$30,000 cash prize
Maxim Cover Girl is partnering with Salty Mermaid Swimwear for a one-of-a-kind competition celebrating fearless women who make waves wherever they go. This is your chance to shine in the spotlight, be featured by a leading swimwear brand, and show the world what real confidence looks like.
💸 $30,000 Cash
📸 Los Angeles Photoshoot Experience
👙 Featured on SaltyMermaid.com
🌊 Become a Salty Mermaid Campaign Model
📲 Salty Mermaid Social Media Feature
A Global Stage for Timeless Allure.
Salty Mermaid is more than swimwear—it’s a state of mind. Created by women who believe beauty knows no boundaries, the brand empowers every woman to live boldly, laugh loudly, and own her body unapologetically.
From tropical escapes to city rooftops, Salty Mermaid fits like freedom—because feeling good never goes out of style.
Follow @saltymermaidswim and @maximmag_covergirl on Instagram for competition updates, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks.
MAXIM is a Launchpad for Success
WINNER
Alkina Morana
"Winning Maxim Cover Girl is a dream come true. Being a model, actress, and dancer has always been about expressing my true self—and this win validates that fire I bring. I’m honored to stand as a dual finalist in Cover Girl and Hot Girl Summer, but taking the crown is the ultimate milestone. Thank you to everyone who believed in me—your support made this moment possible.”
It’s Free & Easy to Sign up.
Competition Overview
Date
Submit your application by March 15 to secure your spot in the competition.
Date
Finalists will be announced on March 30. Stay tuned for the results!
Date
Join us for the photoshoot sessions on April 15 and 16 at our studio.
Date
Experience a day of creativity, fun, and professional photography at our exciting event!
Date
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Tournament
Round
- $25,000 Grand Prize
- Spotlight on SaltyMermaid.com
- Become a Salty Mermaid Campaign Model
- Salty Mermaid Social Media Spotlight
Professional Photoshoot
Your journey begins in New York City—the birthplace of fashion edge. Step under the lights for a Maxim-approved photoshoot that blends sophistication with danger. Shot in striking black and white, every frame highlights your confidence, your curves, and your story.
You’ll walk away with a gallery of unforgettable, editorial-grade images—perfect for your portfolio and your spotlight moment in Tokyo.
How do I get votes?
Once you enter, you’ll get your own unique voting page to share. Supporters can cast daily votes, or boost your chances by purchasing Maxim NEXT issues—every vote brings you closer to becoming the next Salty Mermaid Brand Model.
The Judges
Sarah Jon is the founder and creative force behind "Salty Mermaid Swim", a bold and empowering swimwear brand celebrated for its fearless designs and body-positive mission. Her work has made waves at Miami Swim Week and earned multiple coveted features inSports Illustrated, solidifying her place among the industry’s most inspiring female entrepreneurs. With a passion for helping women feel confident, beautiful, and unstoppable, SJ brings her signature mix of sophistication, creativity, and glam to the judging panel.
Being part of Maxim is an opportunity to celebrate individuality and confidence in every form. Modeling isn’t just about appearance it’s about storytelling through emotion, energy, and authenticity. Every pose, every glance is a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. I believe beauty comes from embracing your uniqueness and owning your journey with pride. Chase your dreams fearlessly, lift others along the way, and let your light speak louder than words. Believe in yourself, your passion, your power because the world deserves to see it shine :)
As a creative director, I’m always looking for models who bring something authentic and unique to their work. It’s not just about posing; it’s about using every moment in front of the camera to express who you are. I want to see personality shine through the images, that spark of creativity and desire that makes you unforgettable. Stay true to your dream, set high goals and outline the actions that will lead you there. Remember that failing is a part of the learning process and that success is the result of consistency and hard work.
Model Photography is a form of expression, an art, it not only captures and freezes a moment in time but it has the potential to tell a compelling story. Use this competition to tell your story, make your images speak for themselves, have them say one thousand words from the very second someone lays eyes on them.
Be your authentic self, be unforgettable. Become the woman you strive to be and portray her using your skills as an elegant and powerful model. I’ll see you at the finish line, I wish every single one of you the best of luck.
Guidance from Maxim Insiders
Betwen experienced models and creative pros at Salty Mermaid and Maxim, you’ll gain access to a community designed to elevate you. Get real guidance on posing, shaping your personal brand, and building lasting momentum in your modeling career—with support that’s genuine, hands-on, and proven to help you grow.
