Hot & Fit 100 – 2026 Official Rules

INSIDE FITNESS HOT & FIT 100
18th Annual — 2026/2027 Official Contest Rules, Photo Submission Agreement & Legal Terms
Organized by IFM Media Inc., publisher of Inside Fitness Magazine

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. PURCHASE DOES NOT GUARANTEE SELECTION OR PUBLICATION.

1. Contest Organizer
The Inside Fitness Hot & Fit 100 (the “Contest”) is organized and administered by IFM Media Inc., operating as Inside Fitness Magazine (“IFM” or the “Organizer”).

By entering, each participant (“Entrant”) acknowledges that she has read, understands and agrees to these Official Rules and the applicable privacy and submission terms.

2. Contest Dates

• Entries open: October 20, 2026.
• Early-bird pricing ends: November 1, 2026.
• Final entry deadline: December 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Anticipated publication: January 2027.

The completed questionnaire, applicable Shopify checkout and qualifying photographs must all be received by the closing deadline.

3. Eligibility
The Contest is open to women who are legal residents of Canada and at least 18 years old at the time of entry.

Entrants must submit their own applications. Entries made by photographers, agencies or other third parties on behalf of participants are not permitted.

Each person may submit one Contest entry. False information, unauthorized material, duplicate entries or non-compliance with these Rules may result in disqualification.

IFM may request reasonable proof of identity, age, residency or eligibility before confirming a selection.

4. Entry Procedure and Packages
Entrants must complete the official questionnaire, select an entry package, complete Shopify checkout and provide the corresponding photographs through the designated photo-upload process.

The same email address must be used throughout to allow IFM to match the questionnaire, order and photos.

Available packages include:

• Standard Entry: Free, one photograph.
• Gold: $89 CAD, up to 10 photographs.
• Platinum: $149 CAD, up to 25 photographs.
• Publisher: $399 CAD, up to 25 photographs, including the advertised publisher video-call benefit.

Optional paid packages provide the additional products, services or photo-submission capacity described at checkout. They do not create additional Contest entries, votes, judging points or guaranteed editorial placement.

No purchase is required for consideration for the Hot & Fit 100, Top 8 or overall winner. Free entries must receive genuine access to the selection process.

All paid purchases are subject to the applicable published pricing, checkout conditions and refund policy. Any advertised discounts must be applied and disclosed accurately.

5. Photo Submission Requirements
Each Entrant is responsible for ensuring that every submitted photograph:

1. Accurately represents the Entrant.
2. Is a colour photograph that has not previously been publicly published, including on social media.
3. Meets the applicable technical specifications, including a maximum file size of 80 MB.
4. Contains no unlawful, infringing, defamatory or unauthorized material.
5. Is accompanied by correct photographer identification and credit.

Photographer credits must be provided for each photograph in the same order as the uploaded images. Photographer credits must also appear visibly on each submitted photo as required by the submission instructions.

IFM may request replacement files, corrected credits or additional documentation. Submissions that do not meet the requirements may be withheld from consideration or rejected.

6. Copyright Ownership and Photographer Permissions
Entrants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions, licences, releases and authorizations before submitting photographs.

By submitting photographs, each Entrant represents and warrants that:

• She either owns the necessary rights or has received authorization from the applicable copyright owner to submit each image and authorize the uses described in these Rules.
• The photographer or other applicable rights holder has authorized IFM to reproduce, publish, distribute, display and promote the photograph in connection with the Contest and related Inside Fitness publications.
• Any identifiable third parties appearing in the photographs have provided any legally required consent or releases.
• All required permissions cover print, digital, online, website, social media, promotional and archival uses within the stated scope.
• The photographs do not infringe any third party's copyright, moral rights, privacy rights, publicity rights or other protected interests.

Payment for a photo shoot, possession of image files or the act of crediting a photographer does not, by itself, establish permission to publish or reproduce the images.

