ESSENCE - ULTA BEAUTY GIRLS UNITED: BEAUTIFUL POSSIBILITIES VIDEO CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. We are looking for 6 Individuals to be a part of the Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities Mentorship Program!

Entrants should submit a one-minute video and a completed questionnaire through the Essence.com/beautifulpossibilities webpage between September 27 – November 30, 2019. The video should show your story, why you are passionate about a beauty career, and why you should be selected to be part of the Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities program with Essence and Ulta Beauty (the “Program”). See details below. Essence and Ulta Beauty (the “Sponsors”) will select 6 individuals to be featured in a digital docuseries about the teens’ participation in the program as they gain a behind the scenes look at the beauty industry and are mentored by industry leaders.

ELIGIBILITY:

This Contest is open to individuals aged 16-19 who are legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, and are able to travel to New York and Chicago at certain times between January and October 2020, to participate in the docuseries. ANY GIRL UNDER THE LEGAL AGE OF MAJORITY IN HER STATE OF RESIDENCE (I.E., A MINOR INDIVIDUAL) at the time of entry must have the permission of her parent or legal guardian to enter. Void in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, outside the continental U.S., and where prohibited by law. Employees of the Sponsors, their agencies, affiliates, family members and housemates are not eligible to enter.

PRIZES:

Six individuals will be selected to participate in the Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities program based on their video submissions. The selected Program Participants will:

1. Be provided the opportunity to participate in panels and mentoring sessions with Ulta Beauty and Essence experts.
2. Be provided with the opportunity to be featured in a digital docuseries to be filmed at locations in New York City and Chicago on specific dates in 2020.
3. 3) Be awarded $10,000 per Program Participant that can be used for college expenses.
4. Be awarded transportation and lodging for each trip to New York and Chicago, for the Program Participant (and her parent or legal guardian, if winner is under the legal age of majority in her state of residence). Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of the Travel portion of the Prize is $5000 per individual; actual ARV will depend on the travel and lodging details for each person.

Each Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities Program Participant will be awarded transportation and lodging for each trip to New York and Chicago, for the Program Participant and her parent/guardian (if winner is under age 18). Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of the Travel portion of the Prize is $5000 per girl; actual ARV will depend on the travel and lodging details for each person.

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter, you must complete the entry form and upload an original 60-second video through www.essence.com/beautifulpossibilities. One entry per person. You must upload a copy of your current school ID with your video.

VIDEO GUIDELINES:

• Videos must be no longer than 60 seconds and must be entrant’s original work.
• Only the entrant should be shown in the video (no other persons).
• The video should not show any nudity or use any profanity. PG-13 please!
• Do not use any music in your video, unless you composed and recorded it yourself.
• The video should not defame or say negative things about any person, company, or brand.
• The video should not show any smoking or alcohol or drug use.
• ANY VIDEO THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THESE RULES WILL BE DISCQUALIFIED.

JUDGING:

The videos will be reviewed by the Sponsors’ Judging Team. They will judge the Videos on the basis of (a) the originality and expressive content of the Video (25%); (b) how clearly the Entrant explains her passion for a career in the beauty industry (25%); (c) the Entrant’s poise and presentation, as shown in the Video (25%); and (d) how the video reflects the Entrant’s background and potential to benefit from being part of the Essence/Ulta Beauty Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities Program (25%). The six Videos that receive the highest total score based on the judging criteria will each be deemed the potential winners. If there is a tie, the tied Videos will be judged by an additional panel of judges selected by the Sponsors using the judging criteria above to select potential winners. The Judges’ determinations are final and binding in all respects. The judging will be completed on or about December 16, 2019.

POTENTIAL CONTEST WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY THE SPONSORS WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST.

AWARD OF PRIZES:

The Sponsors will attempt to notify potential winners by email on or before December 20, 2019, via an email sent to the address provided with her Entry. Potential winners must sign affidavits of eligibility and releases, along with a parent or legal guardian consent form (if winner is under the legal age of majority in her state of residence) within 10 days of the email notification. Potential winners must be able to travel to New York and Chicago on the dates set by the Sponsors, as stated in the notice email. If a potential winner is not able to travel to New York and Chicago on the specified dates or is unable to travel or participate for any other reason, another potential winner will be selected from qualified entries, based on the next highest total score per the judging criteria.

The winners will have to provide their Social Security Number for the sole purpose of required tax reporting. Each parent or legal guardian accompanying a winner under the legal age of majority in the winner’s state of residence will also be required to sign a Travel Companion Liability & Publicity Release. If any notification or prize is returned as undeliverable, or if potential finalist or winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Official Rules, she will be disqualified, and another potential winner selected on the basis of the Judges’ scoring of the Videos. The final winners or “Program Participants” will be determined after Sponsors have received the signed releases and other required information from the potential winners.

ENTRANT REPRESENTATIONS:

By submitting an Entry, Entrant warrants and represents that: (a) the Entrant’s Video does not infringe any copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other property rights of any person or entity; (b) Entrant owns all rights to their Video, including copyrights, and has received prior written permission from anyone who recorded the Video, if it was recorded by someone else; and (c) Entrant will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Sponsors, and any related persons or entities, from any claims and damages (including reasonable attorneys' fees) if there is a breach or alleged breach of Entrant’s representations and warranties herein, or from Entrant’s acceptance or use of any prize, or otherwise in connection with this Contest.

