Contest | Tradesmen

NCLC & SCLC Contest

Advancing Through A Feeder Contest

Entering a feeder contest serves as the vital first step toward higher-level competition. Regional events like the North Carolina Leather Contest (NCLC) and the South Carolina Leather Contest (SCLC) act as official feeders into SouthEast LeatherFest (SELF). Winning one of these titles provides titleholders with the automatic eligibility, community endorsement, and foundational preparation required to advance.

The Local Level NCLC and SCLC are official community services titles held annually during the tradesmen's annual Run held in Augusta, Georgia. These contests are designed to find dedicated local leaders from the Leather community who are committed to giving back to the community through education, fundraising, and volunteering.

The Path to SELF Securing the North Carolina Leather or South Carolina Leather title bridges the gap between state-level involvement and broader regional competition. This victory equips titleholders with the experience and backing needed to step up to the main SELF contest held in Atlanta, Georgia, where they compete for regional titles such as Mister, Miss, Boy, Master/Slave, Person of Leather, or Bootblack.

It should be noted that NCLC and SCLC Mr, Miss, Mx and Person of Leather (POL) contests are feeders to SELF. Winners of all titles are strongly encouraged to participate in the SELF contest. Winners of the Person of Leather contest are required to participate in the SELF contest.

Preparing to Enter a Leather Feeder Contest

Entering a local or state-level leather feeder contest requires a balance of community standing, operational readiness, and a firm commitment to service. Because these contests cultivate titleholders for more grueling regional or international stages, the application and preparation process is intentionally rigorous.

Baseline Entry Requirements

Demographics and Eligibility: Contestants must meet the minimum age requirement 21, depending on venue restrictions, and reside within the defined geographic boundaries of the title (such as living in South Carolina to compete for SCLC). Competitors must also align their gender identity or lifestyle orientation with the specific category they are pursuing, such as Mister, Miss, Person of Leather, etc.
Application & Vetting: Submissions require a detailed questionnaire, a 300-word biography, and a high-resolution headshot submitted months in advance along with the entry fee. Producers also review legal names, stage names, and public community profiles (such as Facebook, Instagram, FetLife and others) to verify community standing and compliance with codes of conduct.
Stage & Competition Preparation: Accepted contestants must prepare for multiple judged elements, including a structured 120-second speech outlining their community platform, education goals, or charity initiatives. Candidates also undergo a private panel interview to assess their communication skills and psychological readiness, and they must curate donation auction baskets to help fund travel to regional events like SouthEast LeatherFest.
The Intent to Advance: Signing a feeder contest contract is a formal agreement that, upon winning, you will step up to represent your community and compete at the regional level rather than retaining the local title in isolation.

Click here for a list of title holders for NCLC and SCLC over the years