It’s competition time in South Africa’s Leathermen community as the international brotherhood gears up for the IML contest to be held in Chicago at the end of May this year.
Applications are invited from entrants nation-wide for the title “Mr SA Leatherman 2011” and with it the chance to compete for that of “IML 2011”. South Africa’s first bid for the international title was in 2010 when Jaco Lourens of Cape Town represented RSA in Chicago and achieved 4th place – the first non-American ever to have finished in the top 6.
SAleathermen (SALM), which is a country-wide organisation with 850 registered members, is a private, fraternal, membership-based organisation for gay and bisexual men interested in exploring and participating in the Leather lifestyle and has as its mission developing character and leadership in the spirit of brotherhood, community service, public education, charitable outreach, and social reform.
The competition is open to male South African citizens/permanent residents of all ages, races, and body types. Finalists will be selected from the completed application forms following a scheduled interview with a panel of SALM-approved judges; non-Western Cape residents will be interviewed by telephone or by webcam if available.
The finals for the SA title this year will be held in the Mother City on 26 March 2011 at Cape Town’s favourite gay meeting place, THE VENUE, Napier Street, de Waterkant followed by a post event party at the AMSTERDAM ACTION BAR a short stroll away. Mr SA Leatherman 2009, Jaco Lourens, will head up the panel of distinguished judges and entertainment on the night will be provided by DJ Mitzi, Piper James and that fabulous leather drag artist, OLIVIA. A small admission fee will be charged – the entire proceeds of which will go towards funding the trip of the Mr SA Leatherman 2011 to Chicago.
Finalists will be provided with a brief history of the Leather lifestyle and each contestant will be judged in three disciplines:
• LEATHER IDENTITY – Specifically, how the entrant presents himself as a Leatherman with confidence, with pride, and with personality;
• LEATHER Q&A; – How fast he can think in his boots, with humour and with personality in response to questions posed by the panel of judges; and
• LEATHER SPEECH – by describing what the Leather culture means to him and what his vision is for the Leather community.
Finalists from outside the Western Cape will be expected to provide their own transportation to the finals but every effort will be made to accommodate them during the competition. The winner of the SA title will receive a professional photo shoot some products, vouchers for weekends away, and the leather community in South Africa will assist with his costs of getting to IML in Chicago and of his stay for the duration of the contest covered.
Application forms and further information can be obtained from salm_ctc@gmail.com or eddy.chickenhawk@gmail.com or if you have any questions contact Jaco Lourens 076 08 55733… the deadline for completed forms is 1 March 2011.