Entrants must retain appropriate written evidence of their permissions and provide it upon reasonable request. IFM may require a separate release or licence signed by the photographer or rights holder before publication.

7. Photographer Credit and Editorial Production
IFM respects the creative rights of photographers and will make commercially reasonable efforts to reproduce accurate photographer credits where appropriate and technically feasible.

However, layouts, thumbnails, advertisements for the Contest, social media formats, reproductions and production requirements may create limitations on credit placement.

Entrants are responsible for supplying complete and accurate credit information. IFM does not guarantee that every credit will appear in every individual format or reproduction.

An inadvertent credit omission does not establish a waiver of a photographer's legal rights. IFM will review credible correction requests and take reasonable corrective action where legally required and practicable.

Nothing in these Rules constitutes a waiver of moral rights by a photographer or other author. Any necessary consent to particular alterations or waiver of moral rights must come from the applicable rights holder.

8. Licence to Publish and Promote Submitted Materials
By participating, the Entrant grants IFM a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use her submitted name, approved biography, statements, image and likeness in connection with the administration, editorial coverage and promotion of the Hot & Fit 100 and related Inside Fitness publications.

For photographs and other third-party copyrighted material, the Entrant confirms that the applicable rights holder has granted, or validly authorized the Entrant to grant, the corresponding licence to IFM.

These permitted uses include publication in Inside Fitness Magazine, digital editions, websites, official social media channels, Contest announcements, promotional materials and archives, as well as reproduction by production contractors acting on IFM's behalf.

The licence includes ordinary production activities, such as formatting, resizing and cropping, only to the extent authorized by the applicable rights holders and permitted by law.

The licence extends to continuing distribution, preservation and promotion of the relevant Contest editions and their archives. It does not transfer copyright ownership to IFM.

Independent third-party advertising campaigns, unrelated commercial endorsements or uses materially outside the stated Contest and publication purposes require any additional permissions applicable by law.

9. Responsibility for Unauthorized Submissions
All photographs are submitted at the Entrant's responsibility with respect to ownership, permissions, accuracy and lawful authorization.

IFM is entitled to rely reasonably on the representations provided by Entrants, subject to its own applicable legal obligations.

IFM does not undertake to independently establish the copyright ownership, model permissions or licensing history of every photograph submitted.

An Entrant who provides unauthorized material may be disqualified and may be responsible for resulting third-party claims and reasonable expenses as described in the indemnification provisions below.

IFM reserves the right to remove, replace, withhold or discontinue use of content if a credible legal concern, rights dispute or violation of these Rules arises.

10. Selection and Judging
The Contest is an editorial, skill-based selection process, not a random draw or game of chance.

Selection of the Hot & Fit 100, Top 8 and overall cover winner is made at the sole discretion of IFM Media Inc. / Inside Fitness Magazine, based on the publication’s assessment of suitability for the Hot & Fit editorial concept.

Purchasing an upgraded package, having a large social media following or purchasing an unrelated sponsored feature does not confer any advantage, additional points or guarantee of selection. The number of photographs submitted does not create additional Contest entries.

Subject to these Rules and applicable law, all selection decisions of IFM are final and binding. IFM may disqualify ineligible, misleading or non-compliant entries at its discretion.

11. Editorial Recognition and Benefits
The Contest is intended to recognize up to 100 eligible women in the annual Hot & Fit 100 feature, identify a Top 8 and select one overall cover winner.

The Top 8 and overall winner form part of the overall selection rather than separate opportunities requiring payment.

The recognition consists of the applicable editorial placements and associated announcements. No cash prize is offered under these Rules. Editorial recognition is not transferable or redeemable for cash.

Required pre-launch disclosure: IFM must confirm the approximate market value, or legally appropriate valuation disclosure, of the editorial benefits and identify any additional merchandise, services or prizes and their approximate market values before the Contest opens.

Selections are competitive, and the likelihood of selection depends on the number and quality of eligible entries. No individual selection or publication is guaranteed by entry or purchase.

