2026 MODEL OF THE YEAR — OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
1. Organizer and Contest Period
The contest is organized by My Little Matilda LLC and Matilda Model Magazine (“Organizer”). Voting runs from September 18 through December 1, 2026, closing at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
2. Eligibility and Consent
The contest is open to models of all ages where legally permitted. Models under age 18 must be entered by a parent or legal guardian. By entering, the model or legal guardian confirms acceptance of these rules.
3. Voting and Nomination
Each vote costs US$1, with a minimum purchase of 25 votes (US$25) per transaction. A model becomes an official nominee after receiving at least 25 valid votes. Supporters may purchase votes more than once.
4. Final Payments
All vote purchases are final. Votes cannot be canceled, transferred, exchanged, or refunded except where required by law.
5. Valid Votes
Only votes connected to completed and cleared payments will be counted. Refunded, disputed, fraudulent, duplicated through technical error, automated, or charged-back transactions may be removed. The Organizer may audit voting activity and disqualify suspicious votes or participants.
6. Winner Selection
This is a vote-count competition—not a drawing, raffle, lottery, or game of chance. The model receiving the highest number of verified votes by the deadline will be named 2026 Model of the Year. If a tie occurs, the model supported by the greatest number of unique verified purchasers will win. If the tie remains, the model who reached the final tied total first will win. The Organizer’s verified voting records are final.
7. Recognition Levels
25 Votes: Official nomination, dedicated website page, social media feature, and inclusion in the 2026 Top Models – Collectible Model Book.
50 Votes: Inclusion in a group digital billboard campaign in Times Square on December 30th or 31st 2026. The billboard is displayed in rotation and is not continuously visible.
100 Votes: Special recognition trophy.
Top-Voted Model: Crowned 2026 Model of the Year, featured as the official Model Book cover model, awarded a trophy, and presented in an individual full-frame Times Square billboard design.
Book copies are not included unless specifically stated. Prizes have no cash alternative and may not be transferred.
8. Billboard and Publication Terms
Billboard location, display schedule, rotation frequency, book publication date, layout, and production details are determined by the Organizer and its vendors. If a technical, vendor, weather, safety, or other circumstance beyond the Organizer’s control prevents the scheduled presentation, the Organizer may reschedule it or provide a comparable promotional placement.
9. Image and Publicity Release
By entering or accepting a nomination, the model—or the parent/legal guardian of a minor—grants the Organizer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free right to use the model’s name, image, likeness, submitted photographs, and videos for this contest, websites, social media, magazines, books, advertisements, billboards, promotional materials, and archival purposes without additional compensation.
Images may be cropped, resized, color-corrected, combined with graphic elements, or formatted for publication. The Organizer will not intentionally use AI to materially change a model’s face or body.
10. Photo Rights and Responsibility
The person submitting content confirms that they own the photographs or have permission from the photographer and every necessary rights holder. The submitter accepts responsibility for copyright, ownership, privacy, or authorization claims resulting from unauthorized submissions.
11. Limitation of Responsibility
To the extent permitted by law, the Organizer is not responsible for internet interruptions, payment-platform errors, social-media outages, lost submissions, unauthorized activity, vendor delays, or circumstances outside its reasonable control.
12. Acceptance of Rules
Purchasing votes, entering a model, or accepting a nomination confirms full acceptance of these rules, the image release, and the no-cancellation/no-refund policy. The contest is void where prohibited and is governed by applicable Florida law.