The annual contest to find the nation’s top fetish fanatic made the move to a new larger venue this year, taking over The Eagle alongside the competition’s new sponsor, Clone Zone. Over 450 guys in gear watched the contestants put through their paces hosted by scene celebrity, stand-up comedian and full-time leatherman, Jon Pendal. Previous winner Paul Stag nabbed the first exclusive interview with winner Jamie Wake, who will now represent the UK in Chicago this May.
How did you feel when you were crowned Mr Leather UK 2017?
To be honest, I was shell-shocked. I didn’t hear my name being called at first, so was wondering who had won! It was only when I realised that people were looking at me that the penny dropped.
What made you enter the contest?
There’s a story about me entering that many people don’t know about. I actually entered in 2016 for a special reason. Back in December 2015, three events occurred that changed the course of my leather journey. I nearly died in a car accident on what should have been the first night out in gear unaccompanied. Thankfully, I didn’t die but standing on the side of the M4 in full BLUF for an hour waiting for a recovery man changes a person. Suddenly I was catching the train in full gear from reading to London to attend the leather socials. A week later BLUF was at the Eagle and you can get your photo taken in front of the banner. I thought I’d have a go and lo and behold, they made me hunk of the week! I know it’s a silly thing but it does wonders for the ego and my husband was so proud – he even joked that I’d be entering Mr Leather UK next. Sadly a week after he made that joke he passed away suddenly and since then I created a bucket list of things that he believed I could do and things that would take his legacy forward. 2016 was dedicated to him and I decided that I would enter the competition in 2017 for me – to be a role model for the next generation of leather men and show that leather exists across the UK and not just in the cities.
How long have you been into leather?
I’ve been into leather for as long as I can remember. As I child, I remember being obsessed with a friend of my mums who was a biker and would always be wearing a black biker jacket. It was only when I was 17 that I realised that it was a sexual turn on for me.
What do you think of the current state of the UK leather and fetish scene?
As a newcomer to the leather community, I’m unlucky to have missed out on some of the great bars that have now since gone. With the risk of losing further bars such as The Backstreet, I personally feel we need to adapt as a community to try and accommodate all of the various leather tribes and fetish scene. In other countries, a lot of gatherings are not necessarily held in bars, so maybe that’s a model we could follow. Also, the rise of apps has meant that a lot of people don’t need to go to a leather event.
The leather socials at Comptons are great! They were my first introduction to the leather community. I’m glad there are things like that starting to take place in a number of towns/cities to encourage new entrants – we’ve even launched one where in live in Reading. I’d like to see greater integration between all of the groups to prevent our own “Lexit”! I believe that we are stronger as a community working together and we have challenging times ahead!
What are your plans for your title year?
I want to take leather to all of the smaller prides and show others that it’s fine to cross their thresholds and wear their gear in public – it doesn’t have to stay in the bedroom. I’d like to work with others to establish an annual national fetish/leather pride that brings all of the diverse communities together to celebrate our similarities and our differences. I’d also like to use the title to raise the profile on some worthy causes that I want to support this year. Finally I will be competing at IML (International Mr Leather) in Chicago in May representing the UK. I guess I’ll also have to stop referring to myself as the shy guy from the sticks!
What are the causes or issues that concern you that you would like to shine a light on whilst in the public eye?
The Albert Kennedy Trust is important to me. I was homeless once and I was very lucky to fall on my feet – sadly there are those that are not that lucky. GMFA are doing great work surrounding ChemSex and I am with them all the way. In conjunction with the Reading Pride charity, we’re establishing a local trust named after my late husband which aims to support young people in schools who identify themselves as LGBT and create a peer network for them
How do guys contact and follow you online?
I’m on all social media as James Leatherlad, plus I have a Facebook page (Jamie Wake – Mr Leather UK 2017). I’ll be attending all of the London leathermen events on the 3rd Friday of each month at The Eagle. Prides I’ll be attending will be Oxford, Coventry, London, Hull, Brighton, Warwickshire, Manchester, Southampton and Reading (Reading is my home pride which I’m the founding member of and is the largest free pride outside of a city). Finally, I’m booked to go to Antwerp Leather Pride, Easter in Berlin, Mr Leather Poland and Folsom Europe – plus even more events being added as we speak!
Mr Leather will be appearing at venues across the UK this year. Check londonleathermen.uk for more information.