You’ve probably seen the ads. Maybe a friend texted you a link, sounding a little too excited, asking for a "quick favor." It’s a photo of a smiling couple, a shiny $20,000 prize mention, and the promise of a spread in Variety magazine. It looks like the ultimate celebration of romance. But then you notice the "Hero Votes" that cost money, and you start wondering. Is the America's Fav Couple contest a legitimate way to celebrate love, or is it just a massive, clever fundraising machine?
Honestly, it's both.
People tend to fall into two camps here. Some think it’s a total scam. Others think they’re one "share" away from Hollywood fame. The reality is tucked somewhere in the middle, buried under layers of marketing psychology and professional fundraising tactics. If you're considering entering or if you're currently hovering at #2 in your group and wondering why you can't seem to hit #1, you need to know how this thing actually operates behind the scenes.
The Reality of the $20,000 Dream
Let’s be clear: the contest is real. People actually win. In 2025, Jennie and Bryan Drollinger—a couple who reunited 32 years after high school—took home the grand prize. They got the $20,000. They got the photoshoot. They appeared in Variety.
But here is the catch most people miss. That "feature" in Variety isn't an editorial piece written by a staff journalist. It’s an advertorial. Basically, the organizers, a company called Colossal Management, buy the space. It's a high-end, professional ad that looks like a story.
Colossal is a professional fundraiser. They aren't a talent agency. Their goal isn't to find the "best" couple in America; it's to raise as much money as possible for their charity partners, which in this case are the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Oceana. In 2025 alone, the America's Fav Couple contest raised nearly $4 million. That is a staggering amount of money.
👉 See also: Clothes hampers with lids: Why your laundry room setup is probably failing you
How the Voting "Groups" Trick You
If you enter, you’ll likely get a text or email pretty quickly saying you’ve been accepted. Then, you’ll look at the leaderboard and see you’re #3 or #5 in your group. You feel like you're so close! You start texting the group chat. You post on Instagram.
But you have to look at the fine print. You aren't in the top 5. You are in the top 5 of your group.
In past years, researchers and skeptical bloggers have estimated there are thousands of these groups. Each group might have 30 to 80 couples. This is a classic "big fish in a small pond" tactic. It keeps you motivated. If you were #14,000 out of 50,000, you’d probably give up. But #4 in a group of 40? You’ll fight for that.
The rounds are brutal:
- Top 20: The first major cut.
- Top 15, Top 10, Top 5: Each week, the bottom couples are chopped.
- Group Winners: Only the person at the very top of each group moves to the quarterfinals.
By the time you get to the final stages, you aren't just competing against "cute couples." You are competing against people who are treats this like a full-time job or people with deep-pocketed friends willing to buy "Hero Votes."
✨ Don't miss: Christmas Treat Bag Ideas That Actually Look Good (And Won't Break Your Budget)
The "Hero Vote" Controversy
This is where things get sticky. You get one free vote every 24 hours. That’s the "organic" part. But you can also buy votes. These are usually $1 per vote, with a minimum purchase often starting around $10.
A lot of people feel this makes the America's Fav Couple contest "pay-to-play."
It kinda is.
While the rules technically prohibit couples from buying their own votes to win, there’s nothing stopping your uncle, your boss, or your best friend from dropping $500 to keep you in the lead. This is how the contest raises millions for charity. It turns a popularity contest into a donation drive.
Is it fair? Not really. If one couple has a massive following or wealthy supporters, they’ll beat a "cuter" or "better" couple every single time. But Colossal is very transparent about this in their rules. They aren't claiming this is a blind audition. It’s a fundraising competition.
🔗 Read more: Charlie Gunn Lynnville Indiana: What Really Happened at the Family Restaurant
Is It Worth Your Time?
If you're doing it for fun, sure. It’s a cool way to share your story. Shannon and René, a Deaf-hearing couple who competed in 2025, used the platform to talk about their unique connection and the challenges they’ve faced. They didn't win the $20,000, but they got a lot of eyes on their story.
But if you are entering because you need that $20,000? Be careful.
The emotional toll of these contests is real. You spend weeks badgering your friends. You feel guilty asking for money. You get anxious checking the leaderboard at 9:59 PM before the cut-off. It’s designed to be addictive.
What to Keep in Mind
- The Math is Against You: With thousands of entrants, your statistical chance of winning is tiny.
- It's a Marathon: The contest lasts for months. You have to keep people voting every single day. Most people's friends get "vote fatigue" by week three.
- The "Celebrity" Factor: They often use names like Jeff Goldblum to add legitimacy. While these celebs are involved (Jeff Goldblum and his wife Emilie have hosted), they aren't the ones looking at your photos. They are the face of the brand.
Actionable Steps for Contestants
If you’re already in the America's Fav Couple contest or you’re about to hit that "submit" button, do it with your eyes wide open.
- Set a "No-Buy" Rule: Tell your friends and family explicitly: "Please only use the free daily vote. Do not spend money." This removes the "scammy" feeling and keeps it a fun social experiment.
- Focus on the Narrative: Don’t just post a photo. Tell a story. The couples who actually gain traction are the ones who share something vulnerable or inspiring—like the Drollingers’ 32-year reunion story.
- Check the Charity: If you're going to ask people to donate, make sure they know where it's going. The LA Regional Food Bank is a highly-rated 501(c)(3). Knowing the money helps feed people makes the "Hero Votes" feel less like a waste.
- Have an Exit Plan: Decide now at what stage you’ll stop pushing. If you don’t make the Top 5 in your group, let it go gracefully.
Ultimately, the America's Fav Couple contest is a charity fundraiser wrapped in a glossy lifestyle competition. It isn't a scam in the sense that the money disappears—it goes to real charities and a real winner gets paid. But it is a business. As long as you treat it like a "maybe" and not a "must-win," it can be a heart-warming way to celebrate your relationship. Just don't expect a call from a Hollywood agent the next morning.
To make the most of your entry, focus on the free daily voting cycle and use your profile to link to a personal blog or project to gain long-term value from the temporary traffic.