Presenting the contestants selected to compete for Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2023. The contest will take place on Saturday, March 25 at The Catwalk Club, 698 Harlem Pl., Los Angeles. For more detailed info on each contestant visit losangelesleatherpride.com.
PHOTOS BY ZIV SADE
JUSTIN HAUSER
MR. BULLET LEATHER 2023
“My very first time visiting Los Angeles was to attend an event for The Regiment of the Black and Tans in the rotunda of City Hall. I was introduced to many people in the leather community of LA that night who have continued as friends and influences along my amazing experience in Southern California.”
CARLOS ZAVALA
MR LA LEATHER BEAR 2023
“I’m a 31 year old witch and second generation Mexican American who moved to LA in 2020. Witchcraft, curanderismo, brujeria—all connects me to my Mexican heritage and my queerness. Learning and practicing traditions that my ancestors did, brings me closer to them.”
YAIR LOPEZ
MR. CACHONDO LEATHER 2023
Yair Lopez is a proud Latino leather man born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He will be running for a new title, He has been appointed Mr. Cachondo 2023 for bringing recognition to the Latino side of the leather world, by Leo Iriarte.
VICTOR ONGPIN
MR. SISTER LEATHER 2023
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Victor Ongpin is a Seattle-bred native who lived in the Evergreen State for over 35+ years. He’s relatively fresh meat to Los Angeles having recently relocated to Silverlake in the springtime by way of Long Beach.
CHRISTOPHER VELASQUEZ
MR. CSW LEATHER 2023
Christopher Velasquez, a 27 year old Los Angeles native, has made friends with a range of community members—from the queens and leathermen of Silverlake to the boys, girls and non-binary residents and patrons of West Hollywood. Today, he finds himself most connected to leather, and he flags black and gray.
COLIN MACDOUGALL
MR. REGIMENT LEATHER 2023
After working abroad for the past decade as an International Television/Film Producer, Colin returned to Los Angeles to a group of men who took him under their wings. These burly angels were not just any men, they were Leather Men. In building his life again (feather by feather) from the deepest of ashes he found something he didn’t realize he was missing while living what many called a “dream life”—true happiness and community.
