General Contestant Requirements

Each contestant of the Keystone Leather Contest must:

1. Be 21 years of age by 7/25/25.
2. Be a part-time or full-time resident of Pennsylvania.
3. Be able to represent the Keystone Leather title of Mr./Ms./Mx./Pet/Bear/Bootblack, if they earn, for the full year until the step aside in 2026.
4. Be a person showing the best qualities in Leather, which is determined by the judging panel.
5. Agree to photographs and video footage during the contest weekend, by the contest staff and commUNITY at large.
6. Consent to photographs and videos to be used by the Keystone Leather Contest production for Social media sites, promotional, marketing and/or general purposes.
7. Refrain from posing for explicit photographs, videos etc. being distributed in any fashion. You are to refrain from participating in any public sexual performance without written consent from the Co-Producers.
8. Submit a complete and signed contestant application, photographic release forms, and agree to a criminal background check prior to running as a contestant, if requested.

Auction Basket
Additionally, each contestant competing agrees to donate and supply an auction basket of appropriate items to be used for fundraising purposes, to benefit the Titleholders Travel Fund. Basket items are suggested to be equal to an approximate $500 value or more. Baskets should be accompanied by an inventory of contents and the value on a separate sheet of paper. Baskets will be auctioned off as a live auction during one of the on-stage portions. Contestants are encouraged to seek items donated to you for your title run.

All contestants must arrive to host hotel on 7/31/25 by 5:00 pm on the event weekend and agree to appear for all scheduled events during the Keystone Leather Contest weekend, up to the completion of the Sunday afternoon meet up with the Producers.   

Category Descriptions

Public Image
(Open throughout the entire judgeable weekend, focusing on the meet n greet and pool time) The judges will be watching to see how contestants present themselves and interact with others, including but not limited to, the judges, all contest staff and fellow contestants. Judges will be looking for contestants with strong communication skills, kindness, leadership qualities and the genuine desire to build a commUNITY with Keystone. Contestants will be judged at any and all times including pool parties, classes, and the non-mandatory events throughout the contest weekend. For Pet contestants, participation in the Mosh will be considered part of Public Image.

Personal Interview
(Contestant participation on Friday Morning) Each contestant will be interviewed by the judging panel. The interview will be closed to event attendees, producers, and other title contestants. Questions from judges can range from your personal history, to job description, life experiences and social circles you may be part of, to personal and political opinion on todays current events. Judges may also ask questions to test your knowledge of the Leather commUNITY, leaders and our history. They may also ask about any contributions and/or leadership you have offered in Leather spaces.
1) The judges will be looking at the personality and character of both the professional and personal life of each contestant.
2) The interview also gives the judges a chance to get to see if you can communicate and articulate your thoughts clearly and with intention.
3) Contestants should be comfortable and dress like they would for a casual date.
     a) Contestants should remember that attire is a reflection of them and should be comfortable and professional.
     b) Contestants should wear a piece of their favorite leather.
4) Time and exact location for the interview will be provided during the MANDATORY contestant and staff meeting on Thursday, 7/31/25 at 6:00 pm (Don't be Late.)
5) Keystone Leather contest will accommodate contestants with a chair if needed during the interview process.
6) The Producers and contest staff do NOT prepare questions for the judges, nor do the Producers review or approve their questions an advance.
7) If you do not know the answer to a question or don't feel comfortable answering without thinking about your answer. BE HONEST. Let the judge know that you will get back to them in a timely manner. Please make sure you follow-up will all the judges once you have found your answer.

Casual/Bar Wear
This is the opportunity for contestants to wear items they would wear to a bar night or club event.
1) Contestants may wear a vest representing a club affiliation or house crest.
2) A Contestant may wear a medallion or previous title vest representing each unique journey.
3) Each contestant will be introduced to the audience by the emcee sharing a fun and personal bio to include age, where contestants are from, club affiliation, sexual interests, hanky codes, position etc.
4) Contestants will speak on microphone telling the audience a fun fact about themselves.
     a) This is to be a short introduction so the judges can see how you interact and welcome your commUNITY to leather spaces (Have fun with it)

Hot Wear with Pop Question (Mr., Ms, Mx, Keystone Leather Pet, and Keystone Leather Bear)
This is the opportunity for you to show off your style and skin while maintaining the State of PA regulations. This is NOT a body competition, rather a way for you to express your sexy and fun attire. Have fun with this section. Show the judges and audience what makes you feel your most sexy and confident. The pop question is a chance for you to show off your quirk and humor and spontaneous answers. You DO NOT have to wear a jock or any other skimpy undergarments. This is whatever YOU feel sexy and hot in.
1) Contestants will be brought up in the order of numbers picked in MANDATORY MEETING on Thursday at 6:00 pm (Don't be Late)
2) Contestants will be asked a pop question. The pop question will be a random question covering anything and everything and will be selected from a hat from the Emcee. Contestant will read the question and hand it to the Emcee. The Emcee will read the question out loud and hand the contestant the microphone.
3) The contestant will have approximately 2 minutes to answer the question.
4) Judges will be looking to see how confident you are on stage in your sexy attire.
5) Judges will be reviewing your response to pop question.
     a) Judges are not judging on how correct the answer is to the pop question, but how you choose to navigate your answer.
     b) This is your chance to win over the crowd with your personality and stage presence.

