When we were first honored with the SouthEast LeatherFest Master/slave title in 2024, we entered this journey with open hearts, a commitment to service, and a deep respect for the traditions of our community. The experience has been transformative, stretching us in ways we couldn’t have imagined and drawing us closer together in our dynamic. From leading workshops to mentoring new faces and representing our region with pride, every moment has been a reminder of why we stepped into this space in the first place: to grow, to serve, and to carry the torch for those who came before us.

Being asked to continue our title journey into 2025 is an unexpected and deeply humbling honor. It tells us that our efforts have resonated, that our presence has mattered, and that we are being trusted with another year to continue building something meaningful. This is not a second chance—it is the next chapter. We accept this invitation with gratitude, knowing full well that this path is one of responsibility, visibility, and purpose. We are committed to holding this space with integrity and continuing to show up not just for ourselves, but for the entire Master/slave and Leather community that walks alongside us.

Our journey is far from over. There is still work to be done, stories to be told, and connections to nurture. In 2025, we aim to deepen our outreach, amplify the voices of those who are too often unheard, and finish the work we began—not with a sense of finality, but with the hope that we are contributing to something far larger than ourselves. Thank you, SELF, for believing in us. We carry this title forward with renewed passion, unwavering devotion, and a fierce love for the Leather path we walk together.

In early July, we traveled to Colorado Springs to attend the SouthWest Master/slave Conference, a powerful gathering that celebrates education, connection, and authenticity within our community. The event was not only enriching but deeply grounding, offering us the opportunity to learn, share, and grow among friends and chosen family who understand the dynamics of trust, communication, and leadership that define our lives. Surrounded by wisdom, laughter, and unity, we left the conference feeling both inspired and renewed.

However, our return home was met with unimaginable tragedy. On the very same day, an accident nearly claimed the lives of two beloved family members, shaking us to the core. During crisis, the outpouring of love and support from our community was nothing short of extraordinary. Friends stepped forward without hesitation, offering understanding, assistance, and compassion that allowed us the space to focus on healing and recovery. In a time when we needed to step back and take care of those closest to us, we were reminded just how strong and connected our community truly is, proving once again that family extends far beyond blood.

Holding a Master/slave title for a second year has brought a depth of meaning we could not have fully understood when we first stepped into this role. The honor remains profound, but the responsibility has grown heavier and more nuanced with time. Living this dynamic publicly while nurturing it privately requires constant communication, humility, and resilience. We have faced moments of doubt, fatigue, and the very real pressures that come from balancing title obligations with careers, family responsibilities, and the quiet work of maintaining our relationship. Through it all, we have been reminded that titles are not sustained by pageantry alone, but by consistency, accountability, and the willingness to grow—even when growth is uncomfortable.

We are deeply grateful to those who have supported us throughout this journey: our friends, our chosen family, and the community members who offered encouragement, honesty, and grace when we needed it most. In particular, we want to thank the staff of SouthEast LeatherFest, whose dedication, professionalism, and care create a space where titles, traditions, and people truly matter. Their behind-the-scenes labor often goes unseen, but it is felt in every moment of connection and belonging they foster. We cannot wait to see you all again in April, to reconnect, to celebrate, and to continue this path together with renewed purpose and gratitude.

✨🏰 Chasing the Magic – Our Journey to International Master/slave 🏰✨

As many of you know, we have begun preparing to run for the International Master/slave title… and oh my goodness, what a journey it already is. 💫

This season feels a little like stepping into our own enchanted storybook. Not because it’s fantasy but because it requires courage, heart, intention, and a whole lot of belief in something bigger than ourselves.

We’ve been deep in the castle library (okay… our dining room table 😂) drafting, rewriting, and polishing words that reflect our journey the triumphs, the mistakes, the lessons, and the growth. We want our speech to feel authentic and powerful… less “scripted royalty” and more real love story with battle scars and wisdom earned.

We’re refining how we present not just what we do but who we are. Leadership, service, rural outreach, building community… how do you capture years of devotion and growth in just a few minutes on stage? It feels a bit like preparing for the royal ball except instead of glass slippers, it’s vulnerability and integrity that have to fit perfectly.

And let’s talk about the wardrobe adventure! We are on a full Cinderella-meets-royal-court quest to find the perfect looks.
• Something that honors leather tradition 🖤
• Something that feels regal without losing authenticity 👑
• Maybe just a whisper of “Beauty and the Beast ballroom energy” 🕯️🌹
• A dash of “Prince & Princess walking into their destiny” magic ✨

No fairy godmother yet… but we are definitely searching for that “this is the one” moment when the outfit reflects the gravity and the dream of the title.

At the end of the day, this isn’t about crowns or applause. It’s about representation. It’s about bringing resources to smaller communities, sharing our lived experiences, and showing that leadership can come from rural spaces with big hearts.

Thank you to everyone cheering us on, offering feedback, listening to practice runs, and being part of our village. Every hero needs a fellowship. 🏰✨

The magic isn’t in the title.
The magic is in the journey.

As we step down after two unforgettable years representing SouthEast LeatherFest, we do so with hearts full of gratitude and pride. This journey has challenged us, shaped us, and reminded us daily of the responsibility and honor this title carries. To the staff and the Director, your dedication, trust, and tireless work behind the scenes made it possible for us to serve with integrity and purpose, thank you for believing in us and for creating a space where leadership and authenticity can thrive. To our supporters, friends, and chosen family across the community, your encouragement carried us through every high and low; you reminded us why this title matters. It has been our privilege to stand in this role, and as we pass it forward, we do so with deep respect for what comes next and enduring love for the family we have served.

July 19 - 21, 2024 TLC Stars and Stripes Run www.tarheelleatherclub.org
July 21, 2024 The Line Presentation Walk_TheLine_NC https://fetlife.com/users/17648668 
August 18, 2024 The Line Panel Discussion   
August 25, 2024 CASE Jolted But Not Broken
August 29, 2024 - September 2, 2024 Master/slave Conference
October 5, 2024 PRISM Alfred Pennyworth Style of Powerful Service Wilmington NC
October 12 - 13, 2024 Atlanta Pride
November 21 - 24, 2024 Coastal Carolina Fetish Fair Myrtle Beach SC
November 24, 2024 CASE Have You Ever Danced with Your Demons
December 7, 2024 The Chamber Kinston NC
January 12, 2025 MAsT Greenville SC Jolted But Not Broken
February 8, 2025 The Woodshed Orlando FL - Tenative

As we look back and reflect on our contestant journey for SELF 2024 we are reminded of our
growth as Master and slave. Winning the Southeast Master/slave title is a culmination of many
years starting in 2006 when we first met at a coffee shop in Jacksonville NC after chatting online on Bondage.com for several months. Neither of us is from large cities nor areas, we live in a small community where many know very little about leather.

Winning the Southeast Master/slave title was amazing, exhilarating, and very humbling with a sprinkle of “Oh Shit We did it, now what do we do.? We have now spent the last couple of weeks formulating our plan to represent the Southeast as best we can.

One thing we look forward to doing in our title year is working on shining a light on the smaller rural communities like where we live, they are often not known in the larger community, they lack the same resources as larger communities, and many may not even know that events such
as self is something they can do. How can we help those in smaller communities have the needed access to larger events and how do we help them utilize those larger events to help them on their journey? In doing this we also want to continue to spread the word on SAFEINENC and help communities establish their safe call network. We also want to continue to share our passion for advocating for the needed mental healthcare in our community to include those who are veterans.
We know all of this sounds like a lot but all of this is a huge passion of ours and something we want to share with others.

All that we are and all that we plan to do in our title year would not be possible without the
support of many, and the opportunity that SELF has afforded us. So...First, we would like to
thank Southeast Leather Fest and Lady Catherine Gross, the board, staff, volunteers, and all
the sponsors, you gave your heart and tens of thousands of hours to create an amazing event
and contest year after year. We are so grateful for everything you do for the community.

We also want to say thank you and give a loud shout-out to Ms. Bettie for being our handler
before, during, and after the event! You always have kept a cool, collected composure, and
during SELF 2024 you were a beacon of light which was needed in unexpected ways. Thank
you to the Emcee Dave Hudson who provided all the constants with support and love, plus
some great comic relief which is always needed.

Thank you to the Den Mafia, we have no idea how any of us would have made it through this contest without you! You all were on point, and there for any of our needs, the Den Mafia is such an invaluable part of this experience, and we cannot thank you enough.

With the support and encouragement of the local Jacksonville NC community, we put our best foot forward and ran for the 2024 M/s title. Thank you to our amazing local community for all the support you have given us.

To our family both biological and chosen you are the best family we could ask for. To our adult
biological children, you were supporting and encouraging as we embarked on this journey of
running for the M/s Title. We love you! Our Chosen Family consisting of, Master Roy and ABJ
who took us under your wing many years ago, provided mentorship which has been a huge part of our growth. There are no words that can express how grateful we are. We love you! Poe, Master Chris, and slave dana, you are the best chosen family anyone could ask for.

To the judges Oracle Uncle J Onyx, Mark Athens, Tomo Tomo, Joy Perez, Miss Meesch, and Evie Lupine. We cannot say enough about the wisdom you shared, and we look forward to seeing all of you again soon!

A HUGE Thank you to everyone who has helped us get to this point as well as those who will continue to help us on this next journey.

It has been a crazy few months, We have been busy in our local community in helping provide a safe and inclusive space for people to socialize and play. The difference between now and what we did before is we bring not only the title back but loads of information on the amazing learning and experiences one can have at SouthEast LeatherFest so more people can experience SELF. We were able to spend time and be a part of Tarheel Leather Run, which was amazing experience showing us the continued love, support and sense of family that we have come to know in the Southeast Region. We have also had great times attending and teaching for newer organizations such as CASE and PRISM, where we shared elements of our relationship that have helped on our Journey. Being Master Aaron is quite the comic book geek we were even able to show how we have used fictional characters and roles such as that of Alfred Pennyworth to expand how people view service from both the Master and slave perspective. We also have been using our title and the ability it gives us to attend groups, socials, munches and events that we have never attended which in turn allows us to not only share with others the speed bump we have tackled in our M/s dynamic but also the rewards and successes. It has also allowed us the opportunity to talk more about the importance of supporting those living with PTSD with additional emphasis on first responders and veterans.

As we are always spreading the word about the importance of safe calls and utilizing organizations such as SAFEINENC if you need a safe call, we also partnered with SAFEINENC to do a fundraising campaign for those recently affected by Hurricane Helen.

Coming up we are VERY excited to be heading to Atlanta Pride this coming weekend. We are also heading to CAPEX the end of the month, Coastal Carolina Fetish Fair in November where we will also be teaching and hosting a formal dinner. Closer to home we will be presenting online for CASE and heading right up the road to Kinston NC to present for The Chamber.

It always seems to us that time passes faster than we would prefer, and, in a blur, moments tend to shape and steer the course of our journey. When we last shared what has been keeping us busy, we were headed to Atlanta Pride.

We hopped a flight to Atlanta and every step we took from arriving at the airport was seemingly filled with visions of support from the communities of Atlanta. Those walking through, either rushing to a flight elsewhere or arriving, showing their Pride and/or support, whether by the clothes they choose to wear or other manners of icon, stickers on suitcases or luggage bands to help hold in the contents. We were awe struck more than a few times, as coming from a small military town, we have not had the pleasure of witnessing such unwavering advocacy.

Walking around Midtown, passing posters in windows, flags hanging high from the side of buildings. Heading to the park to walk around, seeing the performances on stage, vendors handing out free swag and selling goods. We were very thankful for being allowed to march in the Parade, carrying the banner for SouthEast LeatherFest, even though the route was miles long, it passed much too quickly. I remember going to other parades for various holidays and the only time I saw people smiling was when there was candy being tossed out or various characters in costumes come by to shake hands. This was something totally different, while walking down the many streets, trying to keep in a decent pace with the rest of the floats and groups, people in the crowds were coming up to us, giving hugs and fist bumps, asking to grab a picture with them and the never-ending echo of “Happy Pride” that seemed to follow us all.

We also attended Charlotte Area Power EXchange (CAPEX) for their yearly Halloween Extravaganza. Who we really want to thank for the invitation to an amazing party and demonstration. The laughter and comradery were everything we had heard it was and more. We look forward to the next time we can get away to attend another event!

The week before Thanksgiving, we headed to Mrytle Beach to attend Coast Carolina Fetish Fair. We have been fortunate to be asked to present for them since the very first year and every year, not only do they grow larger in attendance, but in presenters and classes. This year was the 9th year and although November at Myrtle Beach tends to be a little cold for a swim in the ocean, it was a relaxing time.

These were all amazing times for us, which led to the beginning of the holidays. We were even blessed to be called by our son, who let us know that our grandson decided to arrive a few days earlier than anticipated.

We are also grateful to Lady Catherine, the staff of SouthEast LeatherFest, the contest judges, our title family and title parents for such amazing support and advice as we navigate our title run. We were nervous with the idea of trying to balance our duties as title holders for the SouthEast and our responsibilities to our family during the end of the year, holidays and unfortunate drama that tends to appear. It certainly makes having a chosen family much more important, knowing that you can reach out and bounce ideas, ask for help, vent when the weight of things appear to be a little too much. The same feeling of family that we get while attending SELF, carries throughout and we cannot wait to return in June just for the opportunity to see all of our chosen family in one place again.

The holidays came so quickly, and we were gifted with the chance to finally meet the youngest born into the family. Gifts exchanged and the nights passing, the new year upon us and gone before one could realize it.
We took time after the holidays to recollect our energy from all the running around the previous months. Some of which was forced upon us and although necessary, was tough to accept. We look forward to being able to resume our travels and presentations.

We feel as though we cannot thank everyone enough for the amazing amount of support and guidance, we have received from all over the world. The experiences shared with us, the lessons learned by those who unfortunately had the same situation forced upon them and how they were able to come out on the other side, wiser and stronger because they did not give up.

The one common thread, extending from one to another as if forged in the fires of heartache and the softest of silk, you cannot solve the world’s problems, and you certainly cannot save them all.

Be available for yourself to rejuvenate your soul and know that there is a community that has been there and will help you through it.

As they say, March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. For us our work/family life has definitely been the lion, and we have been able to find the calm within our community. We have been working hard to share the wonders of Southeast Leatherfest with many who have no clue the big wide world of leather even existed. We have found some amazing groups and organizations that had not been on our radar and have worked with their leaders to bring education on M/s and kink. In doing so we have met many who we feel may be SELF virgins this year.

We are frequently asked by others that are considering running for a title, “Would you do it all over again?” and every answer we have given is a resounding YES. Always be true to yourself, even in the face of adversity. Run for the title of your choosing. Hold yourself and others accountable for the actions that affect others. We have also Learned through our title year experience, that there will be others, some you have never met, standing by you, raising you up with their voices in support of the work you do, which is amazing to witness.

As we head into the home stretch of our title year, we have quite a busy schedule coming up and are looking forward to SELF 2025!

 Embracing Growth and Gratitude: Reflections on Holding the SouthEast LeatherFest Master/slave Title

To the friends, allies, and members of the SouthEast LeatherFest community, I am profoundly moved as I reflect on the journey of holding the SouthEast LeatherFest Master/slave title. This path, while rich with triumphs and moments of connection, was not without its challenges. Yet, these very challenges became the crucible through which we grew, learned, and evolved, not just as titleholders but as individuals committed to the values of integrity, service, and authenticity that this community holds dear.

When we first embarked on this journey, we were filled with anticipation and a sense of purpose. Yet, as is often the case, the reality of wearing this title brought trials we could never have foreseen. It required us to navigate the pressures of public representation, the vulnerability of sharing our dynamic with the world, and the constant balancing act between personal growth and communal responsibility. Each challenge tested our resolve but, more importantly, deepened our understanding of what it means to serve and to lead within this extraordinary community.

