Ms. & Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2005 Press Release

MR. & MS. PHILADELPHIA LEATHER 2005 NAMED DURING PHILADELPHIA LEATHER WEEKEND

Presidents’ Day saw the return of Philadelphia Leather Weekend and the introduction of our city’s new leather titleholders.

Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2005 is Bill Hawk and Ms. Philadelphia Leather is Dawn Marie. Bill is the current president of local club the Liberty Bears and Dawn Marie is best described as “a kinky-queer Martha Stewart meets Marilyn Monroe.” Bill will compete at IML in May, and Dawn Marie has her choice of competing at ABW, IMsL or Ms World.

First runners-up in each contest were Ron Smith and Sarah, and the second runner-up in the mens contest was Scott Gilligan. All of the contestants were absolutely brilliant and the judges did not have an easy job selecting from such a strong field of candidates.

Judging the contest were Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2004 Victor Falero, Ms. Philadelphia Leather 2004 and Ms. World Leather 2004 Pandora, Head Judge and Southwest Leatherboy 2002 Keith Tomlinson, International LeatherSIR 2004 Robert Davis, International Mr. Deaf Leather Paul “Teddy” O’Rourke, Mr. New Jersey Leather 2005 Tom Mead, and Ms. New Jersey Leather 2005 Amanda “PUP” Farrell.

The weekend opened at the Bike Stop on Friday night with a Kinky Karnival hosted by the Philadelphia Bondage Club. Tickets, 50/50 sales and an auction raised more than $1600 for the winners travel funds. On Saturday night the contest was hosted by Ryan Goldner and Carlota Ttendant. It was held at PURE and featured spectacular guest entertainers the Peek-A-Boo Revue, a local burlesque dance and comedy troupe who had the audience in awe of their daring costumes and choreography one minute and crying with laughter at their skits the next. Following the contest the After Party had the Bike Stop jam-packed with hot leather men and women until closing time. On Sunday the weekend finished up before the snow started with a raucous Victory Social in the Pit Stop at the Bike Stop hosted by the Philadelphians MC as only they know how -- with a great mixture of hard rock, dance music and an amazing spread of food.

Major sponsors for the weekend included Absolut, PURE, the Gear Box, Passional, and Tavern on Camac. Prizes were donated by the Gear Box, LeatherMasters II, Hamburger Mary’s and Giovanni’s Room.  Backpatches were created by the incredibly talented David Menkes of New York City.