Olivia Cabot Burns, the former model who rose to prominence after winning Maxim’s inaugural fan-voted Cover Girl competition in 2018, was arrested Jan. 17 in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to police records.
Burns, 29, was taken into custody by the Boca Raton Police Department at approximately 3:53 a.m. following a traffic stop. She faces charges of driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and driving with a suspended license. Authorities have not released details regarding the reason for the stop, the substance allegedly involved, or any blood alcohol or field sobriety test results. Information regarding bail or court dates has not yet been made public. Burns is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The arrest drew widespread attention over the weekend after a post on X went viral.
Burns, a Wellington, Fla., native, became widely known at age 21 after winning Maxim’s first fully fan-voted Cover Girl contest. The competition, which drew more than 10,000 entrants over a three-month public voting period, awarded Burns $25,000 and a professional photoshoot with photographer Gilles Bensimon. Her cover and accompanying spread appeared in Maxim’s January/February 2018 issue.
She has previously said she began modeling at 16, initially working with local apparel brands while also pursuing a career in real estate. Encouraged by her mother, Burns entered the Maxim contest shortly before the deadline and rallied support from friends and family to secure the win.
Public records indicate Burns may have had prior legal issues in Palm Beach County, including a 2023 arrest involving DUI-related charges, which could be connected to the suspended license allegation in the current case. No further details have been confirmed.
Burns has not publicly commented on the arrest.
