Come mingle with the Matriarchy at the FemDom Ball 2024. A night to remember for two Bondara newbies, this is as close as you’ll get to this highly exclusive event.
Back to the Ball
This would be my second time attending the FemDom Ball; new venue, new colleagues, new dress. We don’t often get glamourous nights out working with sex toys, so of course, I accepted Madame Caramel’s invitation.
The address for tonight’s gathering was only emailed to attendees a few days prior for the sake of discretion. An impressive conference hall in a Grade I listed building was our destination. Waiting to enter, I couldn’t help but appreciate the sweet irony of the choice. This place had no doubt celebrated the achievements of men for hundreds of years. Now it would host dozens of dominatrices who kept such men under their heel.
There’s a strict dress code: ladies must wear elegant ballgowns, while the boys are expected to wear suits and a gimp mask. They must remain masked for the first hour and only unmask with permission. At the door, Mistress Tess, dressed in a gorgeous blue floor-length dress, was acting as enforcer. Last year, Madame Caramel was not best pleased with rule breakers; any offenders this year would be turned away. One was, but not from Bondara.
Killer Queens
There was the lady herself. Madame Caramel, the undisputed queen bee, looked resplendent in red and warmly welcomed us with her characteristic charm: “My Bondara ladies!” Any worries that my colleagues might be overwhelmed were quickly quashed.
Miss Anne Tittou directed guests to a table, and as we stepped inside, I heard The Siren announce herself. I had to hold myself back from whipping around in bi-panic; I’ve had a bit of a crush ever since she opened The Nest in Cardiff.
Marisol, our new content writer, was off! Shimmering in her sparkly dress, she flitted fairy-like from new friend to new friend. It’s no surprise that someone would offer her a course in domination. First, we were introduced to Goddess Phoenix, a legend of the scene who is well-recognised at DomCon. Besides her stood a familiar face from last year, Lady Lola, channelling such femme fatale energy that I felt like I was in the presence of Rita Hayworth.
Over there was Sophia Truee! And there, Porcelain Victoria. The Matriarch, Ezada Sinn, and her partner Giada Da Vinci, of course. Maîtresse Nuit sat sharing techniques and talents with Ms Morrigan Hel and Miss Courtney. At our table we met Nanny M and Miss Jane from Happy2Nappy, an ‘adult baby‘ nursery. Yes, it’s not just leather-clad sadists in attendance tonight (not to say Nanny M doesn’t have a flogger ready somewhere…). Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United States, Colombia, and the Philippines, Fem Dommes from all over the world had gathered to celebrate their divine femininity at the FemDom Ball.
Submissive men lined the walls or dutifully followed at the heel of their mistress. You might think it’s strange, but they paid for the privilege and were happy to serve as walking wallets or clutch bags for the night.
Who Runs the World? Girls!
Lady Scarlett was master of ceremonies, or rather mistress of ceremonies, and brought us to a hush. Stood in front of us all, she carried herself with the air of a stern headmistress. Only I knew she could easily break out a whip if we took too long. Her role had been announced ahead of the ball, and I’d had a scroll through her Twitter account. The contrast between her voice and the knowledge she regularly threads needles through scrotums was incredible.
Next came the first entertainment act of the evening: Miss Lucia, a stunning flamenco dancer. Graceful, beautiful, and powerful, she embodied the essence of the FemDom Ball. Between delicate hand movements and stomps that resonated through the hall, she carried us along with the dance. Occasionally, I twinged with sympathy as her heels sent out a thunderous crack against the wooden floor – God help the sub who got in the way of such footwork!
There was a brief interlude as the next event prepared, but not before Ezada snapped a whip with such ease that only comes from lots of practice. She summarily marched the men out of the hall, leaving the ladies to mingle and wonder what the Matriarch had in store for us.
A few minutes later, they filtered back in and, to a hushed crowd, recited the submissive’s mantra three times.
“With respect, obedience and love, I serve and worship the Woman who guides my life.”
I hadn’t seen this before, and it struck me how genuine some of the subs were. Yes, plenty were paying to accompany their mistress, but remember, some of these men are lifestyle partners. One locked his eyes on his mistress during the vows, and even under the mask, you could see his utter devotion to her. I was quite envious.
Walk, Walk, Fashion Baby
We were treated to a catwalk from Amentium Latex and GDDSS Lingerie. As with last year all the models were attending Dommes. I’m not usually a latex fan, but everyone looked magnificent. Vivienne Veinne modelled a pink number that slightly resembled our faux fur sheer robe but with bigger ‘I just killed my millionaire husband’ vibes. Barbarella, our social media manager, and I fell slightly in love with it.
If the first batch were feminine, the second was anything but demure. Not just a standard black latex miniskirt; some harnesses looked like armour. In another, a tangle of luminous white strands appeared ethereal in motion. I didn’t dare guess what they retailed for.
