MIR contest

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

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

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

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. "MIR's Intergalactic Rubber celebration soars to a suburb not too far way". Windy City Times. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
7. "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. "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

• International Mr. Leather
• International Ms. Leather
• Leather competitions