One of the most difficult moments in our journey came when our aspirations of running for the International Title were unexpectedly cut short. This was a poignant reminder that goals may shift, and paths may diverge, but the spirit of service remains steadfast. In that moment of disappointment, we made a vow, a solemn promise to redirect our energy and focus outward, to support and uplift others in their journeys, just as we had been supported along ours.

And so, we turned our gaze toward the community, seeking ways to contribute, to inspire, and to nurture the sense of connection that lies at the heart of SouthEast LeatherFest. It has been a humbling and rewarding experience to channel our passion into fostering growth in others, to encourage new voices to rise, and to witness the vibrancy and strength of this ever-evolving family.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and dedication of the SouthEast LeatherFest Board, Staff, and Volunteers. To each of you, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your tireless efforts behind the scenes, your commitment to creating a space where people can explore, learn, and grow, and your belief in the power of this community have been a beacon of inspiration. Thank you for building and maintaining the foundation upon which we have all stood.

As we move forward, we carry with us not only the lessons learned but also the profound joy of having been part of something greater than ourselves. This title was never merely a designation; it was, and continues to be, a call to action, a challenge to embody the principles of respect, education, and support that define who we are as a community.

To those who may follow in our footsteps, know this: the journey is not easy, but it is worth every moment. The challenges you face will shape you; the community you serve will uplift you; and the person you become through it all will surprise you in ways you cannot yet imagine.

Thank you, SouthEast LeatherFest, for the opportunity to grow, the chance to serve, and the privilege of standing among you. Together, we are stronger, more resilient, and more connected than ever.

Thank you.

July 18-20 2025 Tarheel Leather Club Stars and Stripes Run https://www.tarheelleatherclub.org
July 31-Aug 3 2025 Keystone Leather Contest https://www.keystoneleathercontest.com

Hey family,
Here we are again. I’m so excited to be writing my first column of my second title year. Normally this is where you would hear about all the excitement that was running for the title, but for me, this is where I want to talk about what SELF was like for me this year. In a word, BUSY! Really, there is never a year for me that isn’t busy, but this year was jam packed. Between outgoing titleholder business, incoming titleholder fundraising, and my new position on the Workshop Caretaker Coordinator team, I was definitely on the move. And I couldn’t have been happier, I love what I get to do for this title and for this event. SELF is my home and there is nothing like getting to spend 96 hours giving everything you have to your home and your family. So I want to say thank you to everyone who made sure I was okay, made sure I had food and water, bought raffle tickets from me and the other contestants, bid on our auction baskets, and in general did everything they could to support me. I would be nowhere without each and every one of you.

Personally, I want to thank the amazing Producer, board, staff, and all the volunteers of SELF for making this event what it is year after year after year. I’m pleased to have joined the staff and that I am getting a chance to give back to all those who have given so much to me. Thank you to the Presenters, Hosts, and vendors for everything you gave to the weekend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Echo, Doc Latto, Chris, and Myla for being such an amazing team and being willing to step in and cover me when I needed to step away to do titleholder things. Thank you to my boy, my UC family, and my partners at home for being the rocks I can stand firm upon. I hope every attendee had an amazing experience this weekend.

To my amazing 2024 siblings who stepped down: Keriis and Master Sabrina Hypnotica, I love you both and I cannot wait to see where you go from here. I was honored to walk beside you both for our title year. Thank you. To the phenomenal 2025 contestant class, win or not, you all left every bit of yourselves on that stage and were an inspiration to watch. And to my 2025 title family, Dakota, Terrell, girl Bettie, babyglaze, and Master Aaron and slave Jennie, I cannot wait to see where we go this year. I hope to be the man that you can all rely on and look to as a sash daddy, husband, and friend. Let’s keep this fire burning!

Whew, that’s a lot of thank you’s but I am overflowing with gratitude for the multitude of blessings heaped on me because one day 18 years ago, I had the guts to walk in the door of this amazing event and family. SELF and Lady Catherine have truly changed my life and helped me become the man I am today and the man I will be going forward. If you haven’t been before, if you’re scared to walk through the doors, if you’re just unsure, come find me, I will gladly walk through that door with you and usher you into the most amazing event in the world!

Coming up for me is the Tarheel Leather Club Stars and Stripes run in July and then Keystone Leather Contest at the end of July/beginning of August. And during the next few months I will be looking at adding to my calendar so if you are looking for someone to come teach at your event/or for your local group, please reach out. I can’t wait to meet more of you. On a personal note, I am going to be working on some essays this year describing my life, my journey, and my experiences running for and holding titles through this changing world. If you want to be among the first to read these essays, please reach out to me at 2024mrself@gmail.com. I am looking for people to give me feedback and critiques. This is my passion project and it’s time to make it happen.

I am looking forward to seeing where this year takes me and can’t wait to see old friends and meet new ones. Until next time, love each other hard.

In Leather,
Sir Andrew
Mr. SELF 2024 & 2025

Greetings friends and family,

Man, what a summer and early fall it has been! I started out the year with some serious car troubles that kept me from traveling much in the first part of my title year. But life keeps on lifeing, and we must roll with it.

With my car back on the road, the first stop for me was the Tarheel Leather Club Stars and Stripes Run. This was our first year back to a full hotel run, and holy cow did we have a wonderful time. SELF Titleholders held our own cocktail party, and it went fantastically. We even won best cocktail party of the run. We also had almost the whole family together for the weekend. It was so much fun.

Then, I was on the road to MsC for the first time. I was blessed to be there in time to see two dear friends get their covers. I was able to spend Saturday seeing friends I had not seen in ages and promoting SELF every chance I got. I spent a good bit of time exploring the Carter Johnson Library and it was really nice to get my hands on some history. I look forward to going back to MsC again in the future.

I finished this portion of the year with a trip to Knoxville, Tenn. My boy and I taught some erotic bootblacking on Saturday night to a large crowd that was very engaged. There were some great discussions, and we were able to share some of our favorite stories about bootblacking over the last 20 years. On Sunday, I led a discussion on Poly relationships and the highs and lows that come with them. It was a smaller, more intimate group and everyone seemed to get a lot out of it. As an educator, my favorite moments are looking out at a class and seeing the “ah-ha” moments. We finished the weekend by spending an afternoon in Pigeon Forge and just enjoying each other’s company.

I am looking forward to the rest of the fall and beginning of winter. I have some exciting events coming up and some really fun road trips with great friends. Until then, I am just going to try to keep my car running well and keep being the same masterpiece I have always been. I love you all and I am wishing the absolute best for every one of you.

In Leather and love,
Sir Andrew
Mr. SELF 2024-25

As the year winds down, I want to wish everyone a warm and heartfelt happy holidays. This season always feels like a collective pause—a chance to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. Whether you're celebrating with family, friends, or enjoying some well-earned quiet time, I hope the days ahead bring you comfort, laughter, and a sense of gratitude for all that this year has held.

I'm heading into the holidays with fresh energy after a memorable teaching trip to Mississippi. Between lively classes, thoughtful conversations, and the amazing hospitality I was shown by both LBT and MasT l: Biloxi as well as my host Domina Alluria, the experience was both inspiring and a lot of fun. It's always rewarding to step into a new place, learn from the people there, and be reminded of why teaching and learning remain such powerful shared experiences.

Looking ahead, I'm already excited for what spring has in store. The CLAWS run, South Plains, and SELF are just around the corner, and the momentum is building. For now, though, I hope you enjoy the holidays, recharge over the winter months, and step into the new year ready for an exciting season ahead.

Dealing with illness and bad weather can truly be a challenge, especially when both seem to strike at the same time. It’s frustrating when plans, trips, and commitments that you’ve looked forward to for weeks suddenly have to be rearranged or canceled. Being under the weather while the literal weather outside is just as uncooperative is never ideal, and it’s a reminder that even when we try our best to stay strong and prepared, sometimes nature — whether it’s our own bodies or the skies above — has other ideas.

I want to sincerely apologize to everyone who was looking forward to seeing me at recent events that had to be canceled or postponed due to illness and weather complications. I never take these cancellations lightly; I value every chance to connect with our amazing community in person. Thank you all for your patience, understanding, and continued support as I take the time to get back to full strength. Your messages and kindness have meant the world to me, and I’m eager to make it up to you.

That said, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be seeing everyone soon at South Plains Leatherfest in Dallas! I can’t wait to be there in person to support my incredible title siblings who are running for international contests and to cheer on every person taking the stage. The energy, passion, and heart of our community always shine so bright at South Plains, and I’m honored to stand alongside all of you as we celebrate excellence, authenticity, and leather family. Best of luck to every contestant—your courage inspires us all.

As I enter my last two months as Mr. SELF, I’m feeling all the emotions that come with approaching the end of such a meaningful journey. It’s truly bittersweet to see this title year winding down, but I’m filled with pride for what we’ve accomplished together. The memories, connections, and growth have been incredible, and there’s still more to come! I hope you’ll join us for SELF, April 9-12, 2026, in Atlanta, GA. Let’s make it a celebration worthy of everything our community stands for — unity, love, and leather.

Mr SELF Final Column

For the past two years, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as a titleholder for SELF. What began as an exciting opportunity quickly became a deeply meaningful journey—one filled with growth, service, laughter, and connection. Representing this community has never felt like an obligation; it has felt like a privilege every single day. The experiences, conversations, and moments I have shared while holding this title will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the staff, producers, and volunteers who make SELF possible. Events like this don’t simply happen—they are built through countless hours of planning, organizing, problem-solving, and dedication behind the scenes. The passion and commitment that each of you brings to this community is inspiring. Thank you for trusting me to represent the work you all put so much heart into.

I also want to thank this incredible community. The love, encouragement, and support I have received throughout my time as a titleholder has meant more than I can fully express. This community is vibrant, welcoming, and deeply passionate about lifting each other up. Being able to represent people who care so deeply about one another has been both humbling and empowering.

Holding a title also requires time and commitment, and I would not have been able to do this without the unwavering support of my partners. Thank you for standing beside me through the long hours, the travel, the events, and the many moments when my responsibilities pulled me away from home. Your patience, encouragement, and belief in me made it possible for me to show up and serve this community fully.

Over the past two years, I have learned more than I ever expected—from leadership and communication to humility and listening. I have learned how powerful service can be when it comes from a genuine place of care. I have learned that community grows stronger when people step forward and give their time and energy to something larger than themselves. Most importantly, I have learned how much impact one person can have simply by showing up with sincerity and heart.

To anyone who has ever considered applying to hold a title at SELF, I encourage you to take that step. It is an experience that will challenge you, inspire you, and reward you in ways you may not anticipate. Serving as a titleholder allows you to give back to a community that gives so much to all of us. It has been an incredible journey, and I hope many others will choose to experience it as well. Thank you and good night.

July 12 - 14, 2024 Leather Weekend at The Red Chair
July 19 - 21,  2024 TLC Stars and Stripes Run www.tarheelleatherclub.org
Oct 5 - 6, 2024 PALS 2024 Annual Ample Samples
Nov 8-9 2024 Leather History Preservation Weekend
Nov 16 2024 Citadel of Kink Social Stafford Virginia
Dec 5-6 2024 Florida Power Exchange www.floridapowerexchange.com
Dec 7, 2024 Casa de la Unicorn Social Event
Feb 14-16 2025 Western Canada Bootblack Contest Calgary Alberta CA
March 8 2025 SMART Educational Presentation Biloxi MS
March 9 2025 MasT: Biloxi Educational Presentation Biloxi MS
March 20-23 2025 South Plains LeatherFest www.southplainsleatherfest.com
April 5-6, 2025 Knoxville Tenn
May 15-18 2025 Frolicon www.frolicon.com

Wow what a couple of weeks it has been?! I am so excited to be writing my first column! This is my favorite part of being a SELF Titleholder. I relish the opportunity to share this journey with all of you.

Making the decision to run for Mr. SELF 2024 was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. To do this, I knew I would have to give up something I love more than anything, being part of the SELF Den Mafia. I talked with my family, my friends, and my SELF family, and the decision was that I had something I needed to say, and it was important to get it out there. From the moment I made the decision to run, it was never about winning, it was that there was someone out there who needed to hear what I had to say. I wanted to speak to that person, whoever they were. To do that, I knew I was going to need to open myself up and leave every vulnerable piece of me on that stage. I feel like I did that. I spoke to that person who needed to hear me.

Hearing my name called Saturday night was a moment that will live with me forever. I felt heard and seen in ways I could never express. I learned that it’s okay to be exactly who I am in exactly the space I need to be in. I struggled in the weeks leading up to the contest with the fact that I knew I was going to change my name. There was a lot of worry over how my family and friends were going to react. See, this was my fourth name change during this journey of self-discovery. I expected there to be some kind of negative reaction, instead what you gave me was acceptance and love poured out to me as I made my way offstage with tears in my eyes. I can never adequately express what that meant to me. I love you all will have to suffice for now.

There are so many people I need to thank. First, I want to thank the SELF Board, Staff, Volunteers, and Sponsors. Without each and every one of you, there is no way we would have the home we have. Thank you to the whole contestant class of 2024, the way we bonded was beautiful. Thank you to the Den Mafia, you did a fantastic job in a very demanding role. Thank you to this years judging panel, you gave of your time and energy in such amazing ways. Thank you to everyone who donated to my auction baskets, bought raffle tickets, and in varied other ways supported our titleholder travel fund. You all really came through for all of us in huge ways.

Thank you to my leather siblings, Tarheel Leather Club, and my Unsupervised Chaos family. Without your full-throated and enthusiastic support this would never have happened. To my polycule, thank you for being willing to walk through this with me, for listening to my speech a thousand times until you knew it as well or better than I did. Finally, thank you to my friends and family from every part of this country who helped in so many ways, from countless rewrites to the most intense interview prep imaginable. Without every single person listed above I wouldn’t be writing this today.

I began my appearances the Saturday after SELF with a trip to Pride Winston Salem. Up next is Leather Weekend with The Red Chair and then the Tarheel Leather Club Stars and Stripes run this month. It’s gonna be a fun hot July!
Accept yourself, wherever you are is where you’re meant to be! Can’t wait to see you all on the road!
In Leather and Love,
Sir Andrew
Mr. SELF 2024

Oct 2024

It has absolutely been and eye-opening and amazing three months since my last column. There have been surprises that rendered me speechless, there have been disappointments that left me in tears, and there has been joy that has left me breathless with laughter. Every day of this year so far has brought me closer and closer to who and what I am becoming. I taught classes where my audience taught me every bit as much as I taught them. I met so many new people hanging out on the smoking decks. I have made plans for events I’m super excited for, please look at my Calendar of Events and see where I’m going to be this year!

July started with a Leather Weekend for The Red Chair in Birmingham, Alabama. Together with my boy, I taught Erotic Bootblacking and Spanking 101, 2 of my very favorite classes. We were also asked to sit on a panel about Leather history, journeys, and myths. There was so much laughter and fun had as we showed that it’s okay to be silly sometimes. I am extremely grateful to have been hosted by TRC and my Alabama family.

From there I moved directly into the chaos that comes with being the Run Master for my Leather Club, The Tarheels. It was a great weekend and it led to my favorite picture of my title year so far. Imagine your oh so serious, scary Mr. SELF standing there in his cover and title sash while wearing a Yoda onesie, holding an inflatable lightsaber. Seeing that image in your head? Yes, it was that funny. Representing SELF and the title in my home bar was so meaningful.

