SELF Contests
Step forward, share your purpose, and represent the many communities that make SELF extraordinary.
Holding a title creates opportunities to lead, learn, and make an impact.
Geographic eligibility is not identical for every title. SELF produces two official Southeast regional feeders for the international contests hosted by South Plains Leatherfest:
SouthEast Master/slave Region
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
SouthEast Person of Leather Region
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Be a contestant, help shape your community, develop leadership skills, and make lifelong friendships. SELF provides a full support program, including guidance as you prepare to compete and practical resources for titleholders covering finances, energy, travel, and a successful title year.
Shared-state note: For International Master/slave, Kentucky may choose the Midwest or Southeast region, and Virginia may choose the Northeast or Southeast region. SELF’s other titles follow SELF’s current contestant rules and are not governed by these two South Plains regional maps.
In Their Own Words
Former contestants describe the challenge, growth, honesty, and community they found through competing at SELF.
Nefarious — Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2009
“I’ve been through two closed interviews. My SELF interview was very intense and they did ask some very direct, personal questions. Nervous would be a mild euphemism of how I was feeling. The closed doors allowed a level of transparency and honesty because I knew that whatever was said during that interview would stay in that room. The judges saw me, Michael/Nefarious, not a performance or presentation. The interviews are so the judges can get to know the person, not the persona.”
— Nefarious, Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2009
Optimus — Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2013
“Competing is both stressful and a ton of fun. I was fortunate to be in the competition with wonderful and energetic people. We were able to support each other and build a solid foundation for working well together over the next year and beyond.”
“The competition pushed us to show everyone attending who we really are and to be proud of it. I had heard people say competing for a title helped them learn things about themselves. Moving through the weekend at SELF still managed to teach me a few things, and I will forever be grateful.”
— Optimus, Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2013
Questions about competing?
Learn what the contest entails and send your questions through the contestant form.
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SouthEast Master/slave
Open to any contestant pairing regardless of gender, ability, race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle orientation. Contestants must live a Master/slave lifestyle according to their own definition. This education-focused title expects the pair to teach and reach local and national communities. The winners go on to compete for International Master/slave at South Plains Leatherfest in Dallas. Regional eligibility: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest
Open to all who self-identify as male, regardless of biological sex, gender expression, ability, race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle orientation. The winner may compete at International Mr. Leather or for another appropriate title. The titleholder chooses the purpose and focus of their year. Be you. Show us who you are.
SouthEast LeatherFest boy
Open to all who identify as boys, bois, or pups, regardless of biological sex, gender expression, ability, race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle orientation. The winner may compete at International Mr. Leather or for another appropriate title and chooses the purpose and focus of their title year. Be you. Show us who you are.
Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest
Open to all who self-identify as female, regardless of biological sex, gender expression, ability, race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle orientation. The winner may compete at International Ms. Leather or for another appropriate title and chooses the purpose and focus of their title year. Be you. Show us who you are.
SouthEast Bootblack
Open to any contestant, regardless of gender, ability, race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle orientation. The winner may compete at International Mr. Bootblack or International Ms. Bootblack and chooses the purpose and focus of their title year. Be you. Show us who you are.
SouthEast Person of Leather
Open to any contestant, regardless of gender, ability, race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle orientation. This title represents a leather lifestyle and honors the diversity within it. The winner competes at the International Person of Leather Contest at South Plains Leatherfest in Dallas. Regional eligibility: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.