MIR contest

Last updated
MIR
Rubber Fetish Pride Flag.svg
Rubber Pride Flag
StatusActive
GenreRubber, Fetish, Kink
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s) Chicagoland
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1997 (1997)
Most recentOctober 17-20, 2024
Organised byMIR Contest, NPO
Website mirubber.com

MIR, formerly Mr. International Rubber, is a multi-day convention and contest celebrating the rubber, fetish, and kink communities. [1] Established in 1997, MIR occurs annually in Chicagoland during the autumn, drawing participants and attendees from all over the world. [2] Events include workshops, socials, dances, market, and the contest.

Contents

History

MIR started in 1997 hosted at the Boystown bar, Cell Block, and has been run every year since. [3] In 2009 MIR contest moved to the Center on Halsted to account for larger crowds. [4] In 2020 MIR 24 was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] MIR 27 in 2023 moved to a new location in Skokie, Illinois. [6]

At MIR 27 in 2023, organizers announced that the event would allow contestants of all genders to compete; [6] the contest winner may chose whichever honorific best represents them as MIR titleholder: Mr. International Rubber, Ms. International Rubber, Mx. International Rubber, or MIR International Rubber Ambassador. [7] To promote inclusion, organizers also changed the official name of the contest from "Mr. International Rubber" to gender-neutral "MIR." [7]

The Leather Archives & Museum holds many of MIR's records. [8]

Winners

As of July 2025, 27 contestants representing eight countries have won MIR: the United States (14), Canada (5), Germany (2), the Netherlands (2), France (1), Italy (1), Poland (1), and the United Kingdom (1).

Below is a table of MIR contest winners. [9] Winner's Country as used in the table refers to the winner's country of residence at the time they won the competition.

YearClassWinnerPreliminary Title / SponsorWinner's CountryRef.
2024MIR 28RushFlag of the United States.svg United States [10]
2023MIR 27AJ HuffM. San Francisco RubberFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2022MIR 26Pusckatt Pumera ONYXMr. Florida RubberFlag of the United States.svg United States [11] [12]
2021MIR 25ChicagoRubberFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2020MIR 24Contest was virtual and no MIR titleholder was selected. [11]
2019MIR 23Adalberto RubadamMr. Rubber NetherlandsFlag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands [11]
2018MIR 22Guillaume DupuisFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada [11]
2017MIR 21Michal NeighbourFlag of Poland.svg Poland [11]
2016MIR 20Preston "Wexx" SoMr. New England RubberFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2015MIR 19Jeffrey "Gummibärchen" BasileMr. Midwest RubberFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2014MIR 18Max SamauthMr. Rubber NetherlandsFlag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands [11]
2013MIR 17Andy "CosmicRoo" CoathamMr. Rubber TorontoFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada [11]
2012MIR 16Rubber JasonFlag of the United States.svg United States [13]
2011MIR 15Sly HandsMr. Rubber UKFlag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [11]
2010MIR 14G-ManMr. Southeast RubberFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2009MIR 13FennMr. Rubber TorontoFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada [11]
2008MIR 12Stephane DonaldsonMr. Rubber MontrealFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada [11]
2007MIR 11BJ TurgeonMr. Rubber MontrealFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada [11]
2006MIR 10Maurizo IaconeMr. Rubber ItalyFlag of Italy.svg Italy [11]
2005MIR 9Michael SchneiderFlag of Germany.svg Germany [11]
2004MIR 8Frank BugMr. Rubclub 2004Flag of Germany.svg Germany [11]
2003MIR 7Chris VincentFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2002MIR 6William "Rubberwilli" SchendelFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
2001MIR 5Yannick KerjoseFlag of France.svg France [11]
2000MIR 4Chad McLaughlinFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
1999MIR 3Tom KelleyFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
1998MIR 2Thomas SmithFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]
1997MIR 1Christoph LehnerFlag of the United States.svg United States [11]

References

  1. "Tips for Newbies". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  2. Lieberman, Hallie (2023-05-25). "'Fuck the Rules:' Rubberists are Starting Their Own Revolution". Vice. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  3. "Rubber lovers". Time Out Chicago. 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  4. "Mr. International Rubber 2010". Time Out Chicago. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  5. "MR INTERNATIONAL RUBBER PRESENTS: MIR24 - RUBBER LAB". Demasque Magazine. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  6. 1 2 "MIR's Intergalactic Rubber celebration soars to a suburb not too far way". Windy City Times. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  7. 1 2 "An Inclusive Contest - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  8. "Mr. International Rubber (MIR) Collection". Leather Archives & Museum . ORG-0015. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  9. "Titleholders - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  10. Stevens, Joseph (2024-10-20). "International Mr. Rubber goes to Skokie". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "Titleholders - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  12. "Mister International Rubber takes the stage at Center on Halsted, Riviera Theatre". Windy City Times . 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  13. "Jason "RubberJason" Lynch - In Memoriam". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.

See also