Two titles, judged separately
The contest awards two titles from one stage, and the two are scored entirely apart. Pets compete against pets, handlers against handlers, each on their own 1,000-point scale. Nobody is scored against their partner, and nobody wins on somebody else's performance.
What gets scored is the authenticity of your dynamic and your ability to carry it into rooms where people are watching. Whether you lead or you follow is not the question. Whether it is really yours is.
Winners represent Texas at an international-level competition as ambassadors for this contest and for Austin Kink Weekend.
How the scoring works
Six categories, 1,000 points, and Olympic Scoring: in each category the highest and lowest judge scores are dropped before the rest are counted.
There is a floor, and it is worth saying plainly. A contestant must reach 800 points, 80% of the total, to be awarded the title. Winning the room is not the same as clearing the bar.
Read the weighting, because it tells you what this title is for. The Judges' Interview is 300 points, the single heaviest category, and it happens in a private room with no audience. Add Lifestyle Image, scored from Friday's contestant meeting right through the weekend, and 400 of the 1,000 points are awarded for who you are when you are not on stage.
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Judges' Interview, 300 points
The heaviest category, and there is no audience for it. A sit-down covering your application, your leather and pet or kink history, your social media, your lifestyle, and what you believe. The judges set the pace and the range is wide.
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Fantasy or Play Presentation, 200 points
Three minutes on stage. Pet-fun or overtly sexual, acted out rather than performed. Bring up to two other people. You may scene with another contestant and you will both be scored, but tell the producer first. Music as an MP3 before the first day of the contest. Stage practice time is provided.
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Speech, 200 points
Memorized, between 90 seconds and two minutes, on any topic you choose. Deductions start at 2:05, then one point per extra five seconds. Pick something you actually care about, because this is how most people will meet you.
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Pop Question, 150 points
One or two questions on stage, drawn at random or chosen for you by the judges, one minute to answer. Public speaking is part of the title year and this is where they find out how you handle it.
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Lifestyle Image, 100 points
Scored from Friday's contestant meeting onward. Pets are watched in the mosh, on behavior and on how they handle consent. Handlers are watched on whether they make a space safe and look after everyone in it. Social media counts too.
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Application, 50 points
Scored for thoughtfulness and thoroughness, inside a 1,000-character limit per answer.