How Voting Works
Public votes decide who moves forward in each round and who earns an interview with Judges Panel
How long does the contest run?
The competition unfolds over multiple rounds. Each round has its own cut-off date, so you’ll need to keep your audience engaged and voting for you daily to climb the ranks.
LOS ANGELES Where Sunlight Meets Stardom.
Los Angeles is the pulse of sunshine and style—where endless beaches meet city lights and every corner hums with creative energy. Picture yourself walking Venice Beach at golden hour, palm shadows stretching across the sand, the air smelling like salt and ambition.
From rooftop lounges in West Hollywood to the glittering Pacific Coast sunsets of Santa Monica, L.A. is both playground and muse. It’s the perfect place to channel your inner Salty Mermaid—wild, confident, and glowing under the California sun.
“My Life Changed Forever”
“By consistently posting every day, my following grew more and more. Influencers with large accounts reached out to me, and helped me by posting my content on their Instagram Stories. Much of my Instagram growth happened during the Maxim Cover Girl competition.”
“Maxim Cover Girl truly helped me refine and learn advertising, networking and marketing skills in my own way, which was and is very beneficial no matter which way one goes in life. Shooting with Gilles and the entire team was truly magical and will forever be held in my heart.”
“Being on the cover of Maxim is such a huge honor for me. It’s a way for me to represent minorities and bring diversity to the fashion industry. The funny thing is that I signed up literally in the back seat of my dad’s car while we were on our way to the ice rink for practice.”
“When I competed for the Maxim Cover the world was essentially shut down. Fortunately, with incredible support from my family and friends -my dream came to fruition! It was such an exciting experience to go through and I will forever be grateful and proud to have graced such an iconic cover.”
FAQs
Everything you need to know about your journey to the crown
Maxim Cover Girl is a modeling competition platform where contestants rally their fans, supporters, and followers to vote, rise through rounds, and earn the chance to win money, prizes, and recognition. 💫
Those with the most votes in their groups move forward, gaining exposure, building their personal brand, and advancing toward a Maxim Cover Girl crown.
Absolutely. Every contestant must advance through the same public voting rounds to reach the interview and finals stages.
Joining later doesn’t put you at a disadvantage — everyone has the same opportunity to progress. Think of it like running the same race; some contestants just start on different days.
Groups are the models you compete against in a round. Think of it like a class in school. Within each school, there are many students in their senior year – and they are in many classes, however, each school will have one valedictorian (the student with the highest grades).
Rounds are like levels in a game. At the end of each round, all votes are counted and top-ranked contestants move forward.
You can use the “See Rounds” feature on your dashboard to view how your competition is structured.
Each competition follows a similar flow:
- Vote counts reset to 0 when new groups are formed (for fairness).
- Winners and runners-up advance based on placement.
- Some rounds include retries, wildcards, or comeback opportunities.
Example: In Round 1, you might compete against five other contestants. If you earn enough votes, you’ll move on to Round 2!
Sometimes yes, sometimes no!
- Same Group Example: In the "Top 20," "Top 15," and "Top 10" rounds, you stay with the same people. What’s actually happening is that the least active models are being eliminated in each round.
- Different Group Example: In the "Quarterfinals," "Semifinals," and "Finals," you meet new competitors in each round.
After each round ends:
- Winners move to the winners' round.
- Runner-ups (those who almost won) move to a runner-up round or sometimes stay in the same round for another chance at winning.
- Others move to a wildcard round for another chance or move back a round (or are eliminated).
Don’t give up — you might still have another shot!
Certain competitions include Wildcard Rounds, Runner-Up Rounds, or Extra Lives that let you fight your way back in.
Types of Public Votes
- Daily Votes: Each voter can cast one (1) daily vote per contestant per day.
- MAXIM NEXT Votes: Fans can purchase MAXIM NEXT Magazine issues that include additional votes.
- Votes purchased through your profile automatically go to you.
- Votes from other sources may allow the buyer to choose who receives them.
- Only individuals of legal age may purchase MAXIM NEXT issues.
- Votes purchased through your profile automatically go to you.
Votes and voters are verified for authenticity, and self-voting or paying others to vote is prohibited.
You can earn extra votes — called Award Votes or Prize Votes — through special challenges and promotions during the competition.
