IMLBB in Chicago has wrapped for another year with Honey Davenport (yes, THAT Honey Davenport from RuPaul’s Drag Race) winning the title. Australian leather titleholders BB, Jacob, Liam and Luis did us proud, with Mr Australian Leather 2025 making the top 20.
It’s no small thing to pack up your leather, head overseas and compete on the world stage.
As the International Mr Leather Competition (IML) in Chicago ends for the year, we couldn’t be prouder of Team Australia, who represented our communities beautifully.
Leather Titleholders Laird Leatherman 2025, BB, Mr QLD Leather 2025, Jacob, Mr Australian Leather 2025, Liam, and Sydney Mr Leather, Luis Jay, joined 69 (yes 69) other competitors in a massive competition.
You can read our interview with Team Australia here.
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Good Luck at International Mr Leather, BB, Jacob, Liam & Luis
IML 2026 is the year of the hat
This year, Australia’s four titleholders made up the third-highest contingent from one country taking to the stage. Across the country this weekend, Aussies were watching via the IML livestreams as they compete on stage.
Held over the multi-day conference celebrating the leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM communities, it is pretty intense. Competitors are scored over three components: a private interview, a ‘Pecs and Personality’ round and the final stage presentation.
Judges then score the top contestants on leather image, presentation skills, and physical appearance, narrowing down to a Top 20 for the final, which includes a 90-second speech.
It’s a pretty intense undertaking by all involved, and all our national competitors were nervous as the competition loomed.
But it must be said that IML 2026 was the year of the hat.
From leather top hats and feathers, cowboy hats, a variety of military hats, and even Wizard of Oz Guard hats, it was a joyful sight.
Image: SuppliedAfter the Pecs and Personalities round, local communities joked that Mr Australian Leather Liam Clarke was the River Medway from Drag Race UK of the comp. The way he worked the stage gave everyone a huge grin.
Laird Leatherman 2025 BB couldn’t hold back his pride and joy on the stage as the crowd cheered him on. He took to the stage in a leather surrong beautifully harking back to his cultural heritage.
Mr Queensland Leather 2025, Jacob, gave the most joyous pig energy and was the shining light onstage that his community knows him to be.
Sydney Mr Leather 2025 brought his usual infectious charm with a look that was a nod to his medical career, and carried a piping bag full of cream ready to fill us up.
Image: SuppliedMr Australian Leather makes IML Top 20
Although only one member of Team Australia made it to the top 20, each competitor did their state and communities proud.
Liam Clarke, Mr Australian Leather 2025, made the top 20 and stepped onstage to make his 90-second speech.
“Hurt feelings, perceived slights, unnecessary negativity everywhere,” Liam said, “During my title year, I see it time and time again.”
“People whom I greatly admire, not standing together and just pushing each other away. These things seem so minor at first. They start as cracks, but those easily turn into fissures, and then those turn into chasms, and then the next thing you know, the whole community has been torn asunder by people holding on to petty resentments.”
“When I say this, I’m not talking about any of the big things, the things we should never, ever, ever tolerate, and should always call out, but these are dark times, and our communities are going to be the key to our strength, our resilience, and our survival.”
“So, right now, I call on everyone to do with me: breathe in, breathe out, and let something petty go. Choose to be kind, choose to be happy and choose to be positive, and just let it go. We will be stronger for it. Thank you.”
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Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 IMBB and IML
After an intense weekend, the bootblack and leather winners were announced.
Atlas Rose, Route 66 Bootblack 2025, won International Mr Bootblack 2026.
Jimmy Basset, Northeast Drummer Bootblack 2017, came first runner up, and Pup Verde, Texas Bootblack, came third.
Honey Davenport, Mr Palm Springs Leather 2026, won Mr International Leather 2026.
Sgt Alex, Mr Cincinnati Leather 2025, came second, and Denzel Belin, Mr Twin Cities Leather 2026, came third.
Source: Facebook/International Mr Leather‘I will remix the rhythms of our resilience’
When making his speech, Honey Davenport said, “Recently, I was told that I should read the room.”
“I was told that in a room perceived as one colour, I should only play one sound. It was a blunt reminder of the difference between inclusion and belonging.”
“You see, you can be invited to the party, but still be told your soul doesn’t fit the standard. As a DJ, my hands are on the pulse of this community.
“I know every bass line that moves us, every beat drop that cues us up for that perfect throbbing rhythm, but I don’t just cross-fade tracks; I bridge a divide.
“I’ve worn many hats, drag, it gave me a mirror to see myself, but leather gave me a road map to find my tribe.
“I carry the words of Dan Savage, ‘We buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night’. That dancing, that dancing wasn’t just a party, it was an act of defiance that proved that we, as a community, are still here.
“I will remix the rhythms of our resilience, and because you have given me a platform to set the tone, I will turn up the volume with you on every muted voice.
“I have read the room, and the only thing we all need to hear is that if we are united. There is still hope.”
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
So proud of the Australian team, fantastic effort by all. It was always going to be tough, titleholders from outside the US have only won 7 out of 45 IML editions.