I took some time off in August to enjoy my birthday month and spend time with some family. There is nothing more important during a title year than knowing when to take a break. If I could give one piece of advice to current and future titleholders, that would be it. Recognize when you need to take a little time off to recharge. There were moments where I was really struggling with imposter syndrome. I was asked to do an important thing next year and it took me a while to understand that I was worthy of it. No matter where you are on your journey, we all wonder from time to time if we belong or if we’re on the right path. I still struggle, but I’m feeling more confident.

I spent the first weekend of October in Pensacola, Florida for PALS Ample Samples. I had such a fun time! Everyone welcomed me with open arms. This was my first event in Florida in years, and the hospitality was flawless. So many new friends, so many laughs, and a scene that was so much fun I giggled through the whole thing. Then before flying out, the SELF bootblack and his Ma’am took me to stick my feet in the Gulf of Mexico and I got to play in the water! Plus, I saw jellyfish on the beach that were so neat, LOL.

Coming up the rest of this year, I will be in Atlanta for Leather History Preservation Weekend in November. In December I will be headed back to Florida for two events: Florida Power Exchange and Casa De La Unicorns Decadent December Social. I am so looking forward to the things I have coming, and I have no doubt that they will be as amazing as the times past. Talk to y’all again in a couple of months! Love yourself where you are. Accept the changes you see in yourself and in others! And don’t forget to take a look at the contestant application and consider running next year, we want to see you on our stage!

Whew! What a fall! I had so much fun getting out there and getting to know so many new people. I spent a few weekends in Florida teaching some of my absolute favorite subjects, spanking and bootblacking. I got to know the wonderful people from PALS in Pensacola and I cannot thank them enough for how well they treated me in October! I made some new friends in Virginia with Citadel of Kink and cannot wait to go back in the spring and teach a full weekend of classes with them. Then it was back to Florida to spend a weekend with Casa de la Unicorn and also with my very first sash sibling, Miss Bettie. We did a two night session on leather and bootblacking. They were so amazing and Captain and the Daddy Unicorn took such amazing care of us. Plus, I found a Whataburger in Jacksonville and spent afternoon eating lunch in my happy place! I finished up 2024 with a last minute trip to 12 Days in Baltimore. This was a first time event for me and I have to say Hooker and the Boys sure put on a heck of a show! I loved getting to talk to new people and see old friends.

I got to share information about SELF everywhere I went and hopefully convince a whole new crop of friends to come check us out. Is anyone else getting as absolutely excited for SELF 2025 like I am? I cannot wait to go home again and see my family and friends! The classes, the new contestants, the parties, and of course the amazing dungeons, theres something for everyone around every corner of the Courtland Grand!

I’ve got a busy winter planned so far, starting in January with Mid Atlantic Leather weekend. Then in February I take my very first international trip to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to teach and judge the Western Canada Bootblack Contest. I am so excited for this one. In the beginning of March I will be going to Biloxi Mississippi for a double feature of Poly Primer and Spanking 101. In 3 title years I have never been able to get to Mississippi for anything so I am really looking forward to it! Then to wrap up the spring I will be at South Plains LeatherFest where I am doing several things. I am teaching on Erotic Bootblacking with my boy, Tidbit, and then I am teaching a class on Erotic Humiliation and Edge play. Then to complete the weekend I will be giving the Keynote Speech on Sunday morning. I am both extremely excited and absolutely terrified. Just being real! SPLF is always an amazing weekend and I’m very happy I get to go back this year.

Now that I have told you where I’ve been and where I’m going, I’d like to talk to you for a minute. Friends, I know so many of us are terrified right now and with very good reason. We are facing something incredibly scary, particularly to our marginalized siblings. Remember this, we have fought before, we have held tight to each other and we have persevered. We will fight and we will resist again. No one is forcing us into the closet or the graves again. Be scared, be worried, be terrified if you need to, then hold onto each other and fight. Fight with everything in you. And when you need to look to your left or right, that’s where you will find me, right there beside you. Mr. SELF will not go quietly into that good night. I love you all and I’m more grateful than I can say that I get to represent you this year. Keep loving and living fam.

In leather and love,
Sir Andrew, Mr SELF 2024

Hi there friends,

Winter is upon us. Darkness reigns in these days. But there are always moments of light when you look for them. For me, the place I most often find light is in the times I get to gather with my community. In January I had the pleasure of attending MAL with my boy. It was an amazing event filled with so much fun and connection. I got to see a friend from the west coast that I hadn’t seen in almost 6 years. I got to spend time with my ONYX brothers and enjoy their gear show. I even got on stage after buying a jock in the auction. That was so much fun. We finished off the weekend attending the Mr MAL contest, it was unlike anything I had seen before. Thank you to the Centaurs MC for putting on one hell of a weekend.

I have several events coming up in the next couple of months. I will be in Biloxi, MS in the beginning of March. I’ll be teaching Poly Primer and Spanking 101. I’m so excited as I have never taught in Mississippi before. Then, two weeks later is my scariest event of the year. South Plains LeatherFest and my keynote address. Imposter Syndrome is kicking my butt, but I keep reminding myself that I can do this and that I am not a fraud. This is going to be so worth it. I am truly looking forward to it. Then I start off the spring with a trip up to Knoxville to enjoy some cigars with Lady D and some friends up there.

There is lots of upcoming excitement and things I’m really looking forward to. But, like many of you I am also steeped in fear about what is happening in our world. I am working through this in the ways I can and I know you all are as well. I want to leave you with a bit of advice I received recently. Radical joy is rebellion. The nebulous “they” want us to be scared and to cower, so when we stand up and celebrate who we are and what we do, we are rebelling. Come out to kink events, participate in Pride events, share who you are loud and proud, if you are able. Be smart, be safe, but be rebellious. One event on my calendar for the end of spring that you may want to consider is World Pride in DC, there will be a leather gathering and a leather presence in the parade. If you want more information please reach out to me at 2024mrself@gmail.com and I will share the events with you. I hope to see as many of you there as possible. Lets show Washington and the world who we are! Until nest time, I am wishing joy, health, and safety.

Sir Andrew
Mr. SELF 2024

Hi there friends,

Wow what a wonderful couple of months I have had. As every month passes this title year is just more and more amazing. I get to do the most amazing things and meet the most amazing people. I get to travel all over the country and make new friends. I get to teach classes that mean the world to me. I get to have my journey impacted time and time again. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there is nothing better than being a SELF titleholder!

So, what have I been up to since February? Well, at the beginning of March I got to go down to Pensacola and teach for HALE (Hurricane Alley Leather Enthusiasts) as they held their Day of Leather event. I was on the schedule with several amazing presenters and was thrilled to be able to lead a discussion on the evolution of the Leather Community from its roots in WW2 to now. There were great questions and great conversations throughout the day, and I was able to talk to many people about SELF and hopefully get to see them this June. The next day, I led my Poly Primer discussion for MasT: Biloxi. This is the expanded version of the presentation I did when I ran for Mr. SELF last year. This discussion was very personal for me, and I was able to share some amazing things with the attendees and they opened themselves up right back. The community in Pensacola and all along Hurricane Alley is just amazing and I can’t wait to go back and teach for them again soon.

Mid-March I headed to Dallas for South Plains LeatherFest. I am still struggling to process my feelings from that weekend. I have never felt the way I did that weekend before. But, what I can say is that I feel really good about my classes, my interview, and my Keynote Address. There was one hiccup though. I got there and realized I had forgotten to bring my leather shirt for my formals. Luckily, I am blessed with amazing friends, and Barking Leather stepped up and let me borrow a shirt and bow tie. I wouldn’t have felt remotely as confident on that stage if it wasn’t for you guys! Thank you so much. And if any of my followers are looking for leather clothing or gear, these are the guys to go to! Okay, back to that keynote. I have never been more scared in my life as I was that weekend. While thinking about it though, I realized my fear wasn’t about giving a speech. I feared not giving a speech that was important enough. I worried that in the face of everything going on in the world right now, my words would be nonsense. I spent weeks and weeks trying to write something I thought was meaningful enough. I’ll be honest with you, two weeks before SPLF I had nothing written. Then after a conversation with Lady Catherine and Master Sabrina Hypnotica, I was inspired and knocked the first draft out in two days. From there it went to the most amazing editor I know, Echo. And they were able to help me get my thoughts in order and smoothed everything out for me. Once I put that speech up on the podium, that was all she wrote. All I could do was eat my brunch and chew my fingernails. But once I got up there, the words started to flow, and I couldn’t have felt better. If you are curious about the speech and weren’t there it is posted on my Facebook page. I feel proud of the work I have done thus far.

Next up for me is Northwest Leather Celebration, Frolicon, World Pride in DC, and then SELF to wrap up the title year. I can’t believe how close to the end we are. But what an amazing adventure I have had. As I wrap up, I want to say something to some very special people. As titleholders, we don’t do this on our own. There is a team behind us all the time. The family we leave at home. For me, that is my Husband, Wayne, my pet, Ashley, my boy, Tidbit, and my Daddy, Steve. They have given up so much to allow me to chase my dream of being your Mr. SELF this year. Thank you all for loving me enough to support me doing this. I love you all. And I love all of you reading this. Thank you for supporting me this year. I can’t wait to see you along my travels.

In Leather and Love,
Sir Andrew
Mr. SELF 2024

Hey Friends,

Wow, its really my final column for this year. I can't believe we are here already. It seems like I was just sashed yesterday. But, when I sit back and look at the last year, I am amazed. I can safely say, this has been a year that has changed my life in ways I was not expecting. I feel like I have grown by leaps and bounds towards becoming the man I want to be. Every single thing I did this year, from classes to keynotes to hanging out in smoking areas, has impacted my journey.

I met some of the most amazing people along the way. New friends and old, you all touched me. Well, I mean...no really you touched me. LOL. Thank you to each and every person I had the opportunity to speak to, to teach, to help. I hope you got as much from me as I got from you.

To my title family, Master Aaron and slave jennie, Master Sabrina Hypnotica, and Keriis, thank you for making this year one of family, fun, and feeling. You have been amazing siblings and I will never forget any of you. We will always be the SELF Class of 2024. I can't wait to see where each of you go as you step aside into the next parts of your journey.

To SELF, the board, the staff, the volunteers, as titleholders we are a cog in the giant gear that is SELF, each of you are the ones who make those gears turn. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the work, time, energy and heart you put into making this the greatest event in the world. We would be nowhere without all of you. Lady Catherine, my heart is full and there are no words. I hope I have made You proud this year. I love you and am grateful for everything You have done for me.

Even though I am not stepping aside this year, this is still a bittersweet moment, There will never be another year like this one. But, thats okay, because the next one will be amazing to in its own way. I am absolutely looking forward to continuing on as your Mr SELF. And as always, I can't stress enough, if you are thinking about running for a title, you absolutely should. It is life changing and amazing in ways I can't even describe.

Take care of each other. Love will always win.

Your 2024 Mr. SELF,
Sir Andrew

July 18-20, 2025 - Tarheel Stars and Stripes run https://tarheelleatherclub.org/ 

Two years ago I decided to run for SouthEast Bootblack. I built up my kit, learned so many new techniques, researched my platform, delved back into our history, challenged my creativity with fantasy ideas, tried on so many outfits, paced around the house saying my speech.

Then came SELF 2024. I had so much fun! I loved my whole contestant family, and it was so much fun running against Keriis. I did my tech boot, met all the judges, conditioned my first corset on someone (that was hot…), struggled through my presentation, talked to so many new people, dealt with multiple fire alarms on stage…and then came the results. Keriis was chosen as SouthEast Bootblack 2024. There were complicated feelings, but I was so proud of how hard he worked the whole weekend and he was rightfully chosen. He is a damn good bootblack.

After the contest was all over, I stood waiting to congratulate the new title class. Several people came to me to tell me that I made them feel seen and heard. At that moment, those complicated feelings left. While I may not have done my best that weekend, I did exactly what I set out to do. I wanted to help bring a voice to our disabled members, and that happened.

Now I wasn’t going to run again so soon. I wanted to pass a goal that I set for myself before I ran a second time, but multiple people approached me and encouraged me to run again. They helped me see that the “goal” I set was impossible to meet. And that instead, showed me that I didn’t need to surpass a goal, I just needed to be confident in myself again.

And so I worked on everything for SELF 2025. Went back to my roots, relearned history, practiced techniques more, did so much more research, tried on even more outfits, spent weeks getting my formals done.

This year….wow. I didn’t think I could top how much fun and memorable last year was, but I was so wrong. I was able to sit and listen to so many peoples stories while in the stand, my accessible bootblack stand (built for me by my partner, Max) was used multiple times, I was able to get through my speech and pop question with no fire alarms lol, watched our sister club Talon Clan get their patch put on the Leather Quilt, connected with even more people, had the pleasure of participating in a Covering and 2 Presentation of Boots, and even received my girls cap in one memorable Fantasy performance.

I could not have done any of this without all of you. Every single person that I have talked to, every single line of encouragement, I carry everything with me. Even if you think you haven’t had an impact on my journey, you have. Thank you.

Thank you to Dawn for dealing with my questions and schedule changes. You keep us all on schedule and are such a pleasure to work with.

Thank you to Dave, Jack, Country, Happy Puppy, Mama Tori, Mycalyne, Randi, Tidbit, and every single SELF Staff member, volunteer, and board member. You all make SELF happen and I bow down to you. Thank you for welcoming us home every year.

Thank you to our judges Spankcake, Duke, Mufassa, Marilyn, Dominion, and Celina. I enjoyed all of our conversations. It was an honor to have you as our judges. I can’t wait to see y’all more on the road!

Thank you to the Technical Judges Daisy Blue, Lucian, and Sorin. There is just too much to say…I love you all. You all are amazing bootblacks and it was an honor to have my boot judged by you. Thank you for all for seeing me.

Keriis, your support this weekend was very much appreciated. I really did love having you by my side again. Thank you for everything.

Thank you Lady Catherine. I have too much to say, but I am very thankful to have you with me this year and years after. I look forward to being part of the SELF family and thank you for welcoming me with open arms.

To Unsupervised Chaos…I never thought I would find a group of people that felt like home. You all are amazing beautiful souls, and I am so thankful to know you all. I wish we all lived closer. Tommie, Scarlett, Phillip, Thomas, Mycalyne, Andrew, Tidbit, Bettie, Daisy, Max: I love you<3

Thank you to Talon Clan and tarheel Leather Club for all of your support.

Thank you to Max. You not only brought me into the community, but you are the reason why I am a bootblack. You have pushed me through the years into the person I am today. You saw my potential and knew I needed a little kick in the rear to grow. Thank you for everything. I literally could not have done any of this without you.

As for this next year, well thats already started. The accessible bootblack stand prototype is being shared with some people so we can collectively improve upon it. I am already connecting with people to help improve accessibility at several events. And I plan on continuing to listen to our community members to see what more can be improved.

Remember, one small act can create big waves. I encourage everyone to see what you can do in your local community to help include our disabled members. Ramps, closed captioning, adaptive dungeon equipment, high contrast signs, low sensory events, attending/holding classes that normalize playing with disabled bodies. 1 accessible bootblack stand inspired 4 more. I had one conversation with one person, and they are now joining an event as their accessibility liaison. We can all make a difference.

Leather means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

It has been a whirlwind of the past 3 1/2 months. The very first event I had was Raleigh, NC Pride the first weekend after SELF. That is one BIG pride! That very same night, I came home to the Tarheel Leather Club bar night with Sir Andrew and girlBettie. I could not have asked for a better welcome home.

