB". September 18, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-09-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.