Northwest Leather Celebration
Contestants
(Listed in the order their application was received)
Northwest Bootblack
Kelly
I'm Bootblack Kelly and I was introduced to bootblacking in 2009 by Charming Chelle. She held a workshop, and I took to it immediately. Initially, I just did boots or other leather items for friends. I just kind of dabbled with bootblacking on and off for many years, while I honed my skills. When Northwest Leather was brought to Sacramento in 2017, I broke out of my shell and volunteered to take a couple of bootblacking shifts. My community was surprised to see me working the stands. I volunteered again in 2018. In 2019, I decided to run for NWLC bootblack. Although, the outcome wasn't favorable, it was a great learning experience. Seeing a need, I started a monthly Bootlab/Cigar Social in Sacramento. 2019 IMsBB Gretchen came out for one of our Bootlabs. In the past few months I've Bootblacked at Sacramento Pride, Northwest Leather Celebration, Leather Reign and the Exile's 25th Anniversary Party.
Creature
Creature is a compassionate Leather Dyke that has been active in the Calgary scene since 2014. They found love for bootblacking quickly after joining kink with the influence of their partner and friends along the way. Creature attributes the intense sensory experience of leather care to be an important grounding technique in their life. Creature is a social butterfly who loves to gather kinksters under one roof for cigars, boots, and kinship. They are passionate about fundraising, organizing, volunteering, supporting local educators, and creating a safer space within the kink scene. Their favourite kink is gritty, raw boot play- needles are a close second!
boy zander
Zander is a 40-year-old boy who is currently collared to his Sir and Alpha. He had been in training for four years and collared for 1 year. I have been bootblacking for 4 years within the leather community. He lives in Suisun City, CA and is currently single. He is an advocate for the education of new Bootblacks, other subs in training, and teaching students/adults who are willing to learn the art of bootblacking. He enjoys working at both the SF Eagle and the Bolt. You will probably see him at the 15 Association events, at Boot labs, and at other contests and events throughout San Francisco and Sacramento. He is not afraid of getting his hands dirty in order to help love on a pair of leather garments and boots. He is an amazing example of a hardworking, fun, and kinky bootblack within the leather community.
Taylor
Taylor Taliesin (They/xer) like their namesake, identifies as a traveling bard, as well as Leather Slut, and Bootblack. They first started in Leather in their hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska and have been an enthusiastic participant in several communities throughout their travels since. Their hobbies include leather crafting, reading in the sunshine, dancing, and jumping into hot springs naked. They work as a traveler with a variety of nonprofits in the medical and mental health fields serving the LGBTQ+ Community. Their job has recently led them to Boise, Idaho, where they are a proud Bootblack Xaddy to a growing leather community. In line with their values as a leather person they have a passion for bridging gaps in communities; such as those between swinging/polyamory and BDSM as well as the divide created by the AIDS crisis between the Old Guard/Old School leather and the younger BDSM/LGBTQ community.
Northwest Master slave
Master Bren & slave Sky
Master Bren and slave Sky radiate boundless strength within their Master/slave dynamic, in cultivation since 2019. Their intersectional identities of Latinx Master and as non-binary polyamorous Master and slave forms their foundational pillars of trust, communication, and respect. Driven by a desire for personal and communal growth, they exemplify and promote inclusivity, igniting profound connections wherever they go. With nearly a decade of experience for Master Bren and six years for slave Sky, their journey is a testament to relentless evolution. They strive to elevate themselves while uplifting the spirits of those around them, bridging the gap between generations with grace and reverence. Their narrative is not just about their own transformation but also about the transformative power of Master/slave dynamics in cultivating a community sanctuary of belonging and empowerment. Master Bren and slave Sky’s journey is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, and our collective capacity to rise above challenges and thrive.
Northwest Person of Leather
Ox
Steve, aka Ox, has been a member of the leather community since 1990 when he made his first several hundred cockrings at Image Leather in San Francisco. In 2000, Steve met someone, and in 2008, they got married as soon as it was legally possible. To reflect his career in information security, he received the name Mama’s Password Keeper to complement the Mama’s Leather Maker name he’s had since 2002. Steve and Glen lived the gay suburban life with two dogs until their world turned upside down when Glen was diagnosed with a rare cancer in late 2015. After Glen’s passing in 2016, Steve’s activity in the leather community was re-ignited. Today, Steve lives a few miles from his Daddy and has been happily collared to Daddy Ray for seven years. When not with Daddy, he enjoys home improvement and leatherwork as hobbies, and with Daddy, going to Disneyland.
Little Squirt
Little Squirt is a high-femme they/them, pastel punk, little pink switch-y bitch. A proud kinkster of 7 years, leather dyke of 6 years, and sex worker of over 4 years, Squirt is an avid advocate for decriminalizing sex work and de-stigmatizing sexual exploration. Through the use of social media, they’ve been able to educate the general public about the realities of sex work, porn literacy, the leather community, and safe kink practices. Squirt also devotes much of their time to carving out spaces for trans and non-binary people so that they may take up the spotlight and find community with each other. Squirt is the baby of the Seattle House of Shenanigans and proudly stands with their house’s principles of elevating marginalized groups in leather and #KeepKinkSilly. They were honored and humbled to serve their community as the inaugural Washington State Mx. Leather in 2023.
