From Underdog to Top 1%: My Journey in the Muscle & Fitness Cover Contest
Every year, athletes battle it out for a cash prize and a feature on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Honestly? I had no idea this competition even existed until a follower reached out, sent me the details, and urged me to apply.
Growing up—long before YouTube and instant access to endless fitness info at our fingertips—Muscle & Fitness was one of the few resources I relied on when starting my journey. The thought of actually being featured on its pages hit a nostalgic chord. I thought, “Why not?” and submitted my application.
My initial motivation was simple: winning would mean greater exposure for my brand, giving me a bigger platform to fulfill my mission of impacting lives. About a week later, I was thrilled to learn I had been "hand-selected," though I still had a lot to learn about how the contest actually worked.
The Pivot: Finding a Greater Purpose
Soon after, I discovered that the winner wouldn’t be chosen by a panel of judges, but by public voting. Truthfully, I wasn't thrilled about a vote-based contest at first. But then I learned the why behind it: the competition serves as a massive fundraiser for charity, selecting a different non-profit every year.
This year’s beneficiary was The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation, an organization fighting childhood cancer by funding research and helping families cover overwhelming medical bills.
Suddenly, everything shifted.
Just eight days before my 18th birthday, I lost my best friend, Josh, to cancer. Knowing this contest was raising money for families facing that exact battle changed my entire outlook. It was no longer just about a magazine cover—it became a mission to do everything in my power to raise funds for a cause deeply close to my heart.
The Underdog Campaign
Realistically, I knew I was an underdog. Many of the athletes brought massive, established social media followings, while mine was still in its early stages. But I’ve always believed in possibilities, no matter how steep the odds are stacked against me.
I built a strategy for my community, created resources to share, and we hit the ground running. With everyone’s incredible support, we fought all the way to the finish line:
1st Place in four separate phases
3rd Place in one phase
Top 1% of all competitors
4th Place overall in the Quarterfinals
Most importantly, together we raised over $1,000 for The B+ Foundation to bring much-needed relief and comfort to families in need.
Looking Ahead
This competition took a lot out of me, but I learned so much in the process about strategy, perseverance, and community. Will I throw my hat back in the ring? Most likely! But next time, I’ll wait until our social media family grows past 100k so we can make an even bigger impact.
The Moral of the Story: When we unite our efforts toward a shared cause, what seems like a small contribution on an individual level amounts to a massive impact overall. There is power in unity!
I’m deeply proud of what we accomplished together. Whenever an opportunity presents itself to step up and do good, take it.