I started July by attending a conference for my own illness, Hereditary Angioedema. I mention this because this conference, this illness, is the reason why I started advocating over a decade ago. I designed the awareness ribbon specific to HAE, and we use that to help others. We donate to charities that help patients get medications, help others set up fundraisers for their own medical bills, or even just lend an ear because I know how frustrating it is to have this illness. This is what I carry over to the Leather community. The advocacy that started a decade ago has helped me learn how to help the community in the way I can, shown me that one tiny thing can have a massive impact, and taught me that anyone can make a difference.

The week after that was the Tarheel Stars and Stripes run, with the North Carolina Bootblack contest! There was so much chaos and shenanigans. The 2025 SELF fam did get voted best cocktail party…just sayin ;) And I am pleased to announce that in 2026 it will now be the Carolinas Bootblack contest! Now open to BOTH North and South Carolina!

The following 4 weekends were spent traveling with the 2025 NC Bootblack, Lady Abrams, and 2024 NC Bootblack, Puddles, as we went to all the bar nights in North Carolina. We went to Onyx Carolinas, Tradesmen, Red Lions, and Tarheel Leather Club bar nights. Being able to share my title year with them is extra special for me. I’ve watched them grow through the years, and they have done the same for me.

After taking a few weeks to rest and work on things at home, I was able to attend Midwest Leather Kink Alliance! This was my very first event outside of the SouthEast, and I loved learning how different but very alike we are. All the conversations, laughter, support…Thank you Midwest for welcoming me with love. I very much felt it.

In between all of this, Max and I have been working on trying to get the blueprints out for the Accessible Bootblack stand prototype. There have been some improvements made already. Thank you to EVERYONE who gave feedback as someone sitting in the stand AND as a Bootblack. This is a project that cannot be done without all of your help. No stand would be accessible without all of our voices.

At MWLKA, I was both shocked and exploding with happiness at how many people want one for their local community or have made one themselves. I spoke to one person who has to be physically lifted up into and out of a traditional bootblack stand. When I told them of the Accessible stand, tears formed in their eyes. That. That is why. That is exactly why the blueprints will be FREE. That is why I have the platform I do. I know how it feels to be left out. I know how much it means to be intentionally included.

As always, I encourage you all to see what can be done to intentionally include our disabled community members. Something as simple as having closed captioning, removing strobe lights, extra seating, or having high contrast signs helps. Or even just having a conversation. We aren’t scary, I promise…..unless you want us to be ;)

Leather means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

Starting in October, I have taken time to stay closer to home and focus on resting. The exception was being able to head to Chicago to see the Leather Archives and Museum. Unbeknownst to us, the Chicago Hellfire was premiering their installation the first day we visited. The power of not only seeing everything for the first time, but to also be surrounded by dozens of Hellfire members and associates was overwhelming. While I didn’t get to really see everything I wanted to, I think I enjoyed talking to everyone and hearing all the stories just a little more. It made everything come alive again….still. The class by Raea the next day was amazing, and getting to have dinner with Master Leather Redux and Raea after was the perfect ending to the trip. I wish I had more time there, but I cannot wait to go back!

While I have absolutely loved traveling, meeting everyone and seeing and doing all of the things, it has been important that I take time to stay closer to home so I can properly take care of my physical and mental health. Being disabled makes things a little more complicated, as I know I need to maintain routines and take medications at specific times so I can pour back into the community just as much as the community has poured into me. I have also very much missed my friends and have enjoyed seeing them at the local bar nights.

4 months left until SELF 2026! I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It feels like it has been forever since June, yet it feels like yesterday. I am looking forward to finding classes I want to attend, hanging out in the stands, and cheering on the incoming titleholders during the contest. If you have been thinking about going to SELF, it is a great time! I have learned so much every year, and enjoy reuniting with friends old and new.

And for now friends, I bid you a happy holidays and happy new year! I am going off to celebrate the holidays with my family and community. Take time to rest and rejuvenate!

Life has been life. I know I have been very quiet, and I appreciate your patience during this time. Winter has never been kind to this chronically ill girly.

Even though I have been quiet, I have still been working behind the scenes. The instructions for the Accessible Bootblack Stand have finally been posted! I am awed by the outpour of love and support for the stand. I don’t know why I didn’t expect it, but it makes my heart happy to hear how many people want to make their local community and events more accessible and inclusive!

I did attend 2 events in January. The first was a trip back down to Georgia for the Love on the Quilt weekend. The first time I attended was last year, and it has become one of my absolute favorite events. I love giving back to the community, not only in helping take care of its history, but listening to the stories, sharing ones of my own, and also participating in the biggest skillshare I’ve personally seen. Thank you Leather Quilt Project for inviting all of us out to pour our love back into the Leather Quilt.

Oh, wow, Twisting Culture. I have to give kudos to Jack and all of the people working behind the scenes to get Twisting Culture over to a virtual event in 48 hours. That is not an easy thing to do, and it went amazingly! I loved being able to hang out with everyone over zoom. Both contestants did an amazing job. I know it couldn’t have been easy to switch everything to a video format.

As we come to a close on our title year, I am grateful for everyone who took the time for a chat. I carry all of those conversations with me. Just a few more months, a few more events, until we meet again in Atlanta.

How can you sum up a title year in a single post? I don’t think you can honestly. Its hard to describe the emotions that are ever changing and somehow simultaneously ever building.

To those who shared tears, laughter, knowledge….thank you. While I do not have the room to list you all, that connection is what keeps us all going. Even if it was a fleeting moment.

Little comments, little moments, those are important. It reminds us that community is just that, connection. Having a short conversation with someone on the elevator, offering tissues in the halls, or overhearing a question and offering the answer. All small moments of connection.

And sometimes a comment made 4ish years ago is the catalyst to start a project that helps the community at large. I am sorry that I do not remember your name, but to the woman in the wheelchair with the gorgeous black ankle cowboy boots and white stitching, thank you. You don’t know it, but you are the reason why I wanted to create an accessible bootblack stand. Because of you so many people have been able to sit in the stands.

The Accessible Bootblack Stand was a project that I had been working on for a few years, but with the community's help I was able to find out what needed to be changed to include the most amount of accessibility features. I have been blown away by the reception of it. Thank you to Max InLeather for helping me build and design the accessible stand. You have a big hand in this stand, and I won’t let you forget it.

To my “local” community that has kept checking in on me, Power Shine girls, Unsupervised Chaos, Tarheel Leather Club, and Talon Clan, thank you. A support system is important to have, especially if you are like me and forget to take a break, and I am thankful to have all of you.

My SouthEast family. The whole staff, I am amazed at what you all can get done. You are really the heart of SELF. Without you, we wouldn’t have a home to come to. Thank you for all of the hard work you put in through the year and at SELF.

To Amethyst glaze (Ms SELF ‘25), Sir Andrew (Mr SELF ‘24-’25), girlBettie (SE POL ‘25), Terrell (SELF Boy ‘25), and Master Aaron and slave jenny (SE Master/slave ‘24-‘25). I am so grateful to be part of this family with you. We have had so much fun at events this year and I can’t wait to continue the chaos in future events ;)

Lady Catherine. It has been an absolute pleasure to have you by my side. Your support has been invaluable. I cannot even begin to list everything I am thankful for, so I am just going to say thank you for everything.

The main feeling for this whole year has been grateful. I am genuinely so thankful to have met every single person that I have, to have all of the conversations, to see how welcome the stand is. Grateful isn’t fully the right word but it is the closest word I have to describe the feeling of loving humans so much, loving how wired we are for connection, loving how we somehow always dissolve into neighbor helping neighbor, and being able to participate in it.

I love watching for these moments. Someone holding the elevator door when you are slightly too far away. The person running across the event space to help unload something heavy. The bootblack that gives you a piece of their kit just because. The random person answering a question you didn't even know anyone heard. Or even when a class turns into an impromptu support session.

We care for each other. And I am so happy to have been surrounded by these moments, and honored to be part of them too.

So how do you sum up a title year when the entire title year was your favorite part? You can’t. You end up sitting in front of your computer with your cup of chocolate milk and tearing up at all the memories.

Leather means Family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

June 25, 2025 - Shades of Pride Virtual Panel, https://www.leathersolidarity.com/
July 18-20, 2025 - Tarheel Leather Club Stars & Stripes Run & North Carolina Bootblack Contest, https://tarheelleatherclub.org/tlc-stars-and-stripes-run/
August 22-24, 2025 - Coming Together, Jacksonville, NC
September 12-14, 2025 - High Elevation Colorado Kink, https://heckink.com/
September 18-21, 2025 - Mid West Leather Kink Alliance, https://mwlka.fun/
October 3-5, 2025 - River City Pride, https://jaxrcpride.org/
October 11, 2025 - Atlanta, GA Pride, https://atlantapride.org/
October 18, 2025 - Columbia Leather Order Run, https://fb.me/e/2I6XivG6W
December 5-7, 2025 - RSVP Baton Rouge
January 30-February 1, 2026 - Twisting Culture, https://twistingculture.com/
March 19-22, 2026 - South Plains Leatherfest, https://southplainsleatherfest.com/
April 9-12, 2026 - SouthEast LeatherFest, https://seleatherfest.com/

Hello everyone, it’s your new SouthEast Person of Leather, girl Bettie. What a whirlwind start to this adventure! Thank you for your trust, your belief, and your confidence in me to be your representative for the next year.

Each year that I attend SELF, I take something new away. This year, apart from the obvious, this year’s takeaway was the realization of how integral chosen family is to me.

This year, I had my two separate leather families in attendance at SELF: Casa de la Unicorn and Unsupervised Chaos. Each of these groups of people came into my life at different times for different reasons and yet they are all so very important to me. Let me give you some background…

For a very long time, I referred to myself as a “free-range leatherperson”. I did not belong to a leather family, a leather house, or a leather/levi club. I was a titleholder, a presenter, a board member, and a serviceperson within the community but I didn’t have that sense of family. I used that experience to explain to other people curious about the leather community that you don’t need those structures to be a part of us. You can be a leather person all on your own as long as you’re committed to the community: its growth, its safety, and its history. But as I moved along my journey, the deficit of an organized, structured, chosen family weighed heavy on my heart.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I had individuals that I considered to be family. I had my sash brother, Sir Andrew, my bestie, Jodibgood, my mentor, William, and many others that I had collected along the way. I had mentors, mentees, lovers, play partners, romantic partners, kink groups, and events that I frequented year after year. I had people who had known me from my very first kink munch in 2004, people who met me after my titles, and people who met me at one of my hundreds of presenting and volunteering gigs. All of those people helped shape my journey and helped me become the girl I am today.

Then, in 2023, I was blessed with 2 different groups forming around me and giving me that feeling that I had been missing. The first was in early May of 2023 at Frolicon. A group of SELF people, both titleholders and board/staff, sat around a table on the 3rd floor of the hotel. We were friends, more than friends, and we spent a majority of our time at these events together. That weekend, we began calling ourselves “Unsupervised Chaos”. At first it was a group chat, checking in on each other, planning our next event together, a touchpoint of safety for each other. But then we asked others to join our group, people that we knew would add positively to our group. It was after the first additions that we began to realize that we were functioning as a family, so we made it official, in our own way. We love each other, we support each other, we challenge each other, and we go to our group when we need something. We do not all live in the same place and that makes the family feeling hard sometimes, but we know in our souls that we are always there for one another. 

A little later, in June of 2023, I was approached by a dear friend and community member to join their Leather House, Casa de la Unicorn. This person had welcomed me into their home and life over the 2022-2023 school year, my last as a teacher. It was a rough year for me and this person never blinked an eye when I asked for support. I was leaving Jacksonville, FL, for North Carolina and a new job at the end of June, 2023, so they knew they needed to ask me this important question before I left. I was with the founder of this house when the idea was first batted around back in 2019. I watched the family form, grow, solidify its values, support the community, and make a name for itself. I was honored and humbled to be asked to join that incredible family and there was no hesitation in me. Since I joined CdlU, I have been able to contribute not only to the kink and leather communities but the Jacksonville marginalized communities as well. As a family, CdlU mirrors my values, my ideals, my love of the community, and my desire for accountability. Our family continues to grow as we add other like-minded individuals to our whole, making us better and better as we move forward. Our patch was added to the Leather Quilt Project at SELF this year and it was a joyous moment for us all. I am so very proud to be Unicorn in so many different ways. 

Both of these families surrounded me with love, support, assurances, and manual labor during my contestant weekend. Each group contributed tremendously to my successful title run and I want to make sure they all know that. I may be the SouthEast Person of Leather but all these people helped me become that and they will continue to help me be the representative that the SouthEast deserves.

I would be remiss if I did not also mention others who made this weekend possible in so many other ways: Tris, my handler, was my individual support system without which LOTS of the things I accomplished would not have been possible. Dye Addict Rope, Too Hot to Handle Candles, Dungeon in a Bag, SassyV, RSVP Baton Rouge, Stick, Dakota, Max, Sir Andrew, the Charlotte Tradesmen, and BitchyBibs helped me create incredible auction baskets. Many more people than I can name bought raffle tickets to support the travel fund for the titleholders. Old friends and new gave me encouragement throughout the weekend when I felt like I wasn’t sure I was doing the right things. The smiles, the conversations, the pictures, the laughter, the “you got this” all meant more to me than I can say in a few words. Thank you to everyone who took even a moment to let me know that you saw me, you supported me, and you were proud of me.

I look forward to seeing you all this year as I make my way across the SouthEast and the nation. My hope is that you are proud of the representation I will provide and that you will tell me if you need something of me. I’ll see you all online and in-person so please say hi, I love hugs with consent, and I’m always up for a conversation.

Love you all,
girl Bettie

10/1/25

SouthEast Person of Leather – girl Bettie

Hello everyone! This first quarter as your SouthEast Person of Leather has been an exciting and beautiful experience. I’ve spent some time in the southeast and some time out in some other regions teaching, volunteering, and spending good time with good people.

My year started with my leather club’s run: Stars & Stripes 34. The Tarheel Leather Club throws a heck of a party every year and this year was no exception. We had people from Maryland, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and beyond. We had a “RAWR”in’ good time at the cigar social on Friday night punctuated with unauthorized water play. The North Carolina Bootblack Contest made the big announcement that they are now the Carolinas’ Bootblack Contest, and we patched in the final North Carolina Bootblack, Lady Abrams. The SELF title family threw the award-winning cocktail party with appropriate amounts of shenanigans and the birth of the “backpatch” picture that I’ve kept up with so far this year. I had such a good time with all my people and I’m excited to be the Vice President for the Tarheel Leather Club for the next year. I’m already busy planning for the run next year. 

August brought several trips around the southeast for education and fun. Charlotte Tradesmen barbeque for the House of Mercy brought us together to serve our larger community and connect with each other. Bar night at the Woodshed in Charlotte, NC, continued the camaraderie with jello shots, dancing, connecting with curious newbies, and laughing at our shared histories. Next, I was off to Nashville to spend a weekend with some of my favorite people and have some fun. Brunch, Spirit of Halloween, cutting, impact play, and an in-depth conversation about switches all happened in one day, and I was there for two and a half days. It was such a great way to celebrate starting my title year. Lastly, in August, I went out to Jacksonville, NC, to present for Coming Together, organized by our very own SouthEast Master and slave, Master Aaron and slave jennie. It was good to go back to my old stomping grounds and teach a class that I’ve taught so many times. I really enjoyed being “home”. 

September was a whirlwind month that brought my first ever multi-weekend, cross country trip. I flew out to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and spent the weekend at High Elevation Colorado Kink. Your SEPoL taught two classes, participated in discussions, and helped set up for lunch. But, more than that, I met another incredible community of people that felt very familiar. I was welcomed, given good advice about being at such a high elevation, and had people consistently checking in on me. I was traveling alone, staying alone, and walking to and from the event each day alone. It was exhilarating to be able to do it on my own but I never felt solitary. They sashed the new Rocky Mountain Person of Leather, Aylin, and I am so happy to have her join the PoL family with me. I look forward to seeing her soon. I was embraced as a leather person from the moment I stepped on site, and I was sad to leave my new friends at the end of the weekend. I hope I was able to give them as much as they gave me and I fully intend to return when I can. Thank you Colorado!! 

