iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Our existing team will continue to lead their areas of responsibility, and Rene's role will make sure everything works together and that the IMBB competition has direct support.

040

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

IMLBB is proud to welcome Rene Hebert, International Mr. Leather 2025, as our Bootblack Program Manager, overseeing logistics across Open Shine, the Bootblack Mentorship Program, and the International Mr. Bootblack Competition (IMBB).

Rene Hebert, International Mr. Leather 2025, performing his final shine at the Spit Shine party at IMLBB 2026. Rene kneels at a wooden shine stand, polishing a black boot.

2130

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

For more details, additional FAQ's, and eligibility requirements, please visit the IMLBB website. We appreciate the feedback from the community, and we’re grateful for every one of you. www.imrl.com/iml-contesta...

imrl.com

IML Contestant Selection | Int'l Mr. Leather

As announced at our MAL press conference in January 2026, the International Mr. Leather contest will maintain a class of 50 contestants beginning with the 2027 contest.

010

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

If I don’t get picked in the lottery can I enter the following year? That’s up to your producer. You have 2 years to enter, but each producer can only send one contestant.

110

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Does a title holder receive anything if they are not selected? Yes, any applicant who is not selected will receive a free full run pass to come support, cheer, dance and play!

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Frequently Asked Questions Why don’t you pre-judge all applications to pick the 50 best? Each contestant has already won a title. We can assume those judges picked strong title holders to represent their communities.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

- The lotteries will be held publicly at Mid-Atlantic Leather in January.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

- All eligible applicants will be put into one of two contestant lotteries: one for 25 international spots and one for 25 US spots. - If there are fewer than 25 international applicants, they will all become IML contestants and additional contestant spaces will be added to the US lottery.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Guidelines - Applications will be open from December 1 to December 31. - Every application will be reviewed to ensure it meets the eligibility criteria for IML contestants. The eligibility criteria have not changed.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

As promised, below is our restructured process for selecting the International Mr. Leather contestant class. For clarity, this applies only to the IML contest. The IMBB application process remains unchanged.

162

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

And update from the executive team can be located here: bsky.app/profile/iml-...

031

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Thank you for your patience as we work with you to find the right balance between legacy and growth. Yours in leather and service, IMLBB Director Team

010

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We are working hard on ironing out some questions of scalability and execution, but we will have a new application process to announce by the end of the week.

110

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Fortunately, many of you provided useful insight and suggestions that we feel can structure an application system that will be balanced, fair, simple and equitable. (Between the f-bombs there was some really good advice. Thank you!) 😂

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Based on your feedback, we missed the mark completely, and for that we are truly sorry. And given that the responses were so passionate, we have decided to rework the approach from the ground up.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

In all honesty, our team truly believed that a data-driven, objective system was the most impartial way to ensure a contestant class size that would provide a unique, intimate and meaningful experience for every title holder.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Hi, all Last week we announced some changes at IMLBB that didn’t go over well. 🧵 👇️

130

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

As we start our preparations, we are looking forward to a great year. We'll see each of you in January for the annual IMLBB press conference where we'll announce the judges and our headlining events for the 2027 year. Thank you.

020

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

If you have any questions or think you would like to apply to volunteer to take a seat at the table where these decisions are made, please fill out the contact form on the website. www.internationalmrleather.com/iml-feeder-c...

internationalmrleather.com

IML Feeder Contests | Int'l Mr. Leather

As announced during our MAL Press Conference in January 2026, the International Mr. Leather contest will be limiting the class to 50 contestants beginning with the 2027 contest.

120

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Some of our staff are former title holders on the local contests and have competed for IML. A handful of them have become IML or IMBB because of the support from their local communities and title holders. This is not lost on us.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We know that the need to limit the number of contestants we can accept is a largely unwelcome change, particularly for title holders and contest producers. We understand. We live in these communities. We go to these bars and clubs.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Information on how contests were selected and how contestants will be chosen will be on the website. Applications will open at noon on Saturday, January 16th, during the IMLBB press conference at MAL.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The senior leadership of IMLBB will determine who receives each one of the open contestant slots.

