HISTORY OF MR. MICHIGAN LEATHER
Mr. Michigan Leather (MML) began in 1995 as Mr. West Michigan Leather. Originally held at The Cell Bar in Grand Rapids.
In 1996 the event changed its name to Mr. Michigan Leather and has grown from a one-day event into a weekend long event focused on education, fundraising and camaraderie, culminating in the Mr. Michigan Leather Contest.
The goals for the Weekend and the Mr. Michigan Leather Title are:
TO ENCOURAGE involvement in the Leather Community either through behind the scenes support or as a titleholder using his platform to better the entire LGBTQ+ community. TO EDUCATE through workshops, classes and demos by national and international presenters. TO SUPPORT charities financially and by giving them a platform to promote their organization.
2025 – Walter Bear
2024 – Daddy AJ
2023 – DUSTIN JAMES
2020 – TIGER ONYX
2019 – WILL BAKER
2018 – TIM KOSKI
2017 – KENN KENNEDY
2016 – BRIAN MAILLEY
2015 – JOSH FORTUNA
2014 – CHUCK BRAIDWOOD
2013 – STEVEN TEETS
2012 – WOODY WOODRUFF
2011 – DAVID GERMAN
2010 – JIM COLEMAN
2009 – DAVE WATT
2008 – RANDY WRISINGER
2007*
2006 – TONY WOLFRAM
2005 – CLIFF NASH
2004 – BOB ROSE
2003 – MICHAEL JOHNS
2002 – PAUL O’ROURKE
2001 – DOUG VAN KIRK
2000 – LEE WHEELER
1999 – JON BECKER
1998 – TIM ANDERSON
1997 – JOE KOSMALSKI
1996 – EDWARD BRYAN
1995 – RON AURE
*In 2007 the name of the title was changed to reflect the year the majority of titleholder would reign. It also caused less confusion when the titleholder competed at International Mr. Leather (IML) in Chicago.