MIR contest

International rubber subculture event

MIR

Rubber Pride Flag

Status| Active
Genre| Rubber, Fetish, Kink
Frequency| Annually
Location(s)| Chicagoland
Country| United States
Inaugurated| 1997 (1997)
Most recent| October 17-20, 2024
Organised by| MIR Contest, NPO
Website| mirubber.com

MIR, formerly Mr. International Rubber, is a multi-day convention and contest celebrating the rubber, fetish, and kink communities.[1] Established in 1997, MIR occurs annually in Chicagoland during the autumn, drawing participants and attendees from all over the world.[2] Events include workshops, socials, dances, market, and the contest.

## History

[edit]

MIR started in 1997 hosted at the Boystown bar, Cell Block, and has been run every year since.[3] In 2009 MIR contest moved to the Center on Halsted to account for larger crowds.[4] In 2020 MIR 24 was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] MIR 27 in 2023 moved to a new location in Skokie, Illinois.[6]

At MIR 27 in 2023, organizers announced that the event would allow contestants of all genders to compete;[6] the contest winner may chose whichever honorific best represents them as MIR titleholder: Mr. International Rubber, Ms. International Rubber, Mx. International Rubber, or MIR International Rubber Ambassador.[7] To promote inclusion, organizers also changed the official name of the contest from "Mr. International Rubber" to gender-neutral "MIR."[7]

The Leather Archives & Museum holds many of MIR's records.[8]

## Winners

[edit]

Below is a table of MIR contest winners.[9] Winner's Country as used in the table refers to the winner's country of residence at the time they won the competition.

Year  | Class  | Winner  | Preliminary Title / Sponsor  | Winner's Country  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2024  | MIR 28  | Rush  |  |  United States | [10]
2023  | MIR 27  | AJ Huff  | M. San Francisco Rubber  |  United States | [11]
2022  | MIR 26  | Pusckatt Pumera ONYX  | Mr. Florida Rubber  |  United States | [11][12]
2021  | MIR 25  | ChicagoRubber  |  |  United States | [11]
2020  | MIR 24  | Contest was virtual and no MIR titleholder was selected. | [11]
2019  | MIR 23  | Adalberto Rubadam  | Mr. Rubber Netherlands  |  Netherlands | [11]
2018  | MIR 22  | Guillaume Dupuis  |  |  Canada | [11]
2017  | MIR 21  | Michal Neighbour  |  |  Poland | [11]
2016  | MIR 20  | Preston "Wexx" So  | Mr. New England Rubber  |  United States | [11]
2015  | MIR 19  | Jeffrey "Gummibärchen" Basile  | Mr. Midwest Rubber  |  United States | [11]
2014  | MIR 18  | Max Samauth  | Mr. Rubber Netherlands  |  Netherlands | [11]
2013  | MIR 17  | Andy "CosmicRoo" Coatham  | Mr. Rubber Toronto  |  Canada | [11]
2012  | MIR 16  | Rubber Jason  |  |  United States | [13]
2011  | MIR 15  | Sly Hands  | Mr. Rubber UK  |  United Kingdom | [11]
2010  | MIR 14  | G-Man  | Mr. Southeast Rubber  |  United States | [11]
2009  | MIR 13  | Fenn  | Mr. Rubber Toronto  |  Canada | [11]
2008  | MIR 12  | Stephane Donaldson  | Mr. Rubber Montreal  |  Canada | [11]
2007  | MIR 11  | BJ Turgeon  | Mr. Rubber Montreal  |  Canada | [11]
2006  | MIR 10  | Maurizo Iacone  | Mr. Rubber Italy  |  Italy | [11]
2005  | MIR 9  | Michael Schneider  |  |  Germany | [11]
2004  | MIR 8  | Frank Bug  | Mr. Rubclub 2004  |  Germany | [11]
2003  | MIR 7  | Chris Vincent  |  |  United States | [11]
2002  | MIR 6  | William "Rubberwilli" Schendel  |  |  United States | [11]
2001  | MIR 5  | Yannick Kerjose  |  |  France | [11]
2000  | MIR 4  | Chad McLaughlin  |  |  United States | [11]
1999  | MIR 3  | Tom Kelley  |  |  United States | [11]
1998  | MIR 2  | Thomas Smith  |  |  United States | [11]
1997  | MIR 1  | Christoph Lehner  |  |  United States | [11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tips for Newbies". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
2. ^ Lieberman, Hallie (2023-05-25). "'Fuck the Rules:' Rubberists are Starting Their Own Revolution". Vice. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
3. ^ "Rubber lovers". Time Out Chicago. 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
4. ^ "Mr. International Rubber 2010". Time Out Chicago. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
5. ^ "MR INTERNATIONAL RUBBER PRESENTS: MIR24 - RUBBER LAB". Demasque Magazine. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
6. ^ a b "MIR's Intergalactic Rubber celebration soars to a suburb not too far way". Windy City Times. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
7. ^ a b "An Inclusive Contest - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
8. ^ "Mr. International Rubber (MIR) Collection". Leather Archives & Museum. ORG-0015. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
9. ^ "Titleholders - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
10. ^ Stevens, Joseph (2024-10-20). "International Mr. Rubber goes to Skokie". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Titleholders - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
12. ^ "Mister International Rubber takes the stage at Center on Halsted, Riviera Theatre". Windy City Times. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
13. ^ "Jason "RubberJason" Lynch - In Memoriam". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.

## See also

[edit]

* International Mr. Leather
* International Ms. Leather
* Leather competitions