After the weekend, I stayed in the area and worked remotely for a few days before starting my journey to Kansas City, Missouri, for Midwest Leather Kink Alliance. I learned that Kansas really is as flat as they say and windmills are MUCH bigger than I thought they were. The 2025 SouthEast Bootblack, Koda Bootblack, and Mr. SELF 2022-2023, Max, joined me on this trip and it was so good to have their presence as an anchor. MWLKA was a great weekend of great education, auctions, cigars, and Dutch Bros. coffee. The contestants ran with honor and vulnerability, showing their true hearts and commitment to the community. The new Midwest Master and slave, Master Lucian and slave Celina Raven, and the new Midwest Person of Leather, Daddy Shay Raven, were absolutely glowing in all their after-contest pictures and stayed up way too late Saturday night coming down off their high. I spent a lot of time with people I met at SELF and during my travels. Lots of conversations about our similarities, our differences, the community, and our hopes reassured me that we are on the right track and moving in the right direction. INSERT OCTOBER COLUMN PIC 4 HERE

I came home from my trip with my cup overflowing and lots of things to process and ponder. I’m still working on that and we’ll see how it all comes together. But rest assured, I am taking your southeast spark with me everywhere I go and building those flames!

Hey there, everybody, it's your girl Bettie! In the past couple months I haven't been traveling as much as I did in my first quarter as a title holder. I had a lot of work stuff come up as well as some family stuff and so I've been keeping a little closer to home. I also felt like I needed to spend some time in the SouthEast, spend some time with the region, the people and just the groups that I call home.

The first weekend in November, I went back to Nashville, Tennessee, and I presented a class for the group Nashville Hot Leather. It was a different type of class for me, it was a class about leather houses versus leather families, and what the difference is. We had an amazing conversation within the group, just about what we had seen in the community, things that we had been told, things that we had experienced, and how maybe we can shift some of those understandings to better represent what we actually do as houses and/or families in the community. I was also able to talk a little bit about being a title holder and running for a title, and it was really nice to be able to share my experiences with people. Being a title holder or even just being a part of a contest is a really unique experience and if you've never done it before, it's definitely got some things that you would never expect.

After the class, I stayed with a friend of mine, and we had an awesome, connective evening at the house with a group of friends. We had good food. We had good conversation. We told stories and, yeah, it was just amazing. So, Nashville was such a great weekend.

For the rest of November, I stayed at home. I had some unexpected financial things come up, and so unfortunately, I was unable to make it to an event that I was really looking forward to, but that's life and it happens even when you’re a titleholder. Thanksgiving I spent with my leather house in Florida, Casa de la Unicorn. It was such a fun weekend. We did something different, we didn't do like the normal turkey and fixings kind of stuff. We did a seafood boil with mussels and shrimp and crab legs and corn! It was unique for me and just a good way to spend a holiday with chosen family and have some time away from the stresses of life.

The first weekend in December, I got to go all the way to RSVP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I love going to RSVP. I have been there several times over the years that I have been holding title and working for SELF and being involved in the leather community. I always have a good time in Louisiana. I have amazing friends there that host me every time I go, take me to eat authentic Louisiana food because, come on, how can you go to Louisiana and not eat authentic Louisiana food? I did two classes at RSVP: I did my Roleplay 101 class, which is a hoot! If you've never taken it, I really hope you get to be there someday because it is so much fun. We laughed and talked through different roleplay scenarios and gave tips and tricks on how to do roleplay better. My favorite part of that class is the audience participation, because I split the class up into groups, and then each group has to come up with their own roleplay based on an implement or a type of play. And I just love the creativity that comes out of this class. I love hearing the stories and the backstories and different settings and the different combinations of roles and it's always so much fun. I always get at least one really good idea from the group.

The second class I did there is called Taboo Topics in Roleplay, and that one is a little more serious. It talks about the underlying responsibilities as far as safety, communication, and negotiation when you decide to stray into the taboo topics in a roleplay scene. Really, really good conversation. People opened up about their thoughts in this realm, we talked about consent and negotiation, and trauma, and just really amazing way to create a safe space for people to talk about things that maybe they don't necessarily feel comfortable talking about in other spaces.

Again, the group was so engaged. The group was so with me through the whole presentation, which is rare. If you are a presenter, you know, it's rare to keep your whole class with you the entire time, but I don't think there was a single person not completely zoned in on the conversations we were having. The party afterwards was in full swing within like 5 minutes of the end of the class. It was so exciting to see people jump right into doing all the fun things that we love to do. I felt so welcome. I felt such a great, almost semi-homecoming, and I really can't thank RSVP enough for, again, letting me come down and allowing me some time in their space.

Coming up in the future, I've got one big trip per month in the first quarter of the year, but the other big thing I'm working on is getting ready for that International Person of Leather competition. For those of you that don't know, it happens in March at South Plains Leatherfest, which is in Dallas, Texas. I will be working on creating all my contest pieces so that I can represent our region to the best of my ability. I'm super excited about the pieces that I'm already putting together and I can't wait to share with you all what I'm coming up with and how I'm going to really show the spark in the southeast. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone as I keep traveling. Please feel free to reach out to me if you want me to come to your group if you want me to do a virtual class or even if you just want me to come and hang out, I don't always have to teach or volunteer. I can just come and hang out and have a good time because everybody needs to stop and have a good time every once in a while.

I love you all, and I will talk with you again soon!

Hello SouthEast! It’s your girl Bettie. The last few months have been cold so I’ve spent a lot of time indoors but I’m out and about again. The holidays were spent with chosen family and bio family in Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina. I had a birthday in December and now I’m in my 44th year of life. I have been reflecting a lot on those 44 years and I’ve had some realizations that I’d like to share with you all.

1. I am happier with my life now than I ever have been. I have surrounded myself with people that love, support, and challenge me. Between my mother, sister, niece, leather family, leather house, leather club, and far-flung friends and chosen family nationwide, I have one of the best support systems around. Even with all these people in my life, I am always willing to include more people in my circle. I’m excited to see who I will meet as I continue on my journey.

2. Service, more specifically community service, makes me happy and fills my cup. I have had a wonderful time traveling, teaching, volunteering, and socializing within our community and my cup is very full. Thank you for letting me serve the community in the capacity that I can. I am truly grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me and I will continue to serve as long as you’ll let me.

3. I am still learning about myself as a leather person but also as an s-type person. My own evolution over the years has been full of learning, trying, backing up, moving forward, changing direction, and, sometimes, standing still. I’ve been spending time in s-type spaces and with trusted s-type people. I’m learning about the evolution of the s-type role within our community and how I fit into that role. I want to explore more as I move along my path and I hope you will be willing to share your time, energy, and knowledge with me.

I was able to spend some time with PALS in Pensacola, FL, at the end of December. The presentation I gave was the first class I ever created for the community 19 years ago: Domestic Violence and BDSM - NOT what it is that we do. It is an important, but tough, topic, and I was honored and humbled that PALS trusted me to lead that discussion. We had a wonderful conversation, asked tough questions, and shared stories in a safe space. Afterward, the amazing owner of Indulgent Images took some incredible pictures of me. Her art is expressive and she captured me in a way I haven’t seen before. 

I’ve also been getting ready to compete for the International Person of Leather contest at SouthPlains LeatherFest in Dallas, TX, March 19th - 22th. My application is in, my contestant fee is paid, and the first contestant meeting allowed me to meet my fellow IPOL contestants from around the nation. There are 5 of us running for the International title from the NorthWest, MidWest, Rocky Mountains, NorthEast, and, yours truly, from the SouthEast. We are all unique to our regions and represent a vast diversity within our community. We are already keeping up with each other on social media and supporting each other in our preparations and final events before we all meet up in Dallas. I’m so excited to see us all together and have the opportunity to show off the best of our community.

If you are going to Dallas for SouthPlains LeatherFest, please find me and say hello. I will be busy but I want to spend time with as many of you as I can. There will be parties, shows, dungeons, classes, and a rockin’ contest. I am hoping to make all of you very proud!
In the next couple of weeks I’ll be at LLC in Los Angeles, teaching two classes and enjoying some learning of my own. I look forward to fellowship, fun, and finding connections. If you’re there, please come hang out with me!
I’ll see you all soon. Let me know what, if anything, you need from me in the meantime.

I am driving home from SouthPlains LeatherFest where I competed for the International Person of Leather title. As I prepared for the weekend, I tried to make sure that I was bringing all of the support and love from our SouthEast region with me. I took my Disney dresses, my fun makeup, my platform shoes, and my flip flops, of course!

But I also took our care, our compassion, our welcome, and our love. Those were the things I really wanted people to see and feel from me. I wanted to be an authentic representative of what we have to offer the world. I am most proud of that about our region and what I was most excited to put out in the world.

It was an amazing and climactic finish to an incredible title year. I have been so honored and humbled to carry our values around the country with me as I’ve traveled this year. From Colorado to Kansas City to Los Angeles to Dallas, people felt our warmth, our welcome, and our care for others. I call that a successful title year.

The time I spent in the southeast this year filled my cup with all the love, care, and warmth so I could keep sending it out to the world. Thank you for filling my cup and keeping a steady supply of refills at the ready.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you very soon in Atlanta. It’s almost time to say goodbye to this chapter and start the next. I hope you all continue to show welcome, find meaning, and build flames.

Love Always,
girl Bettie

July 19th, 2025 Tarheel Leather Run https://tarheelleatherclub.org/register-for-the-2025-run/
July 26th, 2025 Onyx Carolina Chapter Celebration https://www.facebook.com/events/736195202502339
Sept 20th, 2025 Greensboro Pride https://greensboropride.org/
Oct 10-12 2025 Atlanta Pride https://atlantapride.org/
Oct 16-19th, 2025 Blackout 30 https://blackout.onyxmen.com/
Oct 29-2nd, 2025 - World Bear Weekend https://worldbearweekend.com/
Feb 11-15th, 2026 - North American Bear Weekend https://nabweekend.com/
Feb 27th-March 1st, 2026 - Vision 2026 https://visionlotus.org/
April 8-12th, 2026 - SouthEast LeatherFest https://seleatherfest.com/home

I can’t believe I’m writing this post as SELF Boy. It was just over 2 years ago when my Mama Bear approached me & talked to me about running for a title. At the time I didn’t know what that meant really. I definitely didn’t think I was the type of person who could do something like that. But I chose to trust her & begin preparing to compete for Mr. NCLC 2024.

Fastforward to now where I gone from the state level & to a regional title holder. It’s only through to the support of my queer & kinky community that I’ve gotten as far as I have. I’m so glad this journey has led me to feel more comfortable as my authentic self & I’m glad that SouthEast LeatherFest turned out to be a place that celebrates that authentic.

SouthEast LeatherFest was such a wonderful entry into the broader leather & kink community. The best part about the weekend is how communal everything felt from the time we arrived until we hit the road. There was such a focus on connection, education, & exploration that was done in a way that felt so foreign to me. But this was also the nexus I've been yearning for in our leather & kink spaces.

I cannot thank the volunteer staff enough for their hard work in preparing my fellow contestants and I to compete this weekend. As well as all the ways our Den Mafia, Thumper & Megan, supported us through the competition. I also want to show appreciation to the people & clubs that helped me in preparing & helped me with my presentation throughout the weekend.

 Charlotte Tradesmen
 Columbia Leather Order
 Simbah Onyx of Onyx Carolinas
 Boy Andy of the Tarheel Leather Club
 Shannon Ashley of Kentucky Bourbon Bears
 Kyle H. of our monthly naked boardgame nights.

Huge shout out to my fantasy partner MasterDHM who stepped up when I asked for help, 3 weeks before the event. You don’t know how much that meant to me & you turned out to just the kind of mentor I needed coming into this competition.

None of them compared to the support Ryan gave as my handler. He deserves his props for keeping this brat on time & keeping my spirits up through the weekend. Really glad to get to go on this ride with you by my side.

I'm so grateful for all the new connections I've made these last few weeks. I've already been hitting the road to support pride festivals in Greensboro & Salisbury, NC. This month I’m looking forward to attend Tarheel Leather Club’s Stars & Stripes Leather Run. I’m also looking forward to celebrating with my brothers with Onyx as they official launch their Carolina chapter. There are other events I’ve begun to plan for. Check out my calendar & let me know if you’re coming too!

Don’t see you event on the list? Let me know what events you have coming up. I would love to come learn from more clubs & groups of all kinds. It could be classes, nude camping, critter party, demo, oil wrestling. I’m interested to see how the south gets down & kinky!

It’s been a busy summer for this boy. I’ve been racking up the miles on the highways and skyways visiting leather clubs, attending socials and club runs, and getting a chance to judge a bear contest out in Chicago. All this while staying active with local issues for my city and state as we deal with the fallout of government cuts and harmful policies.

I started with a trip out to Columbia Leather Order for their July bar night. This crew always shows me a warm welcome and I was glad to have the time to get to know them more on their “home turf“. I took some time to experience Chicago and visit with friends for the Illinois Bear Contest. Originally, I was simply coming as a guest because I missed my North American Bear (NAB) family. It was later that I was approached to judge the contest which was a great experience. It was great to see how the bears get down in the Midwest & getting to judge the contest alongside a lot of title holders I admire.

Another bonus to my Chicago trip was the Leather Archives & Museum. It was great to see so many parts of the leather community stored in one place. I encourage more folks to pay them a visit and support their work of perceiving our diverse & expansive leather history. It was really cool to also hold the contest and take a class in the space while I was in the city.

After my travels to the Midwest, I spent some time in Raleigh with my Onyx brothers as they celebrated the official Launch of Onyx Carolinas. It was great to be a part of the celebration and get to see all the new Onyx brothers representing for the Carolinas.

I got a lot of Run time in with some clubs as well. I got to attend the Tarheel Leather Run with the rest of my SouthEast Title fam in July. This past month I also visited with the First Coast Leather Society (FCLS) as they celebrated the 20th year of their run down in Augusta. Both were great experiences because I got to meet new folks like my Sash Papa & former SouthEast LeatherFest Boy, Quazi, and my local friends from the leather community with the Tarheels. I also got to try my first cigar and learn the various ins & outs of penis pumping with FCLS.

I’ve been busy with my title travels but I’m also staying just as busy at home. In Greensboro, we spent some time gearing up for our Pride festival that just wrapped earlier this month. I’ve been working to support the festival this year as they’ve been working to bring our queer community closer together. I’ve been coming out in support of a lot of their events and got to attend their GSO Pride Pageant. That was extra special because I advocated to them earlier in the year to include a non-binary title and this was the first pageant to include that category.

Since the Trump administration took office, I’ve also been working in my community to support responses to his harmful policies. I started volunteering with my local Unitarian Universalist Church to do outreach to local businesses to talk about how to respond to ICE raids. This work is in partnership with SiembraNC, a group that has been educating communities across North Carolina about how to protect individuals and their businesses from unlawful ICE presence. This effort has gotten over 200 businesses to sign on to become 4th Amendment Advocates. They’ve even had the city of Carrboro and, most recently, the city of Durham to sign on as well.

I’m also working to support change on my local city council with my comrades in Guilford for All & the Carolina Federation. Over the summer, I took part in an endorsement process with my fellow members to help identify candidates we think can help us co-govern our city to work more for its people & not just the businesses and developers. That’s been great work & we’re such a diverse group of community members working towards this goal. We’ve been tabling at events and canvassing across the city because we understand we’re the ones we’re waiting for. If we want to change how our government works for us, then we have to start in our own backyards.

