Bo Ladashevska, Mr. Leather Montreal, was named International Mr. Leather 2006 at the 28th annual IML contest on May 28.
Ladashevska competed in a field of 51 contestants from 18 states and four countries: Belgium, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland. Larry Golubski, Mr. Long Beach Leather 2005, was named first runner-up. Philippe Lepine, Mr. Fetish Switzerland 2006-07, was named second runner up.
Contestants are judged on a variety of criteria, including community involvement, speech, presentation, and overall presence.
As the International Mr. Leather 2006 titleholder, Bo Ladashevska will represent IML and the leather community over the next year. He will receive a prize package that includes $5,000 in travel funds plus donations from businesses and organizations supporting the leather community.
Residing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Ladashevska works as an American Sign Language/ English interpreter. He has served as a guest lecturer on diversity at Concordia University; worked on promotion and served as a spokesperson for the 2006 World Out Games; served on the national Board of Directors of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada; and coordinated the Ther-a-Pet Program for AIDS Committee Care of Montreal, a program providing veterinary care and education for PWAs and their pets.
More than 1,700 leatherfolk attended this year's competition which was held at the Chicago Theatre. Entertainment was provided by comedian Bruce Vilanch. Brad Balof returned for his second consecutive year as emcee.
The 29th annual International Mr. Leather Weekend will be held May 24 - 28, 2007 (Memorial Day weekend). The Palmer House Hilton will again be the official host hotel of IML. Hotel reservations can be made after June 15, 2006, on the official IML website, imrl.com, or by calling 877-865-5321. Weekend packages can be purchased online at boxofficetickets.com. Updates on International Mr. Leather 2007 will be posted frequently on the official IML website.
Larry Golubski, Bo Ladashevska, Philippe Lepine photo courtesy of BULLmanX/ IMrL.com