These may include:
- Winning special challenges such as the Hot Shot Challenge or Profile Potential Challenge
- Achieving top placement in a voting round or contest event
- Participating in sponsor activities or limited-time promotions
Depending on the promotion, these votes may apply to all your active voting rounds or to a specific round.
Extra Life
Earned through Extra Life Points (100 points = 1 Extra Life).
If you lose in an eligible round, an Extra Life automatically gives you another chance in a new group of the same round (not the final round).
Retry Badges
In competitions like Natural Beauty, Euro Summer, and Centerfold:
- A losing entry without a Retry Badge automatically earns one and retries the same round once in a new group.
- Retry Badges take precedence over Extra Lives (Extra Lives only apply if the retry also loses).
- You can hold only one Retry Badge per round.
Overtime
If the top spot changes hands in the last moments, Overtime may extend the round (typically 30 minutes, up to two hours in some competitions). Votes during Overtime can sometimes apply to both the ending and following rounds if schedules overlap.
Digital Mystery Prizes
Some competitions award Digital Mystery Prizes — bundles of Award Votes or Extra Life Points revealed after you win them.
Each competition offers its own prize structure.
Examples include:
- Hot Girl Summer Barbados:
- 12 levels of Winners and Runners-Up, each earning Digital Mystery Prizes.
- The Grand Prize winner becomes the official MAXIM Hot Girl Summer Barbados Champion and enjoys a Barbados photoshoot experience, submitting at least 25 photos and 10 videos for Maxim content features.
- MAXIM Big Game Weekend:
- Multi-section structure where top contestants advance through competitive groups toward the finals surrounding the Big Game celebration.
- MAXIM Workout Warrior:
- Fitness-themed competition with tiered “Workout” rounds leading to the finals.
- MAXIM Natural Beauty:
- Focused on effortless beauty and confidence. Features Retry Badge Rounds and comeback opportunities.
- MAXIM Euro Summer:
- Features Repeat Public Votes (returning fans double their votes) and Double Public Voting in the last 12 hours of each round.
- MAXIM Radiance:
- Celebrates women 40 and over.
- Includes Double MAXIM NEXT Votes and Double Public Voting in the final 12 hours of each round.
- MAXIM Centerfold:
- Features large “Top 20” groups (up to 100 contestants).
- Includes multiple phases, Retry Badge Rounds, and extended bracketed advancement.
All prizes are listed in U.S. dollars and must be accepted as awarded.
Taxes and travel or incidental costs are the winner’s responsibility unless otherwise specified.
Interviews:
If you advance to the interview stage, you’ll be contacted via text message by a competition coordinator. They may ask for your social handle to give you a shout-out before sending you a link to our interview calendar, where you can pick a time that works best for your online video interview.
Some interviews may be recorded as part of the finalist selection process.
Photoshoots:
Certain competitions include a professional photoshoot for finalists or winners.
- You must be available on the dates set by the Sponsor.
- Round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations are included as outlined in the Promotion Rules.
- If you can’t attend, your participation may be forfeited.
The Promotion Administrator may request proof of eligibility (e.g., government ID).
Entries or votes may be disqualified for:
- Incomplete or false information
- Tampering, bot use, or vote manipulation
- Self-voting or paying others to vote
- Inappropriate or disruptive conduct
- Failure to attend required interviews or photoshoots
Disqualified contestants may lose prizes or be removed from current and future contests.
By entering, you represent the Maxim brand. Contestants agree to:
- Follow all laws and treat others with respect
- Avoid harassment, profanity, excessive intoxication, or offensive content
- Maintain professionalism during any Maxim event or travel
- Refrain from disparaging Maxim, its partners, or other contestants
Violations can lead to immediate removal, disqualification, or forfeiture of prizes.
Each competition has its own registration period and progression schedule:
- Big Game Weekend: June 11 – Aug 31 2025
- Workout Warrior: July 2 – Sept 27 2025
- Natural Beauty: Aug 8 – Nov 14 2025
- Radiance: Aug 29 – Dec 4 2025
- Euro Summer: Sept 2 – Nov 24 2025
Centerfold: Sept 16 2025 – Feb 1 2026
Promote your voting link across your social media, group chats, and fan base.
- Post updates and thank voters
- Share stories, behind-the-scenes photos, and shout-outs
Encourage repeat participation — loyal fans make a huge difference
Talk to our interactive agent via the chat for immediate help OR contact our support team if you have more questions! Ask for an agent if your question is not initially being answered.