110

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

For 2027, we will have up to five additional open contestant slots. If any of the titles that are pre-approved don't send a contestant, their spot will open up, leaving more room for titles that have not been pre-approved.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We welcome and encourage anyone who meets the IML competition criteria and wants to compete to apply, whether the title you hold is on the list or not. We know the contest landscape is changing, and that contests may take a break and come back, or new contests might start up.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Hey everyone, I'm Daddy Tony, the Senior Director of Contests for IMLBB. At the press conference this past January, we announced that we'd be reducing our class size to 50 IML contestants starting in 2027.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Beginning with the 2027 contest, International Mr. Leather will limit the class to 50 contestants. The pre-approved list of feeder contests is now posted at imrl.com/iml-feeder-contests. Senior Director of Contests Daddy Tony explains the decision in the video. Transcript 🧵👇️

2102

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Congratulations to Gabriel Mendez (TX, USA), winner of the IMLBB Art Showcase Director’s Award for ‘What Love’ (2026). The winner of the inaugural Director’s Award will have the opportunity to create and sell a limited edition poster for next year’s IMLBB weekend. #imlbbartshow

1223

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Congratulations to Dooney Potter (FL, USA), winner of the IMLBB Art Showcase Audience Choice Award for ‘Red Tape’ (2026). #imlbbartshow

1344

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Each year, flags for IML and IMBB are put on display for attendees and contestants to sign and be donated to the LA&M. This year, we present the FIRST IMLBB flag. And look at all the signatures of you wonderful leather folk that will be joining it. - Riku Social Media Manager

1200

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Empress Jessica Akanke turned wax play into an immersive art form, blending sensuality, trust, and performance into a demo the crowd won’t forget. Brianna Bunni - Social Media Team @BriannaBunnii

0153

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Your IMLBB Podium: International Mr. Bootblack 3rd - Pup Verde 2nd - Jimmy Basset 1st - Atlas Rose International Mr. Leather 3rd - Denzel Belin 2nd - Sgt. Alex 1st - Honey Davenport

3375

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Come meet the Chicago Hellfire Club at their social in the Florentine Room! Learn more about them, their events, And especially their kinky as fuck members!! - Riku Social Media Manager

0130

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Our APEX party is tonight at 10 PM in the Florentine Room in the Congress Plaza Hotel. DJ Alex Ramos will bring the beats and you bring the sweat. It’s going to be a night to remember!

090

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

From seasoned players to the curious, the energy at MAFIA’s Fist Club Rush was electric. Leather, sweat, and Chicago history collided in one packed room full of Leathermen ready to have a great time! A seductive celebration of community, inclusivity, and unapologetic kink.

0231

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

The POC Leather Caucus brought together Leather people of color from around the world for a community discussion on maximizing the leather, kink & fetish experience for BIPOC while creating positive impact. The knowledge, connection & shared experiences were truly inspiring.

1130

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Tonight we gather, celebrate, and make space for Leather women to be fully seen. Join IMSBB 2026 Astrid and IMSL 2026 Akasha for the Leather Woman Social at Nobody’s Darling. Community, connection, conversation, and Chicago energy all in one room. See you from 7PM–10PM. 🖤❤️

140

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Spicy Bootblacking presented by Tito Joey brought the heat from start to finish! Bound open and restrained, the bottom surrendered completely while the presenter, teased, taunted, and turned bootblacking into a seductive and informative performance of Leather and control.

150

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

We would like to thank our Silver Sponsors for IMLBB: Wolfstryker Leather - wolfstryker-leather.myshopify.com Cockeye Kink Custom Fetish Gear - cockeyekink.com Fetish Daddy - fetishdaddy.co.uk Check out their sites for more. Thank you for supporting IMLBB!

050

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Our contestants have given official IMLBB channels permission to capture media of them, so you'll always see plenty of great content from us too! Thanks for helping us keep this a kind and respectful space. Now go have an amazing, sexy time here at IMLBB! — Riku, Social Media

030

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Their comfort, well-being, and boundaries mean the world to us, and a little courtesy toward each other helps everyone feel free to be their full, fabulous selves.

130

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

As you do, let's all look out for each other and keep our community feeling safe and respected, especially our wonderful contestants. Out of respect for the privacy and consent of our contestants, we kindly ask that any personal video recordings stay under 10 seconds.

100

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

A quick PSA from your IMLBB Social Media team. IMLBB is a fantastic time for all, and we know many of you want to capture every fun, exciting, and sexy moment of it!

130

International Mr. Leather @iml-imbb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

“LeatherU: Intro to Electro” was absolutely buzzing today! I showed up early, and the room was already packed wall-to-wall with curious minds. Wow — what a class! Master J. Tebias Perry Director of Engagement

031