Inside Maxim's $1-a-Vote Cover Model Contest

This year, Maxim decided to have readers pick who will appear on the cover of its January/February issue. The idea garnered a lot of publicity, and reportedly, a lot of money, with close to $1.5 million raised. Aspiring model Olivia Burns was thrilled to win a readers “vote” in the Maxim’s Finest contest last fall, New York Post reports.

Not only did she get on the cover, but she got a $25,000 prize as well. Readers were allowed a single free vote daily, but beyond that, they were charged $1 per vote, with a $20 minimum, to cast their ballots. There was no limit to how many times a fan could vote, and each dollar spent counted as a single vote. Maxim said it would donate 25 percent of all the revenue raised to Home for Wounded Warriors.

In the end, Maxim donated $500,000 to the charity, meaning the contest grossed $2 million, with $1.5 million going to Maxim. The magazine, owned by Sardar Biglari, an Iranian-born investor who bought it four years ago through his Biglari Holdings, has formally struggled to make a profit, but started to make money after Biglari took it over.

The cover is finally out! Thank you @maximmag & photographer @gilles_bensimon for an amazing shoot! #maximmagazine #janfebissue

A post shared by L I V Y??? (@oliviaburns12) on Jan 8, 2018 at 2:55pm PST

Another photo from my four page spread with @maximmag by @gilles_bensimon! I will always be thankful for having the opportunity to have been featured in such a huge magazine, as well as, being able to shoot with such an incredible photographer. Thank you to everyone who was involved and has supported me throughout the way❤️

A post shared by L I V Y??? (@oliviaburns12) on Jan 13, 2018 at 5:24pm PST