BIG NEWS!! Illustrated by Stephen Sadowski

BIG NEWS!

Reminder: Help Shape the IML 2026 Judging Panel To submit a nomination: 1. Visit the IML website. 2. Go to the “Contestant’s Guide” section from the drop-down menu then “Judges and Tally Masters.” 4. Complete the nomination form provided. Start nominating here: www.internationalmrleather.com/judges

Prepare yourself. Something raw, radical, and unapologetically queer is coming.

BIG NEWS AT NOON!!!

Congratulations Rene! “Thank you, Mayor deHarte, for taking time out of your schedule to show appreciation and recognition for folks in the community. And especially thank you for including me in this as well. Being able to serve as Mr Palm Springs Leather (and now IML) has been a privilege. ❤️🖤💙”

Winners of International Mr. Leather 2025 IML 2025 Winner: Rene Hebert, Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2025 ​ IML First Runner-up: Zephyr Merkur, Mr. Eagle NYC 2025 ​ IML Second Runner-up: Michael Tikili, Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Fetish 2024

Sway Dispensary, located at: 3340 N Halsted St. (across from Sidetrack) is Illinois' First Queer, Black, Latino-Owned Recreational Cannabis Dispensary. Offering 15% off an item for IML attendees that show a receipt/ticket in-store. Link: www.everybodysway.com IML, Sociall Media Team #IML

Get Your IML Video Head Cleaner 2 — Just $70 at Guest Services. Ask for Tony. Stock is limited and demand is high—don’t miss your chance to grab this collector’s essential while it lasts. Only $70 for a piece of IML history. IML, Social Media Team

Check out the parade of contestants headed to The Vic for tonight’s contest! fb.watch/zP4yyisTY6/? #IML #IML2025 #IML47

Monday Night – The party doesn’t stop! Dive into the infamous “Black & Blue Ball” which is at Jackhammer. It’s dark, it’s wild! It’s everything you've heard and MORE! Jackhammer 6406 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL. 60626 IML, Social Media Team #IML #InternationalMrLeather #SocialMediaTeam

Download our mobile app for "International Mr. Leather” created with: Yapp my.yapp.us/IML2025 #IML #InternationalMrLeather #Community #SocialMediaTransition #WorldLeatherDay

Keeping our staff and volunteers fueled and ready to go today, we’d like to thank Big Gay Sal’s Pizza for the food today! We all greatly appreciate your help and generosity. biggaysalspizza.com #IML2025 #IML #IML47

For folks attending the contest Sunday and wanting to head up early or stay a little later, the CTA Red Line is only one block west of the Congress Plaza Hotel. Ride north 9 stops to the front door of The Vic theater. CTA accepts Tap-To-Pay for easy access! #IML2025 #IML #IML47

🚨SUNDAY ONLY TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!🚨 Want to catch the finale of the International Mr. Leather contest? Tickets are now available for Sunday’s portion only! Catch Ralph Bruneau, Girl Complex, and Jack Keegan hosting this amazing experience from your own home! #IML2025 #IML #IML47

Tonight’s decision-makers. Our IML 2025 judges are taking their seats, ready to evaluate strength, presence, and passion for Physique and Stage.

Behind every contestant is a circle of love, laughter, and leather. This photo features some the partners, sash wives, and chosen family of the #IML2025 contestants—those whose support makes this stage possible. This one’s for the ones who hold us down and lift us up. #LeatherLove #SashFamily

The energy’s building as judges and staff arrive at #IML2025. A legacy of leather, kink, and community is unfolding—let’s make history together! #IML #IML47

Unleashed starts off with a room full of excited pets and critters! Squeaky toys are flying through the air and playful pups are wrestling on the mats! #IML2025 #IML #IML47 #HumanPets

Folks are waiting anxiously for the start of the Physique and Stage Presence part of IML 2025 at The Vic Theatre! Check out the line! #IML2025 #IML #IML47

Still at the Congress? Come check out Unleashed! The annual pet, critter, and handler party in Rendezvous, starting in 10 minutes! #IML2025 #IML #IML47

Our volunteers are hard at work helping make IML the best it can be! On behalf of all of us we’d like to thank Ann Sather for supplying food for our Volunteer Lounge to keep them fueled and ready to go! IML, Social Media Coordinator “Riku” #IML2025 #IML #IML47

Nightshift VIP – Sponsored by Recon TONIGHT! TONIGHT! Friday, May 23, 2025 Nightshift: A Recon Social Congress Plaza Hotel 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM It’s seductive, it’s bold, it’s unapologetically IML. #NightshiftVIP #IML47 #Recon #AfterDarkExperience #SwagWithASecret

RECON are proud to return to IML47 as our International Media Sponsor. Tom Keller (IML International Relations Coordinator) catches up with Antoin Strachan (Recon Brand Manager) to discuss their return to IML and the inspiration behind their brand new Nightshift event tonight. #IML2025 #IML #IML47

Staring in 15 minutes!