After another pause and the end of the first hour, subs were now ‘hoods off’ and filing into the bar like ants for their Queen. More networking, more chatting, I had almost forgotten this is a professional event. Then again, there are only so many ways to punish a sub with one set of hands; you need to make contacts! However, proving that the world is small, we talked to Mistress Sophie. It turns out that once upon a time, she used to work near the Bondara warehouse!
Unexpectedly, the lights dimmed, seats filled rapidly, and a door creaked open. Subs carried in a chaise lounge followed by an emerald and gold-clad Medusa. The energy in the room crackled with anticipation. Owning herself and the room, we listened rapt to her spoken word performance.
“They called me Monster. ” The story of Medusa wrapped around that of any woman who ever refused to be meek or mild, or refused docility and had been admonished for it. It was powerful, and rightly so. Medusa, played by Vivienne, was carried out like Cleopatra, held high above the men for all to see.
Sisters Doin’ It for Themselves
Finally, we came to the charity raffle. This year’s charity of choice was SASH (Support and Advice on Sexual Health). A vital source of non-judgemental and confidential support, their work includes resources for sex workers, from clinics and counselling to tax advice. Yes, Dommes pay taxes too.
There was a mix of prizes, including vouchers for sessions at Madame Caramel’s dungeons, a fetish photoshoot, bondage boutique shopping trips, and more. Bondara had donated several items for prizes, as we do every year. However, as much as I enjoy our products, I had my fingers crossed that we wouldn’t take them home. No, I had my eye on a pretty copy of Venus in Furs, an iconic story of female domination, while Barbarella was pining for a Doxy.
“One-hundred and twenty…” With each number, I held my breath. Please, not the E-Stim P-Spot Massager, I don’t need it!
“…Eight.” Phew. The Dommes who walked away with Bondara products seemed pleased, especially the patterned bondage restraints. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my day, and I didn’t win anything. Ah, well, at least we all got a goodie bag!
Let’s Hear It for the Girls
Goddess Phoenix took the mic to round off a night of celebrating sisterhood. She presented ‘Ambassadors of Kink Lifetime Achievement Awards’ to Ezada Sinn and, of course, Madame Caramel on behalf of their leadership and ongoing contributions to the kink community.
Between organising the FemDom Ball, having mentored many Dommes, and holding a legendary position in the community, there was a standing ovation for Madame Caramel. Not a fan of speeches, she waved away the microphone and later posted her words of gratitude online.
Winding down a little ahead of time, the ladies and their companions filtered out of the FemDom Ball. Of course, some were away to hotels, ready to catch an early morning flight, while others began their journeys home. However, plenty gathered at the nearest kerb for cabs to the Afterparty.
Get the Party Started
A charming gentleman offered us the spare seats in his Uber. Alas, there were only two seats and three of us, so we readied ourselves for a walk to the venue. Then, prompted by a throwaway joke from Marisol, he offered to walk so there was enough space! Was he being gentlemanly, or did we give him some subby satisfaction at aiding a trio of stranded ladies?
Along a quiet side street, a bouncer waited on the door. We descended the stairs to the exclusive basement cocktail bar; I’d read what occurred at a previous Bondara trip to the Afterparty and was prepared for anything. However, the night was still young, and the two vacant sex benches I could see spoke plenty of what was in store.
Music thrummed with feminine energy as Dommes danced to “Get the Party Started” while their subs bought them drinks. Goddess Phoenix stalked through with a light-up whip that would have looked at home in a rave. Madame Caramel reappeared wearing a Barbie pink latex dress; a few elegant ladies effected similar transformations. If the start of the evening emphasised the Fem in FemDom Ball, the night was undoubtedly the domain of the Dom.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
One song faded into another, and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” filled the club. Marisol and Barbarella were up for a dance. Meanwhile, I sat chatting with Goddess Dealana, one of the Dommes who had taken part in the catwalk and looked like an Egyptian goddess come to life. As another cocktail was served in devotion to the lady of choice, I took in the scene. Moments like this remind me why I like working for Bondara.
Ahead of our table, a St Andrew’s Cross was being assembled by two handy subs – had we been able to stay longer, we would have had a front-row seat. But the carriage called for these Cinderellas, and it was home time. Goodie bags in hand we traipsed into the night, maudlin that we would miss Goddess Gina’s burlesque performance, but already looking forward to next year.
Once again, everyone at Bondara would like to extend our gratitude to Madame Caramel for inviting us to the FemDom Ball and Afterparty.
If your interest has been piqued and you want to explore your kinky side, book your session at Madame Caramel’s Bayswater Dungeon, London Dungeon Suite, or the newly opened Essex Dungeon. Stocked with everything a Dom desires, these stylish suites offer a safe space to practice all manner of BDSM play with assured discretion.
Where possible, we’ve tried to link to attending Dommes websites or professional social accounts. If we’ve mentioned you but you’d like a different link to be used, your name omitted, or any embedded content to be omitted, please reach out.
