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, the convention has also included a Ms. Bootblack (IMsBB) contest.
After Ms. Leather events had been held in San Francisco since 1981, the first formal International Ms. Leather convention took place in 1987. The first International Ms. Leather was Judy Tallwing McCarthey.
In 1988, International Ms. Leather received the Large Club of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards.🖉 In 2009, International Ms. Leather received the Chuck Renslow President's Award from the Leather Archives & Museum. 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.
International Ms. Leather moved in 2014 from the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco to San Jose.
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.
The International Ms Leather (IMsL) Foundation began its work in 2015. 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.” In 2016 that foundation received the Nonprofit Organization of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards.
International Ms. Leather has had a focus on community leadership from the start. 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.
Producers of the event have included Audrey Joseph and 1993's International Ms. Leather winner Amy Marie Meek (later Amy Meek-DeJarlais). "Amy Marie Meek – International Ms. Leather" received the International Deaf Leather Recognition Award in 2001.
Judges have included Kitty Tsui. __NOTOC__ International Ms. Leather Winners
As of 2026, 38 contestants representing three countries have won IMsL: the United States (35), Canada (2), and Australia (1).
Year and contest locationIMsL winnerWinner's preliminary title or sponsorWinner's cityField of contestants1987 - San Francisco, CAJudy Tallwing McCartheyPortland, Oregon15 contestants1988 - San Francisco, CAShann CarrSponsored by Portland Power and TrustPortland, Oregon10 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada1989 - San Francisco, CASusie ShepherdMs. Portland Leatherwoman 1989Portland, Oregon11 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada1990 - San Francisco, CAGabrielle AntolovichMs. Southern California Leatherwoman 1989Los Angeles, California12 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada1991 - San Francisco, CAKay HallingerNorth Halsted Ms. Leather 1991Bloomington, Indiana12 contestants1992 - San Francisco, CABlair KituhwaMs. San Francisco Leather 1992San Francisco, California10 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada1993 - San Francisco, CAAmy Marie MeekMs. Leather Nebraska 1992Omaha, Nebraska9 contestants 1994 - San Francisco, CA Anne C.S. Bergstedt (later known as Spencer Bergstedt) Washington State Ms. Leather 1993 Seattle, Washington 11 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada Cindy Bookout Ms. Oklahoma Leather 1993 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma1995 - Chicago, ILPat BaillieMs. LeatherMaster 1995Phoenix, Arizona19 contestants1996 - Philadelphia, PAJill Carter (first black winner)TULSA (Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Assoc.) Willow Grove, Pennsylvania20 contestants1997 - San Diego, CAGenelle MooreSponsored by the Female Leather Exchange (FLEX)Lincoln, Nebraska11 contestants1998 - Atlanta, GAMegan (DeJarlais) MartinMs. Baltimore Eagle 1993Baltimore, Maryland18 contestants1999 - Las Vegas, NVPam MeyerMs. San Francisco Leather 1999San Francisco, California14 contestants2000 - Toronto, CanadaJo BlasSponsored by Kim Wolf of Leatherwoman ProductionsSan Diego, California10 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada2001 - Dallas, TXJoni PerryMs. International Olympus Leather 2000Springfield, Virginia9 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada2002 - Omaha, NERuss CosgroveSponsored by 3SMCalgary, Alberta, Canada6 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada2003 - Omaha, NETammie NelsonSponsored by Kendra McClain & the Great Lakes Leather AllianceGreenwood, Indiana5 contestants, from the U.S. and Canada2004 - Omaha, NELori EllisonSponsored by HPL Productions of ColoradoRio Rancho, New Mexico5 contestants2005 - Omaha, NEJessi