It’s possible to be your most authentic self & still give back to your communities. I love my community because I’m not shy about being a promiscuous, bratty kinkster but they still accept & allow those parts of me into the work lives we share together. I’ve taught the vanillas so much over the years & they love it. Not everyone, but enough that I’m still able to be of service to my community.

We all have a way to be of service in our community. I want to hear what acts of service other people have been doing this year in their local community. It can be through your club, a community group, or a faith organization you belong to. Let me hear how folks are giving back these days!

Share your acts of service with me:

Email: selfboy2025@gmail.com
Fetlife: Phantomcub

We’re at the 6-month mark in my reign as SELF Boy & just a few weeks before the end of the year. I’ve been sitting in a lot of reflection over these last couple of months as I continued to connect more with the broader kinky community & seeing more of the diversity in leather & kink culture across the country. For someone who mainly has experienced leather through online spaces, bar nights, & bear runs, it has given me perspective on the importance of leather & our leather history.

For most of my adult life, most of the leather clubs near me are predominantly run & cater to white folks, particularly masc presenting white folks. I’ve been around these groups for years & even with our shared interest in leather & kink, I still end up feeling like I don’t belong or am not encouraged to explore with them. So, imagine my expression as I arrive to Onyx BlackOut Weekend & see a sea of BIPOC folks of all kinds rocking their chaps & gear.

I’ve been in spaces with black kinksters before, but this was the first time I got to share space with black leather that was for us & by us. Not only that, but there were many folks from the African, Latino, Asian, & indigenous communities from all different expressions & walks of life coming together for an amazing event. It was amazing learning the foundations of Onyx, and hearing from Papa Mufasa & our elders of the importance of spaces like Blackout, being in community with THE largest leather club in North America. I felt so comfortable by the end, I took part in my first public flogging scene at the play party.

Getting to spend time in community like that was restorative to my spirit as someone who struggles to feel they belong anywhere. It was also eye-opening that I NEED to find a kink community locally that helps me feel that same sense of belonging. I have become close to the groups that run & attend our local fetish night events. Still, I feel I haven’t found the people around me that I could explore or feel comfortable exploring kink in community with. My desire is to make an effort to explore building that kind of community for myself & others. As my friend & mentor Slade Wade told me once, “Sometimes you just have to build the thing yourself”

Speaking of efforts, I gave a lot of myself in this past election cycle to help elect local community leaders & advocates to city council. It was a great victory & I’m excited for the possibilities to strengthen local protections for our immigrant, trans, & queer communities. At the same time, I ended up pushing myself too hard & I’ve been pretty burnt-out after Nov 4th. This has meant I’ve been forced to slow down in a way. Which has been good for me because I only know how to slow down when I’m forced to.

It’s actually been kind of a nice change of pace. For instance, my brother & Mr. NCLC 2025, Jeff Tanglewood, came to spend the weekend with us & got me out of my cave for a bit. We checked in with the Tar Heels & I had a lovely time catching up with my SELF title family & their adventures.

Slowing down has also made me more aware of the toll pushing myself can have on my chronic health issues. I’m a person that lives with chronic depression, chronic pain, & Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). I’ve lived with them for a majority of my life, so this is a cycle I’m used to. Still, I’ve had to work a little harder to get myself out of my depression cave & continue to show up. That’s mainly due to the extra effort I have to pour into my title duties & volunteer work. All admirable in my heart & because of that I’ve gotten the okay to continue to push through when I have nothing to give.

As admirable as all these efforts & passions are, I’m still learning that my will is a finite source. When I'm pushing through, I’m doing more damage to myself because I’m pouring from an empty cup. This was a pattern I came to leather to learn how to break, but I still struggle. I’m glad to have the mentorship of Lady Cathrine & my other people invested in my care to help me catch the pattern as it’s happening.

The biggest reflection from this year has been this: As exciting & inspiring as title holder life can be, it is important to make space for other parts of my life to also feed me while I’m on this journey. I miss just being a bratty bear chaser & feel like I have to give that up sometimes when I’m in the sash. I have learned that it’s okay to just leave the sash in the suitcase sometimes & just enjoy frolicking with people that make me feel like I belong.

I’m really looking forward to the new year. I’m looking forward to getting ENERGIZED in April when we return to SouthEast LeatherFest. If you have not bought your run pass, you still have until Dec. 29th before the price goes up again. I’m personally looking forward to hearing how others have been growing & evolving on their own journeys. Before then, make sure you’re also taking care of yourself & making space & time for your own joy.

I find myself living in a world I don’t feel safe in. It’s weird to sit with that because so much of the world around me operates as if things are normal. It’s not normal to live in a world where one of the biggest consent violators is governing over me & millions of people. It’s not normal to watch that person in the white house send authorities to terrorize & disappear communities based on how they look like we’re back in Jim Crow. It’s not normal to watch the president of your country use all his influence to shield himself & the powerful from accountability in matters of child sex trafficking & allegations of pedophilia.

This. Is. Not. Normal.

Regardless of these crazy events, there is one thing that still feels normal & that is the power of resistance. Resistance is what has shaped this country. Resistance is how enslaved folks were able to fight for their liberation. Resistance is what fueled workers to strike through this country’s history for better conditions & compensation for their labor. Resistance is what also fueled the advancement of AIDS/HIV advocacy & treatment. Resistance is what we’re seeing now with communities coming together to protect people from the violence ICE has been enacting on immigrants & American citizens alike.

Representing SELF during this last year has felt like its own act of resistance. I’ve decided to live proudly as a queer & kinky person because I want to resist the narrative that queer people or kinky people are the deplorables in our society. I wanted to instead be a role model for authenticity & compassion. Someone that is sure in themselves & the role they are willing to play in service of their community. I’m a big circuit bear that loves getting sweaty & pervy with the best of them. And at the same time, I’ll make time to knock doors to help my neighbors make a voter plan, support fundraising for mutual aid efforts, & even take a shift verifying ICE presence.

I’m proud to see so many folks across the queer & leather community that have also been doing their own work of resistance. I still have a desire to see more of my gay & leather peers make efforts to do their own form of resistance in this moment. If you’re reading this, who are your resistance role models? How are you working to resist in your own ways in your communities? How do you take care of yourself during these times of uncertainty?

In the meantime, keep up the resistance. Whether it’s protesting on the streets, volunteering in your community, or raising funds for mutual aid efforts, big or small, we have to find ways to do something to help those in need.

As my pilgrimage across the Southeast comes to a close, I’ve been thinking about empowerment. More specifically, how we empower power ourselves & others. I’m just coming off my time at North American Bear Weekend in Kentucky. This is my 8th year attend & I’m always come away feeling so empowered. That’s because a great weekend celebrating bear bodies & bear culture. There are classes on loving your body, dancing, yoga, & karaoke. That’s also paired with classes on things like bondage, fisting, M/s dynamics, & round tables.

Whenever I return to NAB I always feel like I’m with my people. I’ve learned so much about myself through these weekends & I’m made so many connections through the years. I have one lover who I met 9 years ago at my first NAB that we still use as a way to see each other every year. Not only have I learned so much from him in the Daddy/boy dynamic we shared, but we also became a part of each other's lives & support systems. When I had a mental break down after getting dumped, Deven was there for me to help me piece myself back together. & when he went through a trying divorce process, I was able to be there for him in return.

I appreciate the rich connect like the one with Deven because they make me feel a part of something. I feel a part of this community that the Kentucky Bourbon Bears have worked to cultivate these last 14 years. It’s because of that feeling that volunteered a lot this year. I wanted to spread that since of belong to more & more people. Some of that was greeting folks at registration. Other times it’s being my friends “rope dummy” for his bondage class, where he shows the class all the ways he can torment someone (me) with some simple knots. I even got to perform with our weekend dance crew during Saturday’s contest.

I’ve learned on this journey that the best way to make someone to feel seen is to allow yourself to be first. It’s such a vulnerable feeling at times. As a title holder, I’m a little more aware of eyes on me & it’s hard for me to not spin out about what people might be thinking about me. At the same time, I’ve learned that I can’t control what folks think & it’s not my job to. This year has really taught me the importance of living my life for me. What an empowering gift to receive when I was welcomed into the SELF family. I worried for a long time that I wouldn’t muster up to what folks “expected” of a leather boy to be. It was such a relief to have some many folks give me permission to make this title year mine. To be given that & also be welcomed into the broader leather & kink communities, as I am, has really affirmed in me that I’ve found more of my people with SELF.

Y’all have really empowered me to give this year my all. I have one more trip left to support my title family at SouthPlains LeatherFest before my pilgrimage ends. I’m looking forward to this return. I want to use this moment to plug the “energized!” them but truthfully, I’m not quite there yet with SELF. I’m writing this blog post while still recovering from a cold. I’m also just thinking of the upcoming trip & mine & my husband’s wedding anniversary the following weekend. After that I’ve have a week to get myself Energized before we see each other before then.

Until then, I hope you enjoyed how I shined for you all.

Jun 21, 2025 - Georgia Leather United Cigar Social, https://fetlife.com/events/1779236
Jun 29, 2025 - We Have Always Been Here: A Celebration of Diversity In Leather, https://fetlife.com/events/1756062
July 18-20 2025 - Tarheel Leather Club Stars and Stripes Run, https://www.tarheelleatherclub.org
July 25-26, 2025 - Meeting with Mistress Cyan, https://www.sanctuarylax.com/sessions/new
Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 - Master/slave Conference, https://masterslaveconference.org/
Sep 4-7, 2025 - Sex Down Down South Conference, https://www.sexdownsouth.com/
Oct 4, 2025 - Service Oriented Conference, https://serviceconference.org/
Oct 22-26, 2025 - DomCon NoLA, https://domcon.com/
Nov 6-9, 2025 - Kink Between the Lines, https://kinkbetweenthelines.com/
Nov 14-16, 2025 - FLAIR Forward, https://www.flairincharge.com/
Dec 13-14, 2025 - All 'Bout Community: A Free Virtual Ageplay Con, https://fetlife.com/events/1732289
Jan 31, 2026 - Twisting Culture, https://fetlife.com/TwistingCulture 
Feb 27-Mar1, 2026 - Vision Lotus Conference, https://visionlotus.org/
Feb 28, 2026 - HALE's 2nd Annual Day of Leather, https://fetlife.com/events/1883067
Mar 19-22, 2026 - South Plains LeatherFest, https://www.southplainsleatherfest.com/
Apr 9-12, 2026 - SouthEast LeatherFest, https://seleatherfest.com/

“A Bar Was Set. A Flame Was Lit. A babygirl Was Chosen.”
Some moments tattoo themselves on Yyour soul. Sitting offstage—bruised, limping, held together by Leather grit and community care—i heard my name called as Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2025. That was one of those moments.

It wasn’t glamorous. It was real. i had two injuries that weekend, one requiring a cane, forcing me to navigate public space with new eyes. Accessibility stopped being theory—it became necessity. And that lived, refreshing clarity? It’s now part of my Leather herstory, my leadership, and my responsibility.

Still… i won. i am Yyour Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2025. And i’m still a bit dazed. There was no certainty—just deep preparation, difficult choices, and passionate heart. i sobbed, i toiled, i showed up. Not as a perfect contestant, but as a whole Leather-being. This win affirmed that Leather isn’t about polished perfection—it’s about raw presence. Shadow, scars, and all.

i learned that excellence often walks hand-in-hand with exhaustion. That community care looks like early morning pep talks with a newfound friend, identity-affirming greetings in crowded halls, a Handler who reminds you to breathe and chant, and a Junior Junior Handler who keeps you snatched when you’re crumbling. Sometimes, excellence looks like crying at 8am on your Master’s chest… and standing tall by 11am, ready to face a panel of judges and make Ttheir shadows laugh too.

From the moment i was inspired to run, i steeped myself in intention—writing, connecting, fundraising, preparing. i poured my therapist perspective, slayv soul, babygirl spirit, and organizer’s service into every word and interaction. i wrestled with fear, allowed renewed tears after a mock panel, and still chose to rise. All of this—while working full time, leading in my faith community, nurturing multiple sacred dynamics, and holding the weight of visibility and purpose. i deserve a medal. (And yes, technically… i got a sash!)

But this was never just about a title. It was about honoring the life that shaped me—grief, joy, trauma, devotion, survival—and offering it all back. i want to hold space that reflects Uus—all of Uus. The kinky and complex. The playful and prayerful. The newly curious and the long-devoted. The able-bodied and mobility-assisted. The chosen families, the sacred survivors, and the tenderfierce truth-tellers. i want to travel, educate, listen, and laugh. To meet folx who never thought Leather was for them—and show them it absolutely is. To lead workshops that don’t just pontificate kink, but teach introspection and practice. To dance in deep play with Yy’all—at dungeons, galas, panels, munches, and more. Boots and mobility aids welcome.

To the SELF producer, staff, and volunteers—thank Yyou. Yyour behind-the-scenes labor made space for my full becoming. Thank Yyou for every lamp recovered (inside joke), code call answered, nervous moment held, and magic sparked.

To my Handler, Ms. International Leather 2025 Velvet Storm—thank You for insisting i show up fully because that is all. To Eve Minx, my Junior Junior Handler—thank you for your fierce joy and unwavering belief in me.

To ThePremiers—Master Blacksmith, Moomie Mocha Breeze, and Sir Valentino—thank You for carrying me with care and preparing me with purpose.

To the Southeast region—my Leather home. To the Black Kink Network - my Legacy. To the baby kinksters whispering to shadows like i once did—this title is for Uus.

To my inner circle—Yyou know who Yyou are. Yyour hands were on my back every step of the way. Through Yyou, i am. Thank You to my Kink Brother Jus Mista Prince for the spotlight of me His munch group COVET featured. Check out His website and COVET’s endeavors at DoYouCOVET!

To VirgoFlix, thank You for the amazing photoshoot! You have been a constant support throughout the years and i appreciate all Your skillful eye catches. Here’s to letting Oothers see what You see: Instagram: @JCrooms69.

Back when i was organizing online communities to nationally connect BIPOC kinksters and hosting Philly/NJ munches and BIPOC play parties in Brooklyn, i wasn’t dreaming of titles. i just wanted to belong. To make space. And now? All grown up? i wear this sash not for shine—but with pride in service. Elders prepared me for this. And i step forward with reverence. Asé.

So here’s to what’s next.
To the work. To the people. To Leather.
To the dreams Wwe didn’t know were Oours—until Wwe lived into them.
Know justice, know peace. No one is free until all of Uus are free.
Llet’s work hard—play even harder, and not only continue to survive, but thrive in Oour existence. Take care of each Oother. Yyour work matters, too.

Amethyst glaze’s #FirstHundredDays
Whew, this traveling bug of mine has been putting in some work! i was adorned by the smell of sweat, cigars, and Leather all Summer and i’ve gotten some age and lots of pinholes in my vest already!

Looking back since i’ve taken title, it’s felt like my own personal #FirstHundredDays. Okay, technically it’s been 109 days but Yyou get it! i’m excited to tell Yyou what i’ve been up to, but first, i’d like to acknowledge and thank the editors and contributors of Black Leather In Color (BLIC) Magazine for promoting my debuted travel schedule in the July 2025 Issue. Representation matters, and i’m grateful to be among such powerful voices and visuals. Each issue is absolutely epic but this one? Yyou just have to check it out at this link! 

First up, as i was still nursing my injury, i attended a virtual event and joined the Leather Solidarity Collective’s “Many Shades of Pride” panel on Zoom. It was such an intentional, beautifully curated conversation centering diversity in Leather. The panel was brilliantly curated and Aall did absolutely amazing. It was heavy, yes. But also light, fierce, and uplifting. Listening to Black and Brown Leatherfolx who carry both battle scars and ancestral brilliance was grounding.

