Maxim introduces newcomer Olivia Burns as fan-voted cover girl, raises money for wounded veterans
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One aspiring model from Wellington, Florida was discovered in a huge way.
Maxim announced Olivia Burns has won their first-ever reader-voted winner of the Maxim Cover Girl contest, beating out over 10,000 entrants with the help of millions of voters during a three-month voting process.
The 21-year-old not only won a coveted photoshoot with Maxim photographer Gilles Bensimon, but she is also featured on the cover of the January/February 2018 issue and has earned a check for $25,000.
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“The Maxim Cover Girl Contest was such an incredible and empowering experience,” said Burns in a statement sent to Fox News Tuesday. “I am so honored to have gotten the experience of shooting with legendary photographer Gilles Bensimon. I used to dream of being a model and now my dream is a reality. Thank you Maxim Magazine, Gilles Bensimon and the Maxim readers."
And the contest wasn’t just a big win for Burns. It also raised over $500,000 for Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, a charity founded by former NFL All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen that builds handicapped-accessible homes for wounded veterans.
The news was a huge shock for Burns. Despite her dreams to become a model, her height at 5’6” didn't meet the minimum for several modeling agencies. She ultimately focused on a career in real estate, but still insisted on modeling as a side gig. Burns is also a successful equestrian and competes six to seven times a year.
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Maxim Magazine revealed it was Burns’ mother who sent her the link to the competition just a day before it closed.
“I was actually in disbelief,” admitted Burns. “Because I wasn’t checking the page the last day and I had a friend tell me, ‘Olivia, you won.’ It was so crazy, and I was so excited. I was almost crying.”
As Burns gears up to pursue a full-time modeling career, she’s also thinking about sharing her success with someone special.
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“I do like someone who’s affectionate and shows they care and has time for me,” Burns told the publication, adding she was single. “Someone that loves animals. Someone who’s laid-back and chill. I would love for someone to take me out on a boat for dinner. That would be a dream date. I’ve seen that in movies, and it looks amazing.”