Good morning beautiful people! Here are some reminders for today: Help Desk - 9:30 AM - 8 PM Guest Services - 10 AM - 9 PM Vendor Mart - Noon - 7 PM Open Shine (2nd Floor) - Noon - 7 PM Open Shine (1st Floor) - 3 PM - Midnight YAPP: my.yapp.us/IML2025 #IML #IML2025 #IML47

Doors are now open for the IML Opening Ceremonies in the Florentine Room on the 3rd floor of the Congress! The show begins at 7 PM. See you there! #IML #IML2025 #IML47

Here we are in the historic Florentine Room for contestant orientation—and what an electrifying moment it is! The 47th Class of International Mr. Leather is officially stepping into legacy, with 68 new brothers joining a lineage of strength, pride, and purpose. IML, Social Media Team

Welcome to IML! The time has come for that thing we do in May! A heartfelt thank you from your social media team: Luis, Tebias, and Riku. We hope you have a fantastic weekend and we look forward to coving the events ahead! Love and leather, “Riku” Social Media Coordinator #IML

Friday, May 23, 2025 Nightshift: A Recon Social Congress Plaza Hotel 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM Each VIP gets a Swag Bag packed with exclusive goodies including: - Leather Daddy - Swiss Navy - A limited-edition IML item #NightshiftVIP #IML47 #Recon #AfterDarkExperience

Sponsor Spotlight – Introduced by Billy Lane! Platinum Sponsors for International Mr. Leather: Swiss Navy — the name you trust for premium personal lubricants! They’re bringing the heat Sunday night at the IML Contest with a very special giveaway just for YOU! #IML47 #SwissNavy

Sponsor Spotlight – Introduced by Billy Lane! Bronze Sponsors for International Mr. Leather: JimSupport by Fetish Locker Get ready to sling into something unforgettable. #IML47 #Jimsupport

Candid Car Interview with IML 46 Alpha Pup Savage – Jamal Herra O’Malley www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5JphL... #IML46 #AlphaPupSavage #LeatherLegacy #TitleholderTalks #JamalHerraOMalley

Meet Your Esteemed Tallymasters for International Mr. Leather 2025 CLUFF REYES (Cleveland, OH) and OMAR HEKAL (Wood Ridge, NJ) Follow us: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago my.yapp.us/IML2025 t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj... #IML

Meet Your Esteemed Judge for International Mr. Leather 2025 JEROEN VAN LIEVENOOGEN - Antwerp, Belgium Follow us: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago my.yapp.us/IML2025 t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj... #IML

Introducing a Bold New Collaboration: IML x M.A.F.I.A. This IML weekend, we're thrilled to announce an exciting co-branded partnership between IML and M.A.F.I.A. This partnership reflects the spirit of both organizations: bold, unapologetic; rooted in the power of community.

DEEP IN THE ”BACK ROOM” OF THE NIGHTSHIFT PARTY… Why just work the nightshift when you can get the executive “BACK ROOM” treatment in our VIP private workshop? Wannago? > Instance > IML and Recon present: Nightshift VIP #IML

Meet Your Esteemed Judge for International Mr. Leather 2025 NICK J. ZUKO– Chicago, IL. You can follow us at: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago my.yapp.us/IML2025 t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj... t.me/c/1169284046... #IML

Meet Your Esteemed Judge for International Mr. Leather 2025 MUFASA ALI – Chicago, IL. You can follow us at: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago

Join Us at “Open Shine” during IML! ​ Open Shine will be held during the same hours as the Vendor Mart: First Floor: Friday 3 pm - 12 am Saturday 3 pm - 12 am Second Floor: Friday 12 noon – 7 pm Saturday 11 am – 7 pm Sunday 11 am – 5 pm Monday 11 am – 4 pm ​​ #IML

Meet Your Esteemed Judge for International Mr. Leather 2025 THE GODDESS INDIGO – Austin, TX You can follow us at: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago my.yapp.us/IML2025 t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj... t.me/c/1169284046... #IML

Meet Your Esteemed Judge for International Mr. Leather 2025 DR. CARLTON THOMAS – San Diego, CA You can follow us at: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago my.yapp.us/IML2025 t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj... t.me/c/1169284046... #IML

Meet Your Esteemed Judge for International Mr. Leather 2025 PAULO BATISTA – San Diego, CA You can follow us at: bsky.app/profile/iml-... www.facebook.com/internationa... www.instagram.com/internationa... x.com/IMLchicago Yapp my.yapp.us/IML2025 t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj... t.me/c/1169284046... #IML

Tick Tock! Tick Tock! Can’t make it to Chicago? IML Live Presented by RECON, our exclusive pay-per-view broadcast ! wannago.show/shop/wa/inst... Thank you for supporting International Mr. Leather and being a vital part of our worldwide Leather family. The IML Staff #IML

IML YAPP/TELEGRAM YAPP: Download this mobile app for "International Mr. Leather Congress Plaza Hotel" created with Yapp my.yapp.us/IML2025 TELEGRAM: t.me/+RbHbzg7ZHoj...

IML x LeatherU Powered by MUFASA'S PRIDE PRODUCTIONS This IML weekend, we are proud to unveil an exciting, expanded partnership between IML & MUFASA'S PRIDE PRODUCTIONS, who will now facilitate our educational programming as LeatherU. #RepresentationMatters #LeatherU #KinkEducation #IMLWeekend2025