Open Stand Time (Bootblack Contestants)
Judges will observe and critique the Bootblacks during open stand time Thursday night, Friday and Saturday as scheduled with Bootblack Coordinator. Evaluation will include but not limited to: speed of process, confidence, product knowledge, organizational skills, and final shine. Judges will also be judging the interaction between Bootblack and the person getting shined. Lastly, Judges will be watching how supportive or leadership skills the Bootblack contestant shows with other contestants.

Tech Boot (Bootblack Contestants)
Each Bootblack will be given a boot and provided 60 minutes to bring the boot to the best possible condition. The boots will be provided by the judges. Each boot will be of like material, build, and be of similar condition. Judges will score based on technique, process, and final shine. Each Bootblack contestant will then be interviewed and asked questions about their process by the Judging Panel prior to the on stage portion on Saturday evening. Time and details will be provided at the MANDATORY contestant meeting on 7/31/25 @ 6:00pm. (Don't be late)

Formal Wear and Speech (Mr., Ms, Mx Keystone Leather, Keystone Leather Pet, Keystone Leather Bear, and Keystone Bootblack)
The formal wear and speech is your time to really give your all. Wear your best leather attire that you OWN and prepare a speech that will connect with the audience and judges.
1) All Contestants will be brought on stage one at a time and introduced with their contributions to the Leather/LGBTQIA+ communities.
2) Contestants will prepare a 90 second speech explaining their own personal platform.
3) Contestants should dress in formal leather attire, whatever that means to you.
4) The judges will review the overall appearance of each contestant including how well items fit and contestants attitude while speaking to the audience.
5) Judges will be listening for personalization, authenticity, and connectiveness with the audience.

Fraternization with Judges

Contestants and judges may fraternize informally in public situations. Private meetings or personal contact between judges and contestants during the contest weekend are absolutely prohibited. Any behavior that might create even the appearance of bias will be brought to the attention of the Keystone Leather Contest owners/producers and other judges, who will decide if the disqualification of the judge and/or contestant would be prudent. To avoid accidental violation of propriety, all contestants and judges must display their respective identification badges whenever they are in public places during the contest weekend. Owners/Producers have absolutely NO say or influence over the judges and/or contestants. The judges' scores are final.

What is expected of the winners?

The primary duties of Mr/Ms/Mx Keystone Leather, Keystone Pet, Keystone Leather Bear and Keystone Bootblack are to represent the Leather/BDSM/Kink/Fetish/Pet/Bootblack and LGBTQIAPK+ communities while also representing the state of Pennsylvania, in the best light possible.

At a minimum, the contest winners will be responsible for the following:

• Attend at least one Pride event in Pennsylvania before their step down. Titleholders must be in legal leather/tasteful fetish attire and wearing their stole at all LGBTQIAPK+ events. Titleholders may also participate in other additional Prides, events, parades in & outside of PA, as they choose throughout their title year, in addition to the one required in PA.

• Host the Meet & Greet party for the contestants the following year.

• Host at least one fundraising event for a local non-profit in Pennsylvania, of their choice. If you need help finding a charity, please do not hesitate to ask your producers.*

• Winners of the Keystone Leather Contest may not compete for another title until their PA title year is complete and may never run for any title below the state level, which includes bar, campground, town or city titles.

• Titleholders are REQUIRED to attend their step down.

• Failure to complete the above obligations and/or flagrant violation of Keystone Leather rules or titleholder expectations may result in forfeiture of their Leather Title, stole, back patch, balance of travel fund, etc, at the discretion of The Keystone Leather Contest Owners/Producers.

• Proof of travel fund use will be required in the way of receipts/some sort of proof of use. If you have a question about allowable use, please do not hesitate to ask your producers Daddi Paws and Alyssa Durnien.

Any fundraising event must be pre-approved through the Keystone Leather owners/producers. Thorough research of any similar events in the surrounding areas by supporting or any other leather family/event, must be performed prior to scheduling the event.

* All monies raised at ANY event/fundraiser must be reported within two (2) hours after the completion of said event/fundraiser to the Keystone Leather producers and counting of monies must be witnessed by either a producer of the Keystone Leather contest or a third party witness appointed by the contest Producers. Proof of presentation to the charity is required and the responsibility of the titleholder(s). Titleholders are also responsible for keeping accurate records of monies used and raised.

All questions posed to the contest owners/producers individually will be discussed between both owners/producers before answers are given.

This is YOUR title year. Enjoy it!!!

******The Keystone Leather Contest owners/producers reserve the right to add/delete any rules and/or regulations throughout the title year without prior notice.******

If there are any questions about the contest, its rules or how to answer any questions on the application, please do not hesitate to contact the owners/producers at KeystoneLeatherinc@gmail.com.

Thank you, have fun and good luck to you all!!