To everyOone doing the work under the Leather Solidarity Collective banner: Thank Yyou. Oour solidarity is not symbolic nor is Oour diversity. It is survival. As Wwe welcomed Hispanic Heritage Month, i see Yyou continuously doing the work and i salute Yyou: ¡Viva, La Libertad!

Next, two weeks out from event, my mobility cane and i kicked off my title travels in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for chAPTERnooga’s second annual Leather Pride event “We Have Always Been Here: A Celebration of Diversity in Leather.” That ‘turn-and-burn’ road trip with my Leather Ssiblings fed me! Literally! What do Yyou get when Yyou place two Dominant Leatherwomen and two Leather Littles in a car together for a road trip? “Chickee Nuggees anyOone?” LOL

The lineup of voices at “We Have Always Been Here” was powerful: Master Thumper of House Fuji brought depth to His embodiment of diversity, Ma’am LadyD delivered Herstory like only a Griot can, and MsGee Wila lit a fire under Oour boots with a Call to Action for Leather Activists in support of Oour most marginalized. If Yyou haven’t heard of the Chattanooga Trans Liberation Collective, go get familiar, especially if Yyou’re talking justice in Leather and looking for a direction for activism. To the entire chAPTERnooga crew: i see Yyall. i’m proud to have shared space. And yes, i grabbed a few more hankies for a worthy cause to really let it all hang out!

After that road trip it was time for another and let me say this: if Southern Hospitality was a title, it would’ve gone to the Tarheel Leather Club for their Stars and Stripes Leather Run in Greensboro, NC. And i’m not just saying that because i was surrounded by four, count them, FOUR generations of my OH-SO-HANDSOME Title (including current sash) - Husbands!

What a time!

The fellowship among the Carolinas clubs - the joy, the lore, the cocktails (i’ll come back to that) - was something special. i was deeply moved by the camaraderie and richness of community there and glad i got to hear and learn Leather history.

And another congratulations to Yyour 2025 NC Bootblack: Lady Abrams!! Watching Yyou black, connect, and strive through your competition deepened my appreciation for Bootblacks and their integral part of Leather even more.

i must give a special nod to all of the hosted cocktail parties including that Tradesmen’s Tea of the Charlotte Tradesmen - of which i was doubtfully challenged (no, They didn’t know the demon baby - but now They do!) and had two…or more cups? Who’s counting? However! The SELF 2025 Titleholders’ Cocktail Party was obviously my fav - and everyOone else’s! Wwe took home that win baby!! i’m glad the attendees had such a good time creating little polycule colonies of aliens and attempting to take home the prized alien stuffy! Beam Uus up anytime, Scotty!

Back home, and i had about four days before i was on the move again to begin celebrations for my bearthday by traveling to Los Angeles to sit with the legendary Mistress Cyan of DomCon. This amazing woman is someOne who’s not only held space in Oour subculture, but chiseled it out and built it for decades. Wwe shared conversation around legacy, vision, and building sustainable containers for diverse leadership in Leather. i was honored to meet such a down-to-earth Beauty and i left invigorated. i’m looking forward to reconnecting with Mistress Cyan and many Oothers when i show up strong for Dom Con New Orleans October 23rd-26th! i’ll be presenting ‘Fetiquette: The Nuance Between ‘Your’ and ‘A’ on Friday, the 24th and hosting the BIPOC Social on Saturday, the 25th! If Yyou’re going, i’ll see Yyou there!

Back on the East Coast in Atlanta, my bearthday happened to be the same weekend as Kink Down South so unfortunately, i wasn’t able to attend. But, before i dove back into titleholder duties and boarded another plane, my bearthday welcomed in a rest period that was dedicated to connecting with myPremiers and my Leather Family. If Yyou attended KDS i hope Yyou had an absolutely amazing time celebrating boldly, beautifully, and safely! And don’t worry, i’m around locally. Yyou might catch me at the ATL Eagle every 3rd Saturday for the Georgia Leather United Cigar Social or every 1st Sunday at the MAsT Thomson meetings.

Celebrating my bearthday and resting was just what i needed to fuel me for continued travels, communion, and indulging Leather energy. i had two upcoming cons less than a week apart! i’m telling Yyou, these #FirstHundredDays had me feeling like i was back in undergrad at Leather University! First up was traveling back to the familiar stomping grounds of the NorthEast for the Master/slave Conference and then back SouthEast for the incomparable Sex Down South Conference. Both experiences were so refreshing. i missed the energy of MsC, attending such varied, diverse, educational classes, workshops, panels, and more, and resting in the fullness of my slayvhood. i reunited with my SELF Titleholders Family including my Sash-Mama Master Sabrina and my Sash-Glam-Mama Scarlett Rose,and Wwe represented 8 years of legacy (2017-2025)! i also had the opportunity to finally attend a Leather title contest as an audience member and seeing it from the other side truly put the depth of work, preparation, courage, and passion needed to run in perspective. i’m even more inspired to pay forward the faith my region placed in me as i support others in their Leather journeys.









And Sex Down South?! This was my second year attending and the Leather presence is surely strengthening as a reminder that Leather, too, encompasses sexual liberation, health, wellness, education, and consensual debauchery. i was pleasantly reunited with my Sash-Mama Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2024 and shared congratulatory space with the beautifully influential Ms. Bulge Leather 2025, Empress Jessica Akanke! Sex Down South’s theme for their 11th year, ‘Spiritual Awakening’, left me fully awake and recharged in claiming my pleasure.

And how pleasurable it was to witness my Lil’ Sis, my Junior Handler step even deeper into her Leather Journey as she continues the legacy of ‘Each Oone, Reach Oone’ bestowed upon her by launching the Dallas Black Munch in Dallas, Tx. As a proud, vetted organization under the umbrella of the Black Kink Network, i am so proud to have attended her second event, the launch of Dallas Black Munch’s virtual munch, ‘Connections Run Deep’ to continue opening the door and reaching even more POC kinky folx waiting for and seeking community and knowledge. If Yyou’re in the DFW area or just want to support The Next Generation, friend the Dallas Black Munch Fetlife page, join their group, and stay tuned for what’s up next.

my title year is just getting started and the fun is far from over! Up next i’ll be supporting the Service Oriented Virtual Conference for another year on October 4th, this time moderating two classes – one of which is for one of my Judges who recently won Midwest slave! Congratulations to Master Lucian Raven and celina raven as Midwest Master/slave 2025! Also, congratulations to Shay Raven, Midwest Person of Leather 2025! i can’t wait to see Master Lucian and celina again at SOC and get ready, because the SouthEast will see Yyou at SPLF!

As i write this column, i feel the pride of what stepping into title truly means. Showing up isn’t just for large conferences and events or to tick off a list of duties on a piece of paper. It’s about honoring the weight of Leather Values and embodying them with a unique spin only Yyou can. More congratulations are in order to Oour newest Women of Drummer 2025, Mrs. Dee Supreme! The work You are called to do in Your purpose is necessary and i look forward to witnessing all the more You will bring to the beauty of Leather.

Whew, have enough confetti poppers, mocktails, and cocktails been popped yet? Never!

These past 109 days have surely been a fantastic voyage, yet the most thrilling part so far?

Meeting Oour people. Witnessing Oour diversity. Hearing how Oothers LIVE Leather. Seeing how Oothers live Leather, and joining in to cement it as Oours.

From the sexy, to the social, to the service-driven, i have seen so many expressions of Leather identity. Oour culture isn’t a monolith. And let no Oone tell Yyou how to define YyOUR Leather.

Everywhere i’ve traveled so far - virtually and physically - has reminded me that diversity in Leather isn’t just a catchy theme, it’s the truth. And i’m honored to carry this title into more spaces driving connection and witnessing that beauty.

Remember, ‘Each Oone, Reach Oone’. And i’m still reaching, for Yyou. See Yyou soon!

From Grief to Grounding: The Hollow Between Loss and Light
October has always been my month. i’m a Summer baby who adores Fall.
The air shifts, the veil thins, the world feels both softer and sharper, and the spiritual energy hums at frequencies i understand. The breeze blows both cool and warm, like a welcome hug from one of my oldest babysitters, The Crypt Keeper. It’s the season where my demon baby energy feels most at home, wrapped in jack-o’-lanterns, cool nights, and the eternal debate of whether ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is a Halloween or Christmas movie. (for me, it’s Thanksgiving - my happy medium.)

This October though, carried weight. Grief braided itself, yet again, into the celebrations and joys of my life. The last time i talked with all of you, it was October 1st, about 109 days into my title year. Shortly after, October slipped through my fingers like sand. It began with service. On October 4th, i sported the newly created Service Oriented Virtual Conference swag pin while moderating classes for the conference and felt refueled being back in that space soaking up wisdom and witnessing folx reflect service from every angle.

But by dawn the next morning, everything changed.

On October 5th, i received unbelievable news that my longtime accomplice and dear friend, my co-founder and fierce supporter of nearly every bright idea my imagination could conjure including the Black Kink Network (BKN), Mr. CunningLinguist (Mr. CL / James Ward), had passed.

my world collapsed inward. Time lost its edges as His absence carved out a hollow with a rippling depth. Days blurred, folding in on themselves marked by grief and stamped by the quiet necessity of still having shit to do. i moved like a shell. Half-aware. Trying to maintain my hold on work, on titleholding, on connection, but slipping. my capacity was already stretched thin and grief pulled at what was left. i watched my own life from a distance on autopilot. i showed up because that’s what Leatherfolx do, honor our commitments, but beyond the ache and the effort of labor, i don’t remember much.

i didn’t realize how far into autopilot i’d gone until it was suddenly time for DomCon New Orleans near the end of the month. Grief, like trauma, plays with memory and time-bends. How did i get from October 5th to the 23rd? The answer was the beauty of the in-between.

October, already one of my favorites, reshaped itself into a month of ceremony lined with grief, gratitude, and deep joy. In that in-between, i answered a familiar call to begin again by loccing my hair. One of my tried and true rituals of patience, reclamation, and quiet devotion. i was then collared into The Forge by The One i Serve, marked as His with blessings received from Mr. CL just a week earlier. i leaned into the comfort, discipline, and clarity of M/s Leather. The next morning, i welcomed myMoomie’s bearthday while, at the same time, Loved Ones gathered in person and virtually to honor Mr. CL’s life. i attended His funeral services virtually, holding tears in one hand and reflective gratitude in the other, suspended in that paradox of loss and love, grief and celebration.

In the days that followed, my remaining co-founders of the Black Kink Network gathered for our first prescheduled administrative meeting without Him. It was charged yet necessary. We pledged, together, that His work continues through us. That His energy still anchors what we are building. That in the tangle of sorrow, His covenant with community, purpose, and service lives on. The next evening, we hosted a four-and-a-half-hour memorial for Mr. CL in the Black Kink Network’s origin space on the Clubhouse app. We shared stories, memories, laughter, silence, and tears. It was remembrance as ritual. Protected community remembering itself through the energy of our transitioned with those still here. It was life-affirming and life-giving.

By the end of October, after the emotional rollercoaster that is Uni (my pet name for the Universe), i could hear Mr. CL in my head: “Alright, glaze. Get it together.” Not as a dismissal, but as a sharp reminder that grief does not pause my responsibilities or shield my heart.

Duty called. It was the end of October and DomCon New Orleans arrived. i was still carrying grief yet still deeply committed to service. i presented a class i had previously only shared virtually within the Black Kink Network, now offered real-time, from a heart still mourning. i hosted the BIPOC Social. i assisted as Sir officiated a collaring ceremony for members of our Leather Family held, intentionally, in that BIPOC space at Dom Con. i navigated, with other attendees, the “underside of the BIPOC track” - the scheduling conflicts, emotional labor, expectations, and invisible weight that too often fall on the same shoulders. This year, that disconnection to my people, that inability to show up for my people, felt more raw - for me.

And when Dom Con NoLA, a beautiful, enjoyable, first-time experience of which i will absolutely be returning, was over, and my Leather Sibling and i traveled home, we stayed tapped into that quiet underground current that holds our Leather kinship together - checking in on community members who we knew were having significant travel woes, reaching out, ready to detour if needed. Even in my grief. Even in our exhaustion. Even after a weekend full of service, reconnection, and joy, we reached for, and held onto, our people. Because THAT is Leather in Action and i’m so blessed to have witnessed it and contributed to it.

Halfway through my title year, i’ve become even more grounded in my life’s work of embodying duality. The reality that grief and growth are companions. Service and sorrow can coexist. And even in the hollow between loss and light, when i am battling inner and outer shadows and forget how to literally live, Leather and the people who embody it continue to teach me how to live and remind me of why i still do. This year is not about perfection, polish, or accolades. It is about persistence in the midst of varied, complex injury. i mean, from the onset of an injured knee to the current of my injured heart, i am living the embodiment of grit and smiling beautifully through it, crooked and pained muscles and all. i am breaking open and practicing showing up through the ache, choosing community over isolation, and allowing vulnerability to be a form of service. It is about admitting when i am not okay and still choosing to remain in relationship with those who can hold that truth.

i made Mr. CL a promise that i’d speak my pain, and my needs, and definitely my desires. i do not only serve in Leather, i serve throughout my life. And this life of mine is heavy. i am holding community, leading, serving, teaching, tending to my title, reminding myself to engage with my family and personal connections, and navigating ongoing conflicts and demanding pressures outside of Leather while choosing integrity even when it costs me comfort. i am embracing underlying clinical symptoms that were skillfully masked throughout the course of my life. i am managing a complex, loving, layered relationship with my mother, who has spent a lifetime navigating mental and physical diagnoses and recently endured two major life-altering surgeries. She is still here laughing, cracking jokes, and expressing her love for me. That matters. i am doing all of this as a powerful, Black, femme s-type in a world that does not always embrace us, understand us, or catch us when we stumble, much less, when we fall.

And i am clocking, very clearly, who checks on me, too.

Leadership is not always loud. Sometimes it is surviving the silence. Sometimes it is holding yourself together just enough to keep space open for others and letting them hold space for you right back. Grief has sharpened my sight. i see who leads with ego. i see who knows service. i see who reaches. i see who disappears. i have no space for superficial performances of Leather. i only have space for love, for humanity, for truth. Through grief and grit, i’m still here serving, choosing connection, reaching for the light and, yes, lovingly dragging others with me all the way down to hell when they forget they too deserve to rise.

Leather titles are callings. They are platforms for change. Yes, i am having the time of my life! And also: this is work. This is dutiful weight. Behind the titles, patches, protocols, and personas are hearts breaking, souls mending, and people just trying their best to stay tethered to living.

We, Leatherfolx, are people. We hurt, we break, we may retreat, we rise, we return, and we must take care of each other. REACH ONE. Before the heartbreak arrives or the call comes too late. Check on your folx. Love out loud. Hold each other. Serve like it matters because it does. If you love Leather, please act like it. If you love community, please tend to it. If you love people, please check on them.

Honor that or don’t speak my name. It’s amethyst, yes, still glaze.