Holman AhartMs. Baltimore Eagle 2005Baltimore, Maryland4 contestants2006 - Omaha, NELady Faye FalconeerSponsored by Flesh and Fantasy & the Dallas EagleDallas, Texas2 contestants2007 - San Francisco, CALauren IdeSouthwest Ms. Leather 2006Phoenix, Arizona6 contestants2008 - San Francisco, CAHobbitWashington State Ms. Leather 1996Seattle, Washington4 contestants2009 - San Francisco, CALamalani SivertsWashington State Ms. Leather 2008Seattle, Washington3 contestants2010 - San Francisco, CAMollena WilliamsMs. San Francisco Leather 2009San Francisco, California8 contestants2011 - San Francisco, CASara VibesNew York, New York4 contestants2012 - San Francisco, CASynnMs. Texas Leather 2012Dallas, Texas?2013 - San Francisco, CASarha ShaubachMs. Alaska Leather 2011/2012Meadow Lakes, Alaska?2014 - San Jose, CAPattyMs. Leather Toronto 2014Toronto, Ontario, Canada?2015 - San Jose, CASargeMs. San Diego Leather 2015San Diego, California9 contestants2016 - San Jose, CALascivious JaneMs. Philadelphia Leather 2015Philadelphia, Pennsylvania4 contestants2017 - San Jose, CAGirl ComplexMs. Alameda County Leather 2016Oakland, California7 contestants2018 - San Jose, CAgirl angSponsored by Lucrezia and De SadeMelbourne, Victoria, Australia6 contestants2019 - San Jose, CAHaley AliceMs. San Francisco Leather 2018San Francisco, California2 contestants2020colspan="8" align="center" 2021rowspan=2 colspan="8" align="center" 20222023 - Piscataway, NJLiquidNortheast Leatherperson 2020/2021New York, New York4 contestants2024 - Piscataway, NJGoddess IndigoMs. Texas Leather 2023Austin, Texas2 contestants2025 - Piscataway, NJVelvet-StormMs. New Jersey Leather 2017, Leatherwoman of Color 2019Camden, New Jersey4 contestants2026 - Piscataway, NJAkasha EdenNortheast slave 2024New York, New York2 contestants
International Ms. Bootblack Winners
As of 2026, 23 contestants representing the United States (21), Canada (1), and the United Kingdom (1) have won IMsBB.
YearIMsBB winnerWinner's preliminary title or sponsorWinner's cityField of contestants1999Leslie AndersonAmerican Leatherwoman 1997Bosque Farms, New Mexico4 contestants2000michael annSponsored by High Plains LeatherColorado Springs, Colorado2 contestants2001Charlie FlakeSponsored by The Denver TriangleDenver, Colorado2 contestants2002KariSponsored by Centaur Motorcycle ClubWashington, D.C.2 contestants2003Slaveboi Eddie (Donna Moran)Sponsored by the Los Angeles boys of Leather & Bill Mitchell, American Leatherman 2003Los Angeles, California4 contestants2004izzySponsored by the Great Lakes Leather AssociationMilwaukee, Wisconsin3 contestants2005SukaSponsored by Cellblock Chicago & the Lesbian Community Cancer ProjectChicago, Illinois1 contestant2006Alex Sponsored by the Great Lakes Leather Alliance & RamrodMedford, Massachusetts2 contestants2007Miss VSponsored by the San Francisco Boot Black StudioAlameda, California4 contestants2008QSouthEast LeatherFest Bootblack 2007Atlanta, Georgia2 contestants2009PonyLeather Rose's House BootblackChicago, Illinois3 contestants2010Jayson DaBoiMs. Rio Grande Leather 2010Albuquerque, New Mexico2 contestants2011kd?Portland, Maine4 contestants2012TarnaBootblack Toronto 2012Toronto, Ontario, Canada2 contestants 2013bellaGreat Lakes Bootblack 2012Louisville, Kentucky?2014DaraOregon State Bootblack 2013Portland, Oregon?2015slave tabithaSouthwest Bootblack 2009Phoenix, Arizona5 contestants2016MeghanGreat Lakes Bootblack 2015Louisville, Kentucky3 contestants2017ElisaGreat Lakes Bootblack 2016Detroit, Michigan6 contestants2018Teagan RossSouthwest Bootblack 2017Oakland, California5 contestants2019Gretchen WellmanAlaska State Bootblack 2018Anchorage, Alaska3 contestants2020colspan="8" align="center" 2021rowspan=2 colspan="8" align="center" 20222023[vacant]N/AN/A1 contestant2024SpankCakeSponsored by S.A.K.E. (SoCal Asian Kink Events)Los Angeles, California4 contestants2025[vacant]N/AN/A1 contestant2026AstridBootblack Europe 2026London, England, United Kingdom2 contestants
See also Leather competitions International Mr. Leather
References
External links
Documentary "High Shine: 15 Years of International Ms Bootblack" (2015) by Christina K. Court