The Naked Truth, part 2

The year I lost the Mr. CMEN Leather title (devastating as it felt at the time) actually brought me something even more wonderful: a friendship I didn’t realize I’d been missing. After a slight (and maybe a touch dramatic) meltdown at that evening’s late-night social, I found myself being consoled by two guys attending their very first CMEN West Coast Gathering. To say we hit it off would be an understatement. Adam and Steve became instant friends that weekend, and more importantly, friends beyond the campground.

Together we’ve traveled to San Francisco for Folsom and Dore, they’ve visited me in Los Angeles, and I even hopped on a train to support their AIDS/Lifecycle fundraiser. But the most memorable trip was our first IML (International Mr. Leather) weekend in Chicago, cheering on Steve after he won Mr. CMEN Leather 2022! That weekend sparked something in me, an itch to represent CMEN again. I wasn’t ready yet; the sting of defeat (and whispers of being “too long-winded”) were still fresh. But the fire was relit.

Fast forward to 2024: Adam dropped into our group chat to announce he’d be running for Mr. CMEN Leather. I was thrilled at the chance to potentially support him at IML. Once at the gathering, though, Adam leaned in with, “Why don’t you run too—just for fun?” I hadn’t prepared at all. Sure, I had some leather for the social hour, but not what I thought of as “competition-worthy.” Still, I pulled together a look, gave myself permission to enjoy the process, and threw my name in, mostly to support my friend.

Supporting Adam may have cost me the title that year, but I don’t regret it. During the competition, I noticed he’d left one of his questionnaire answers blank: worth 60% of the score. I handed him a pen and told him to fix it. Did that tip the scale toward his win? I’ll never know. But let’s be real, I probably helped him win Mr. CMEN Leather 2024, and I’ll never let him forget it. That night was unforgettable. Hearing his name as winner and mine as first runner-up felt like the perfect reflection of how far our friendship had grown since that first night of my initial loss.

By the time the 2025 Gathering rolled around, I knew my time had come. I didn’t know who else would be running, but I did know this: I was ready. I had grown so much since my first run. In 2024, I wanted Adam to win, but in 2025, I wanted me to win, and I was fully prepared to show up as my authentic self.

Months before the competition, I obsessed over my look. I’d already worn my “go-to” leather in 2024, so I wanted something unexpected. Then at Dore Alley, I spotted the sexiest leather corset, and thanks to my trainer, I was in the best shape of my life to pull it off. The corset was on sale (meant to be!) so I had room in my budget for a perfect little leather daddy hat. It was so me.

And I didn’t stop there. I showed up at the Gathering with four distinct looks:

• traditional chaps and vest for the interview,

• a simple harness for afternoon activities,

• my original pink harness from the 2019 competition (a full-circle moment) for the social hour,

• and, of course, the corset and hat for the big stage.

As contestant #1, I set the tone, leading my fellow contestants and the competition itself. And then came the moment: hearing my name announced as Mr. CMEN Leather 2025 by none other than my friend Adam. Wild. Wonderful. Unforgettable.

But then came the question: what happens next?

It was the first thought I had that night, and again the next morning as I was met with “congratulations” from every direction. “So this is why celebrities can’t go to the mall,” I joked, trying to sneak in some fun between well-wishers.

The truth? After winning, you suddenly have a million questions. Thankfully, I have Adam as my title daddy (and Steve as my great-granddaddy) to guide me. There’s no single way to have a title year, but like everything I do, I plan to make it authentically mine. I want to celebrate the magic of CMEN, rock some killer leather looks, and share it all creatively here; leaving no crumbs behind at the seat I’ve been given at the table.

If you’d like to follow along, check out my Buy Me a Coffee page, where I’ll be blogging throughout my title year. Until then, thanks for letting me share this next revealing piece of my story.