Suzanne Gardner Has Her Eyes on the Maxim Crown
Mission Viejo’s Suzanne Gardner is not one to shy away from a challenge. She’s now got her eyes on winning the 2026 Maxim Cover Girl Radiance competition—and victory is in sight.
The Radiance competition is exclusively for women over 40. The winner receives a $20,000 cash prize, a professional photo shoot and feature in Maxim magazine, and a luxury vacation in the Greek Isles. A $5,000 donation is also made to the winner’s charity of choice.
What prompted the mom and entrepreneur—with no previous modeling experience—to enter the competition?
“I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and represent women over 40 with confidence, strength and vitality,” said Suzanne. “It’s a powerful reminder that our experience and stories matter.”
Mission Viejo Is Home
Suzanne was three years old when her family moved to Mission Viejo in 1972, and the city has been home ever since.
Her path to success hasn’t always been straightforward. In 1987, she attended Capistrano Valley High School and Pathfinder High School simultaneously to make up missing credits. With the support of teachers Terry and Peggy McCarty, she not only graduated from both schools on time, but also earned Pathfinder’s highest academic achievement award.
That determination continued throughout her education and career. After getting her undergraduate degree at Bauder College in Atlanta, Suzanne earned an MBA in Innovation, Leadership and Consulting from York St. John University in York, England. She’s since built a career as an award-winning sales leader and expert in co-branded credit card programs for retailers.
Her connection to Mission Viejo continues to run deep. Her sons, Grantland and John, both graduated from Capistrano Valley High School. John now coaches football there and hopes to teach at the school one day. Suzanne has also volunteered for years as a religious education teacher at St. Kilian Catholic Church and served as a team mom for her sons’ AYSO teams.
Taking the top prize in the Maxim Radiance competition would add another accomplishment to the list. “I want to show women everywhere you can run a business, pursue higher education, raise a family, and still feel absolutely radiant,” she said.
Help Suzanne Win the Competition
The journey to the crown begins with worldwide public voting. The top-performing contestants advance to an interview round with a panel of expert judges. The final three models will be flown to Miami for a high-stakes photo shoot, which will ultimately determine who is crowned the Radiance 2026 champion.
Suzanne has already made an impressive run in the competition, finishing first in five preliminary rounds. She is now in the quarterfinals, with three more rounds of voting ahead. If she wins, Suzanne plans to donate the $5,000 charity contribution to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
And that’s where her supporters can help. Fans can vote for Suzanne daily, with each vote moving her closer to the Maxim crown.
“We are now in the home stretch,” said Suzanne. “Maintaining the top spot requires daily votes, and every single vote counts. Community members can cast a free vote every day to help bring this victory and the breast cancer research donation home to Mission Viejo.”
