A Richmond woman is in the hunt to win the cover girl contest for one of the world’s top lifestyle magazines.
Mercedes Ciprut is currently in the top one per cent of voting for the race to be Maxim Cover Girl 2020, with voting for the quarter final stage ending tonight at 8 p.m.
The self-confessed “workaholic” prides herself in having a super healthy lifestyle - which includes some body-building – but has never entered any such contest before and is astounded by how far she’s come.
And the nursing student, who also works as a server at the Pioneer Pub in Richmond and as a lab technician at BC Children’s Hospital, is now eyeing up a place in the semi-finals and the $25,000 (U.S.) first prize, which comes with a cover shoot and two-page spread.
“I'm looking for support in the local community to help me win a contest,” said Ciprut, who gets up daily at 4:30 a.m. to work out for more than hours at the World Champion Club gym at the foot of No. 5 Road.
“This competition has been going on since May and I was a strong leader in my group rounds, but now as I'm amongst the top one per cent…it's getting very tough.
“This is the first time ever I’ve tried to be competitive, but I wanted the grand prize for my schooling and to see what I was capable of.”
Ciprut said the contest just “popped up” on her Instagram feed one day and she decided, “on a whim,” to go for it.
“I try my best to stay away from the body-builder image. I’m really the opposite of that; there’s a softer, sweet side to me and I’m hoping that taking part in this would show that side,” she added.
“I just want to show a more feminine side by doing this. I do like girly things as well.”
If she wins, Ciprut said she will donate $5,000 of the grand prize to a Richmond charity, take her mom out for dinner and put the rest towards her nursing courses.
To vote for Ciprut, go to https://maximcovergirl.com/2020/mercedes-ciprut.
