CHICAGO — History was made this past Sunday when two Chicagoans reached the International Mr. Leather podium. It is the first time in IML’s 38-year history that any resident of the contest’s home city has reached the podium.
Mr. Chicago Leather 2016 Todd Harris was named first runner-up and Mr. Midwest Leather 2016 Adam “Vino” Henderson was named second runner-up. It’s the first time that any Chicago resident has been in the top three and one of the very few times that two contestants from a single city have been in the top three.
“It felt amazing,” Todd said the day after the contest. “I kept talking with Adam and Justin (Mr. Fetish Jackhammer 2015) and James (Mr. Leather 64TEN 2016) that one of us is gonna hit the podium. Chicago hasn’t hit the podium ever so for both of us to do it is great.” He had still been clapping for Adam when his name was called for first runner-up and didn’t even realize it until another contestant patted him on the shoulder and said “Hey, that’s you!”
When asked about how it felt when he was called to the podium, Adam said he wasn’t going to allow himself to have the win be about him. “It’s just been about us and being brothers. It’s just been an amazing experience.” He does admit to being excited about winning second-runner up and with Todd winning first runner-up.
Todd and Adam were among four contestants from Chicago in this year’s IML, the most the city has ever sent to the contest. The others were James Tyrcha, Mr. Leather 64TEN, and Justin Herren, Mr. Fetish Jackhammer 2016.
Read coverage of all of IML at our sister publication, Great Lakes Den.