Judge - Daddy Sal has been a part of the Leather Community and an activist for over 20 years. She is a founder and past coordinator of The Exiles, past producer of the SF Dyke Daddy/Diva Contest, and co-producer of several Leather weekends in San Francisco focusing on the D/s dynamic. She was the owner/producer of Ms. San Francisco Leather from 2018 to 2023 and has just recently passed the contest on to a new generation. She identifies as a Sir and a Daddy and has had boys and girls in her service for many years. Her participation in the community comes from a passion for the Leather lifestyle and especially for mentoring those in service.

Judge -  Sir Rai is the Founder of the “Infamous Boys of Leather” club. He holds the titles of MS. Gay International 1999, Mr New Jersey Leather 2018, and American Leatherman 2018. He is deeply committed to supporting his community and has seamlessly integrated his passion for fundraising into socially conscious brands. Notably, “Asbury Infamous Apparel” benefits and raises awareness for Project R.E.A.L, an LGBTQ youth drop-in center in Asbury Park, NJ.  Sir Rai transitioned from a 30 year corporate cosmetics career to work as an HIV Prevention Specialist at The Prevention Resource Network within The Visiting Nurse Association in Asbury Park, NJ. His mission is to promote HIV prevention and other biomedical interventions and help eradicate HIV. Sir Rai is proud Sir to Alpha boy Dave, American Leatherboy 2014, boy Eric, and boy Kona, Ms. PrEP Jersey Shore 2024, and boy Calum. SIR Rai is excited to wed his fiancé, Doug, in the summer of 2025. 

Favorite Quote: “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own” ~Benjamin Disraeli

Judge - Sir Frē (He/They) is a father to 2 adult children, artist, lover of rubber ducks, 2024 Hillside Campground Leather Sir, and so much more! His mission in life is to facilitate joy, by living as joyfully as possible for himself and encouraging others to do the same. Sir Frē recognizes that the leather community has shaped his worldview in many positive ways and has helped him with his own growth, especially in the areas of self-empowerment and learning how to break cycles of abuse in his life. It is an honor and pleasure for Sir Frē to be a judge for the Twisting Culture Northeast Person of Leather Contest. 

Favorite Quote: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” ~ Alice Walker 

Judge - Chris Jay is a photographer, performer, and emcee. While photographing Washington D.C. nightlife, they took to the stage as a drag king and performed with troupes like the DC Kings, Chocolate City Burlesque and Cabaret, and Pretty Boi Drag. In the last decade, they received a number of awards including Best of Gay D.C.’s Best Artist in 2016, Best Drag King in 2017, and Baltimore’s King of Pride in 2018. Today, Chris Jay is the current Mx Maryland Leather 2025 and President of Baltimore’s Clifton Pleasure Club. 

Quote about something you are deeply passionate: Celebrating our bodies and each other is a radical act of resistance.

EMCEE

Tomo (He/They) is a gender queer butch leatherdyke who found the leather community during a sunset motorcycle ride with his wife Mel three decades ago. He has presented classes, produced events, served as a judge, keynote speaker, auctioneer and emcee at leather events since. Tomo has been served by his Majordomo Levi for over 17 years. Tomo is Owner and Producer of South Plains Leatherfest, the International Master slave Contest and the International Person of Leather Contest. He served as Northwest slave 2015 and International slave 2016/2021. He was a Producer of Northwest Leather Celebration, the Northwest Master slave, Northwest Bootblack, and Northwest Person of Leather Contests. He was also a Producer of International Ms Leather Weekend, the International Ms Leather Contest and the International Ms Bootblack Contest for seven years. He co-produces the Ms Sacramento Leather Contest and is a founding member of the D.U.C.

Quote about something you are deeply passionate: Solidarity, community and all the dirty things we love to do!

Judge - Daijah Flames (pronounced Day-Jah) is a gender expansive afro-latina leather middle, service cat, and feral feline based in NY. Daijah is Northeast Bootblack 2025, a full member of Onyx Pearls NY NE, in service to House of Kush and Co-Producer at Submit NYC. She is known for her skills as a kink educator, bootblack, social media content creator, and fire top. She has bootblacked and taught bootblacking at spaces such as Folsom Street East, Submit NYC, Low Key Kink, Sanctuary Events, IMsLBB, SheMagik Events, The ColosseumNY, NJ Leather Family Beer Bust, Westcoast Bound, SPLF, South West M/s, Northeast Pet and Handler 2024, KinkOut Events, and Obscenity NYC. She is also the producer of Boots and BBQ munch which is an event that celebrates bootblacks and the art of bootblacking with fun, drinks, and community. Daijah is passionate about creating and keeping safe spaces alive, protecting community members by using her voice to out predators and keep folks safe, offers opportunities for folks to reach out to her about bootblacking, and travels far and wide to do the things she loves.

Judge Assistant - Burke, a second-generation member in the Leather community and full-time student, actively contributes to various events and clubs. A member of Hooker and Boys Levi & Leather Club, she is serving as the resident bootblack at the Carter/Johnson Library & Collection, Mid-Atlantic Annex in Baltimore. She has showcased her bootblack skills at notable gatherings, including Eagle in Exile, Levi & Leather nights, F.I.S.T.’s 30th-anniversary celebration, Bootblack Round Up 2023, and is scheduled to work Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend 2024. Burke's diverse involvement extends to volunteering as an assistant stage manager for contests such as "Ms/Mr New Jersey Leather" and "The 12 Days of Christmas 2022 and 2023." Passionate about writing, she has crafted flyers, posters, and published articles in Baltimore OUTLoud, with her literary works housed in The Carter/Johnson Library & Collection. Burke looks forward to serving as a judge's assistant at Northeast Person of Leather. "Burke Out."