New Jersey’s Leather Family hosted the Mr/Ms NJ Leather Contest this past spring. Few people think of going down the shore when the whistling winds of March are blowing, yet it is when leather weekend happens. When you have vendors, bootblacks, authors, demonstrations, workshops and more, it is a save-the-date for everyone interested or involved in BDSM and kink from all ranges of the spectrum of safe and sensual fantasy and play. This is also where the stars come out since the contest is MC’d by the brilliant Jeff Tucker and the luscious Lascivious Jane, supported by interpreters Debbie and Fingers. Be sure to get a good spot this upcoming March to see all of them as the show sparkles even more.
Leather is about honor and respect; consequently the event begins with the Star Spangled Banner, sung by an ensemble from the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus. Then the Parade of Colors featuring representatives from visiting leather families from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and states further South. In 2025, once the greetings were complete, we got to meet the contestants for Mr NJ Leather 2025.
First up was Boy Paulo, hailing from Brazil’s farm country! Tall, tan, and oh-so-lovely, this boy from Brazil had just returned from vacation and was toasted lightly. All over. Charmingly accented, and attired, the competition was starting out strong. SwitchBlade, from House of Steel, and who is part of ONYX brought the charm of someone raised in New York City who chose Jersey as his home. Rounding out the field was Cortez, whom some know as Wolf Thor, and who has an identical twin. Identical. Twin. Stop what you’re imagining and finish reading. Hot as the competition was, their judges ramped it up further.
Head Judge for this year’s NJ Leather was NJ 2011’s Robert Vitale, followed by Mr. Eagle Wilton Manors 2024 Stephen Crespo; International Leather Sir 2018 Sir Jay Switchery; Women of Drummer producer Toni Salenne; Eagle NYC 2022 Sir Kenzo Onyx; Mid Atlantic Leather 20-22 Rayne; and of course 2024 NJ Ms Leather Beth Bicoastal and 2024 Mr NJ Leather Stephen Shoakuma.
The contestants had to be extra sharp to impress this group. Victoria Cortez, no relation to the contestant, wowed the crowd with her Madonna Evita Mix while the contestants prepared for the Fantasy portion of the competition. This is where everyone flexes creativity for major points. But first, hot wear and the questions.
Hot Wear is fascinating. In 2025, Boy Paulo was in a shiny hardware jock with matching armbands and he received the question, “If you were a dessert, what would you be?” His answer describing something sweet and Brazilian enthralled the audience. SwitchBlade, in leather kilt, spiked greaves, and shoulder guards was asked, “What fruit would you masturbate with?” He chose grapefruit. Cortez in black leather harness and black leather jock was asked, “What super power would you enjoy during sex?” His answer was electricity. Shocking! And Fantasy was next…after the first live auction.
You may know that the first ever IMsL winner, Judy Tallwing McCarthey, is an artist, a healer, and a storyteller extraordinaire who is extremely generous with her leather family. Every year she puts something special in the auction and this year she donated a partially embellished ceramic medicine bear. The bidding was hotly contested back and forth, and it was Jeff Tucker who was the ultimate winner. There was hardly a dry eye in the house as the item raised a lot of money for the NJ Leather Family for their work.
Boy Paulo’s fantasy in March had Daddy flagging green, and saying “no” to some toys on a table while Boy Paulo flagging red had a flail. The music segues to Rihanna’s “S&M” followed by Boy Paulo’s Trick Bag raffle basket complete with paddles, leather teddy bear, some wearables and more, netting $350 for the charitable work of NJ Leather Family.
SwitchBlade’s fantasy included a pup mask this year, an awakening, domination of a slave with dog bone, flogger, and blindfold on an atmospheric red lit stage. Three baskets came from SwitchBlade: a box from Forge’s estate, flagging orange, and original art sold for $550. Pup-based baskets were $500 together. Cortez fantasy’ centered on classic competitive wrestling and included “weapons of ass destruction.” He knew his opponent’s moves since he battled his fiancé CJ. Cortez and contributed a basket with lots of gift cards, leather gift certificates, a photo shoot, clothing and more that raised more than $500 for the cause.
Giving the judges a moment to discuss and tabulate, and the contestants time to prepare for the final round, Lascivious Jane reprised her title-winning burlesque performance to Lissie’s “Mother” to the vast enjoyment of the audience. Other highlights this past year included the Roster Rose Community Service Award won by Boy Bruce and a galvanizing live auction of a very special paddle with a leather flag design on one side, while the other side is stair tread. Pup Yellow took the final test in March, $550 for hand made paddle, as demonstrated by Jeff.
The final round was Leather Image. Each contestant describes how he would spend the Sash Year, with each contestant in their formal leathers. Boy Paulo flagged white, saying he would spend his title year helping people move away from phones and into community. SwitchBlade flagged orange and said he would spend his title year working on education to raise awareness and keep freedoms available to assure we all can love whom we choose. Cortez flagged red and would spend his title year helping with medical readiness and first aid, assisting with life saving skills and emergency preparedness. With this information the panel of judges had their work cut out for them.
Everyone then got some treats and got caught up on some community news while final decisions were being made and the votes were tallied. Boy Kona dazzled us with his beautiful voice singing “I Am What I Am” in formal shiny pink. Tigger, an earlier Mr NJ Leather, is now the Executive Director of IML and was congratulated. Then our 2024 Sash Couple did their final walk. Pup Yellow thanked everyone for his title year. Beth Bicoastal made an emotional shout out to MILFs and to her own mom, her kids and her sash husband Pup Yellow, Sal and Loyal, Ms Lisa, Gretchen, and Ms Amelia. “Having a leather family,” she said, “is a huge gift.” They also gave thanks to Ray and Doug and all the Boys of Leather. A shout out went to house of Steel Toe with their sharp sense of honor and protocol. Michael and Sandy, their predecessors, were thanked as well as Georgie’s, Paradise, and all of her sponsors.
“Asbury Park Leather Family is magic, and we need to remember that,” Beth said. Pat the Artist awarded Pup Yellow and Beth with handmade portraits and then the decision came, the winner was SWITCHBLADE!
This was just one weekend event, one of the many amazing events happening in Asbury Park, the shore area, and beyond, with the NJ Leather Family and Dragonslair productions. Follow them on social media and in Out in Jersey magazine to get more involved. See you in March!