12. Sponsored Editorial Opportunities
Inside Story and Women in Business sponsored profiles are separate paid promotional opportunities.

Sponsored placements do not influence selection, guarantee placement among the Top 100 or affect eligibility for the Top 8 or overall winner.

Sponsored material will be distinguished from independent Contest selections through appropriate advertising identification.

13. Publication and Editorial Rights
IFM retains reasonable editorial control over the content, design, timing, layout and production of its publications.

Selection does not entitle an Entrant to control the final layout, placement, article wording or photographic treatment, except where required to respect legal rights and specific agreed permissions.

IFM may use relevant excerpts from Entrants' questionnaires and biographical information for Contest features, provided they are not materially misrepresented.

Unforeseen production problems, legitimate legal restrictions or events beyond IFM's reasonable control may affect publication timing or format.

Any changes that materially affect advertised Contest benefits will be addressed in accordance with applicable law.

14. Release, Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Entrants agree that IFM Media Inc., its directors, officers, employees, contractors, representatives and participating partners are not responsible for losses arising solely from an Entrant's failure to obtain necessary rights, provide correct information or comply with these Rules.

The Organizer does not guarantee uninterrupted operation of third-party websites, submission tools, payment processors or upload platforms and is not responsible for failures outside its reasonable control, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

Each Entrant agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to indemnify and hold harmless IFM and the above parties against reasonable losses, liabilities, damages and legal expenses arising from third-party claims caused by the Entrant's breach of these Rules, infringement of intellectual-property or privacy rights, or materially false representations concerning submitted content.

This indemnity does not apply to the extent that losses result from IFM's own unlawful conduct or matters for which liability cannot legally be excluded.

Nothing in these Rules excludes or limits liability for fraud, wilful misconduct, gross negligence or any other liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

15. Privacy and Personal Information
IFM collects entry information to administer the Contest, verify eligibility, match questionnaire and purchase records, communicate with Entrants, conduct selection, manage publication and maintain required records.

Relevant information may be shared with authorized employees, editorial contractors, selection personnel and service providers who require access for these purposes, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Information selected for publication, including approved names, locations, biographies and photographs, may become publicly available and remain accessible through published or archived editions.

Personal information will otherwise be handled under applicable Canadian privacy legislation and IFM's published Privacy Policy, including applicable rights to access, correction and withdrawal of consent, subject to lawful limitations.

Participation does not require consent to receive unrelated marketing emails. Marketing communications require a separate lawful basis, and Entrants may unsubscribe as provided by law.

16. Technical Problems and Fraud
IFM may investigate suspected fraudulent entries, impersonation, duplicate submissions, altered records, unauthorized access or deliberate interference with the submission process.

If a technical incident materially compromises fair participation, IFM may take reasonable corrective measures, including reopening an affected submission period or extending a deadline, subject to applicable law and appropriate public notice.

Changes will not be used to unfairly disadvantage Entrants who have already submitted valid entries.

17. Changes, Cancellation and Legal Compliance
IFM may correct clerical errors and make changes reasonably necessary to address legal requirements, security incidents, technical failures or circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

Material changes will be disclosed promptly, and any cancellation or alteration will be handled in accordance with applicable Canadian law.

The Contest is subject to federal, provincial and territorial laws. These Rules are intended to be governed by Ontario law and applicable Canadian federal law, without limiting mandatory rights available to residents of other provinces or territories.

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent legally permitted.

18. Acceptance and Contact
By completing and submitting the official entry questionnaire, each Entrant confirms that she has read and agrees to these Rules, understands the responsibilities associated with photo submission, and confirms that the required permissions have been secured.

These Rules apply together with the applicable Privacy Policy and published checkout terms. If there is a conflict about Contest eligibility, selection or photo-submission requirements, these Official Rules govern to the extent permitted by law.

Organizer: IFM Media Inc. — Inside Fitness Magazine
Email: info@ifmmedia.com
Website: www.insidefitnessmag.com