As i write this, welcoming in the Holiday Season, a season so fraught already with sensitivity and emotional risks, i am looking forward to (hopefully) taking a short, yet true break. One where i not only pause, but actually STOP and allow it all, all of the experiences, to catch up to me so that i can feel, process, rejuvenate, and reemerge. Before that though, as i feel myPremiers’ eyes getting squintier and eyebrows threatening to become wings as they fly off faces, i am excited to moderate in support of the FLAIR Forward Virtual Conference held November 14th-16th, 2025 and M. Mocha Breeze, myMoomie, as She presents two classes throughout the weekend. i also look forward to moderating in support of the virtual conference In Leather We Trust, December 5th-7th, as M. Mocha Breeze presents there as well. Service, duty, honor, loyalty, integrity, authenticity, joy, fun - those and more Leather Values are the lifeline of my inner code. i’m still here. i don’t plan on going anywhere, but Mr. CL’s passing transformed me.

my Black Kink Network cofounders Switchress Shay Au Lait and Mr. Prince and i expanded BKN this year and are hosting a BKN ‘State of the Union’ address on zoom December 9th to update our existing protected membership of all of our developments - and then, we’ll host an ‘Informational’ (to be scheduled) for other interested individuals. Please visit www.BlackKinkNetwork.com. Peruse our information and the collection of five years worth of intentionally building community and reaching for and with each other. Check back for the forthcoming Founder Memorial page for Mr. CL and take a momentary breath to honor lineage. Join us, support us, witness us, know us, if you feel so inclined. i thank you for that.

As i prepare to close 2025, i hold deep gratitude for every lesson, every loss (but not Mr. CL’s just yet), and every light that shaped me this year. This journey has softened and strengthened the very heat of me and i carry that spark with me to flame across regions. As 2026 approaches, i’ll be heading back to the Northeast to emcee the NE Person of Leather Contest at Twisting Culture on January 31st. In February i’ll be in Florida attending HALE’s Second Annual Day of Leather. In March i’ll be attending SouthPlains LeatherFest for the first time in support of the SE POL and SE M/s couple’s run for International and to enjoy a new experience. In the Spring BKN will host a Virtual Conference BKN style! And in April, i’m sure by now you know where to find me - in the stomping grounds of Downtown, Atlanta at SELF 2026: ENERGIZE! i’ll be stepping down from this deeply special experience as Your Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2025. my family, The Forge, will be hosting a BIPOC Cigar Social (open to all) Friday night. Members of my Leather Family will be presenting throughout the weekend, and i’ll be copresenting HuPets: When Anthropetized Play Becomes Role with a beloved BKN member, elle marie of House of Royals, on Friday as well.

i’m finding my grounding amidst turbulent winds, collared into protection, connected through the strong hide of Leather, and still conjuring the next demon baby endeavor. May the close of this year bring you rest, reflection, the covering of deep love, and the courage to step into your next season with grace.

i leave you with a timely callback to a portion of my contest introduction speech for those who were unable to witness it and those who may welcome a reminder:

“i’m running for Ms. SELF 2025, because i believe in the kind of presence that’s forged through sleepless nights, playing double-dutch with demons in the dark - and then - stepping into the light to foster understanding, cohesion, integration. i represent the tender-fierce, shadow-kissed survivors, and the innocently playful victors. i run to show that surrender is shadow, Leather is the work, yet joy and depth in complexity belong to us too. i’m not here as a polished product. i’m here as a rites-of-passage offering to you, my needed community. A tribute that’s kinky, curvy, where shadow and light wed birthing demigods of ritual. i walk in alignment with every part of who i am, using harmony as my compass. And i’d really like to meet you. Vulnerable. Naked. Humans in shared existence. Can we play?”

Hug me when you see me. That good kind, you know? The one science articles are written about that lead those embraced to sway? Yea, i need that.

Please?

For A Dirty Projector, Stillness Is The Move

i’ve been contemplating SELF 2026’s theme: ENERGIZE.

The word itself feels electrifying to me. It calls to passion, to embolden, and to reinvigorate. It also speaks to knowing when energizing is needed to replenish the energy.

There’s a leak somewhere within me — and i’ve been depleting. A projector can’t cast clearly when it’s overheated and unclean.

i said i was moving like a shell and didn’t recognize it until service called — so i needed to pause on the service and be served.

i spent December moving toward opening at the close with Chosen Family. i turned inward and observed my life: my attachments, my connections, my commitments. i evaluated where, what, and who was stoking my fire — and where embers were quietly dimming.

i needed to transition into and from the holidays while acknowledging the depth of my grief. i needed to breathe within my own body without narrating it. Without overanalyzing, overexplaining, or making it pretty and palatable for the unreadied. i needed to sit with what changed in me after October.

i needed to recognize that change and give it space to birth.

And i did.

i stepped into 2026 with a spark held gently in my bosom, blowing sweet breaths to enliven its flame. i took a piece of me, planted it in another, and announced the reactivation of my mentorship under former Ms. International Leather 2025, Velvet Storm, as i ushered into official mentorship with my own kinkling, Eve tha Minx of the Dallas Black Munch.

Having direction for my power has provided structure to expand within. With our mutual acceptance of beginning this new relationship — one of Leather mentorship and familial kinship-making — i felt something shift.

i was beginning to energize.

i was ready to come back outside and finish what i started within this Title Year just as strongly. To lean into my upcoming step-down with fervor, appreciation, reflection, grace — and of course — renewed demon baby energy.

In January, i attended Odyssey of Kink: An Art Exhibition by Mistress Sheba, held at an art gallery in Atlanta. i enjoy immersing myself in Black Leather archives and history. i felt honored to be in space with some of the very same people depicted in the photography adorning the walls and tables, reading written experiences decades in the making.

i spent much of that night weaving in and out of the crowd, finding pockets to connect with others, pockets to reconnect with myself, and navigating energy in multiplicity.

The following day, my BKN Cofounders and i attended KinkedIn Konnect: The Worldwide Kinky Educator and Presenter Virtual Conference produced by Let It Reign as educators and organizational representatives.

i was impressed with the production and execution of that event. i fell into the newness and excitement of meeting so many diverse, experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled industry educators, presenters, and organizers. Hosting a virtual table to share the Black Kink Network’s endeavors felt like a roundtable of likeminded energy.

Yes. i could feel it. i was energizing.

January closed with more events dear to the process of my resurgence — events that illuminated my path and showed me how i could actualize my own gifts and goals.

i attended the Dallas Black Munch’s “Kinky Goals and Next Steps” virtual event produced and hosted by my mentee. i was inspired to review my aspirations and believe in their achievement. i smiled at her growth as she authentically, gently, and knowledgeably guided her curated munch group.

To have a kinkling is to have a piece of yourself experiencing the world with fresh perspective. That newness revitalizes me.

Shortly after, the Black Kink Network hosted our open Public Informational, and then — with just a few short days’ turnaround — i was absolutely ready to board a plane and travel to Baltimore, MD for Twisting Culture’s 2026 Northeast Person of Leather Contest, where i planned to visit with friends and loved ones and emcee the contest.

Until i didn’t.

i had been hearing the news. Watching emails from work about safety measures and potential office closures. Bundling up and traveling to and fro each day, eyes alert and peeled to the roadways.

Two days before the NEPOL contest, i received a notification from my airline app that my flight was delayed.

One day before the contest, i received text messages from my support network informing me not to travel — then urging me not to travel when i hadn’t responded quickly enough to their outpours of consideration.

But i knew. i knew i wouldn’t be boarding that plane. Wouldn’t be traveling from freezing rain in the Southeast into inches of snow piled atop thick ice in the Northeast.

But then — and i chuckle here — Leather said, “hold my battery pack.”

Within less than 48 hours of the contest date, i witnessed the cumulative grit and effort as an entire regional contest shifted from an in-person ticketed event to a 100% virtual ticketed event.

my goodness was it glorious.

And it was damn sure energizing.

But here’s what reverberated within me: energy doesn’t only surge. It redirects. It saves itself. It flows toward the path of least resistance and maximum potency.

While snow was piling up in Baltimore and ice was glazing the Southeast, something else was happening. What could have been panic became pivot. What could have drained the team became coordination. What could have been cancellation became recalibration.

No one pretended the storm wasn’t real or that risk wasn’t significant. They adjusted.

And i was proud to be right there with them.

When i logged in to prepare for opening as emcee, sitting in my Georgia home prepared to hold space for two regions united in the East navigating weather and uncertainty, i felt steady, firm, and at attention.

Until 5:00 PM EST.

As i was closing out Master of Ceremonies duties, the lights around me flickered, puttered, and went out.

Of course they did.

There’s a leak somewhere, remember?

As i lost external power and dropped from the call right as i was introducing Twisting Culture’s Producer to announce the 2026 NEPOL, i felt my internal reserves ticking down.

Thank goodness i had charged an external battery pack and stocked up on snacks that were now redirected to immediacy.

The leak hissed louder.

“i’m still here,” it said. “Push through. Don’t drop the ball. Stay online. Hold it all. Be perfect.”

Thank goodness i had been bating sweet breaths to reenergize my tanks, because i was able to feel that familiar pull and recognize it.

This time, discernment whispered louder than self-sacrifice.

“You can do anything, baby,” it said. “But you can’t do everything. Log back in by mobile and finish your duties. Do only what is necessary. You can be excellent. You don’t have to be perfect.”

So i did.

i logged back on by mobile and handled my Master of Ceremonies duties. i did not martyr myself to the moment. i shared powerful space with all who attended and navigated the challenges and obstacles. i congratulated the 2026 Northeast Person of Leather, slave sunflower.

And when it was done, i rested.

That might not sound groundbreaking.

But for me — it is.

Earlier versions of me would have treated that sudden power outage in the midst of duty like a test of self-worth. An invitation to prove.

This version understood it as a reminder: energy is not infinite. Service — especially when directed one way and capitalized without reciprocity — is not proof of value.
And when there’s a leak, you don’t pour more in. You find the source.

Let me be absolutely clear: the leak was never this title or this title year.

No matter how the container is housed, the leak was overextension without pause for recalibration. And i’ve embraced this title year for offering me the opportunity to sit in process and repair those pieces of me quietly — yet so visibly.

i made changes in areas of my servitude that redistributed my energy as part of that repair. It wasn’t because i couldn’t do. It wasn’t because i didn’t care. It definitely wasn’t because i wasn’t capable.

It was because discernment over the sustenance of my very life force asked me:

“Is this output aligned with the energy you actually have? Or the energy you’re trying to prove to be worthy of vulnerabilities held with love, gentleness, and care?”

That question — a question He asked of me for over a decade — has been echoing in MaSire CL’s voice since October.

His passing changed me. Permanently.

His energy isn’t a haunting. It’s calibration. A steady internal voice that asks:

“glaze? Is this devotion? Or depletion? You remember when Lois Lane fell out of the plane and Superman saved her and said ‘I’ve got you,’ and Lois Lane said ‘You’ve got me? Who’s got you?’ Yeeaaa… ponder that.”

ENERGIZE, for me, no longer means “pump up and go harder.” It means compassionate self-auditing as self-care. Find the leaks and seal them. Protect the all-spark within. Redirect the current as necessary. Know when to plug in. Know when to unplug. And know that both are valid.

That process — engaging discernment — is the difference between burning out and burning steady.

Now here, in February, as i move toward copresenting “Leather Houses & Leather Families” and sitting on the panel “Stories of Lived Leather” with my Brother Mr. Prince Feb 28th in Milton, FL at HALE’s Second Annual Day of Leather…

As i prepare to attend South Plains LeatherFest March 19th–22nd hosting a SELF Cruise with my 2025 SELF Titleholder Family and supporting the International M/s and POL contestants…

As BKN prepares for our first two-day virtual summit March 28th and 29th with intentionality toward honoring time, curated space, and energy…

As i eye my Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2025 sash, medallion, and back patch — proudly nearing what feels beautifully like a coming home and a closing to this rites-of-passage title year at SELF: ENERGIZE April 9th–12th at the Courtland Grand in downtown Atlanta…

i am not sprinting and i am not disappearing.

i am stewarding.

There is still fire here.

But now?

i know where the switch is.

In the surgical room, calm envelops with a gentle galloping as the year of the Fire Horse ushers in and i, this spirit-child born of the year of the Earth Snake, attunes the snake to her rhythm — balancing, adjusting, tuning — so that i may continue dancing,

with you.

i’ll see you soon. So very soon.

And i hope you’ll be energized too.

There’s a soft cadence of deep closure as i sit to write the final column of my title year.

This year began with heightened anticipation. With the adrenaline of the sudden awareness that something significant had been placed in my hands — the trust, expectation, and responsibility of legacy carried publicly.

And now, feeling just as sudden, the year is almost complete.

When i began this journey as Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2025, i knew my year would be unique and that ten months would move quickly. What i did not fully perceive at the time was just how much this role would reshape my understanding of service, responsibility, community, my personal relationships, and how much the year would ask of me not just in representation, but in reflection.

Titleholding looks ceremonial from the outside. Sashes, stages, points made, pomp and circumstance — all for a moment of recognition.

But from the inside, it becomes deep work.

It is standing in front of rooms full of strangers and speaking honestly about power, responsibility, vulnerability, and the complicated beauty that is Leather. It becomes travel, connection through conversation, presenting, listening, representing philosophical yet lived values, and experiencing the quiet transformation happening behind the scenes within your psyche.

This year, unexpected in many ways, brought me across the Southeast and beyond, into rooms filled with Leatherfolx carrying different traditions, perspectives, and histories. Every stop reminded me how expansive and diverse Leather truly is.

i am deeply grateful to the organizations and individuals who invited me into their spaces, offering opportunities to speak, to teach, to learn, and to connect.

my work has always focused on agency and awareness through power literacy. On helping people understand the frameworks beneath the aesthetics of consent, authority transfer, cultural awareness, and psychological responsibility.

Through workshops and conversations, i have focused on these frameworks that help us engage power responsibly. Expanding these discussions matters because Leather is not simply aesthetic or identity. For some of us, it is daily lived practice, responsibility, and stewardship.

At the same time, this year reminded me that titleholders are human beings navigating real lives.

There were moments of celebration, moments of strain, and as i come to write this column, moments of culmination.

There were physical challenges, emotional recalibrations, embracing the ordinary realities that exist alongside extraordinary opportunities, and recognizing that the human being behind the sash still has limits, still has a life unfolding outside of titleholding, and must face themselves when the sash comes off.

Learning how to continue serving while protecting my personal capacity became one of the most honest and important lessons of this journey.

This year also taught me, painfully, that service requires stillness.

In my last column, i reflected on the theme of energy and the importance of pausing when our internal reservoirs begin to leak. That reflection came from a moment when i realized that even the most passionate servant leadership can become unsustainable — and even cause wreckage — if we forget how to replenish ourselves.

Sometimes the most responsible action is to pause, reconnect and reevaluate with self, and return to the work with clarity rather than exhaustion.

Holding this title as a Black, Queer-Femme Leatherbeing carries meaning beyond myself. Courageous visibility can help others see that there is space for them here too.

Representation is not only about being seen, but demonstrating that the fullness of our identities — the complicated, joyful, shadowed, evolving parts — have their place in Leather too.

i have felt that responsibility deeply throughout this year, and i am honored to have carried it.

This year reminded me that Leather survives because of the genuine people within it. Mentors who pass knowledge forward, strengthening tradition. Peers who hold one another accountable, furthering protection and safety.
Organizers who keep events alive year after year, feeding reunion and welcoming the new. And the countless individuals who show up quietly to support the work without ever standing on a stage.

To the people who supported me through this year — those close to me, those who invited me into your spaces, and those who simply watched the journey unfold from afar — thank you.

To the Elders who guided me, the peers who stood beside me, the organizers who make way, and the many community members both visible and unseen — thank you.

i will always be Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2025 — but it will not always be 2025.

As this chapter closes, i remain committed to the work that guided me here: education, fostering dialogue, community building, and the practiced protection of honoring the values that make Leather more than aesthetic, but a living tradition.

The work continues, and i am grateful to have carried it, even for a little while.

To the next adventure — may the lessons learned guide my way.

And may the work continue long after the sash is folded.