ENTRANT GRANT OF RIGHTS:

By submitting an Entry, Entrant grants the Sponsors a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, display, edit, and create derivative works from Entrant’s Video, in any media format now known or thereafter devised, throughout the world, and for any purpose, including, but not limited to, promotional and/or marketing purposes, and to authorize others to do the same. By submitting an Entry, Entrant also grants the Sponsors the right, but not the obligation, to use the Entrant’s image, photo, name, likeness, hometown and comments for any purpose, including, but not limed to, for promotional and/or marketing purposes, without further permission, and without notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law.

PRIZE CONDITIONS:

THE WINNERS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS “PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS” IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES) MUST BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ON THE DATES SPECIFIED BY SPONSORS. POTENTIAL TRAVEL DATES WILL BE SPECIFIED BY SPONSORS IN THE WINNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. Each winner under age 18 must have the writtenTHE WINNERS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS “PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS” IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES) MUST BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ON THE DATES SPECIFIED BY SPONSORS. POTENTIAL TRAVEL DATES WILL BE SPECIFIED BY THE SPONSORS IN THE WINNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. Each winner under the legal age of majority in the winner’s state of residence must have the written consent from her parent or legal guardian in order to participate in the Program. Prizes may not be transferred or given to anyone else. No cash or other substitutions are allowed, except that the Sponsors may modify the travel schedules and other details as may be deemed necessary in their discretion.

TRAVEL PORTION OF PRIZES:

The travel portion of the prizes covers round trip transportation to/from an airport in a major city close to the winner’s home, local transportation in the visited city, lodging and meals during the trips as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion for winners, and one parent or legal guardian travel companion for any winner under the legal age of majority in the winner’s state of residence at time of travel. Any other incidental expenses are the sole responsibility of the winner or her parent or legal guardian travel companion.

Specifically: all other travel-related expenses, including ground transportation between home and airport, snacks, taxes, gratuities, incidentals, any insurance, service charges, luggage fees, food & beverage (other than as provided as part of included meals), and personal expenses such as telephone/Internet charges, and gift shop purchases are the sole responsibility of prize winners. Winners and parent or legal guardian travel companions must travel on same itinerary. Winners and parent or legal guardian travel companions must have valid photo ID and any other required travel documentation prior to departure. Travel is subject to availability and Sponsors’ scheduling.

Sponsors may in their sole discretion determine which airport is closest to the winner’s home. If a winner’s residence is within 250 miles either New York City or Chicago, Sponsors may in their sole discretion substitute round-trip ground transportation to/from the winner’s home in lieu of air transportation. The winners and travel companions are responsible for obtaining any travel or other insurance that they may wish to obtain (at their own expense). Sponsors will not obtain or provide travel insurance or any other form of insurance.

Photo identification and a credit card may be required to check into the selected hotels and for incidental charges. All travel and hotel reservations are based on availability. Blackout dates, advance booking requirements and travel restrictions may apply. If weather or other incident or conditions beyond the control of the Sponsors affects the ability of the winners and their travel companions to redeem any portion of prize during the scheduled date and time, then the Sponsors shall have no further obligation to the winners and/or travel companions other than to supply the remaining elements of the prize package minus the unused portion of prize. The Sponsors shall not be responsible for any cancellations, delays, diversions or substitution or any act or omissions whatsoever by the air carriers, hotels, venue operators, transportation companies, prize providers or any other persons providing any prize-related services or accommodations. The Sponsors are not liable for expenses incurred as a consequence of flight cancellation/delay. No refund or compensation will be made in the event of the cancellation or delay of any transportation or other prize element except at the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsors. If for any reason whatsoever, winner and/or travel companion are unable to travel after all travel arrangements have been made and paid, the Sponsors shall have no further obligation to that winner. . Winner and parent or legal guardian travel companion are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documentation (e.g., valid photo ID and/or passport with a minimum validity 6 months after the date of return) prior to travel. Winner’s parent or legal guardian travel companion must be a legal U.S. resident, 21 years or older, and must complete and return a Travel Companion Liability & Publicity Release prior to travel as noted above.

If a winner or any travel companion engages in behavior that, as determined by a Sponsor in its sole discretion, is obnoxious or threatening, illegal or that is intended to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, Sponsors reserve the right to terminate the trip early, whole or in part, and send the winner and travel companions home with no further obligation. In the event a winner or travel companion engages in behavior during travel that (as determined by a Sponsor in its sole discretion) is illegal, tortious, or subjects winner or parent or legal guardian to arrest or detention, Sponsors shall have no obligation to pay any damages, fees, fines, judgments or other costs or expenses of any kind whatsoever incurred by winner as a result of such conduct. SPONSORS SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURIES, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR OTHER DAMAGES OR EXPENSES RESULTING FROM OR ARISING OUT OF ANY TRAVEL RELATED TO THE PRIZE OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF WINNER’S OR ANY TRAVEL COMPANION’S ACCEPTANCE OR USE OF ANY PRIZE.

TAXES:

Winners/Program Participants are responsible for all federal, state, local and income taxes associated with winning prize. The value of the prizes, as awarded, will be reported to the IRS, as required by law. Potential winners will be required to furnish their Social Security Numbers for the sole purpose of preparation of tax forms as required by law.

PUBLICITY RIGHTS:

Except where prohibited by law, entry and acceptance of prize constitute permission to use winner’s name, prize won, hometown, likeness, video tape, photographs, and statements for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity (including online posting) in any and all media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission. No child under the age of majority in the child’s state of residence shall receive any prize unless and until such child’s parent or legal guardian signs a written Release in a form acceptable to Sponsor.

RELEASE AND WAIVER:

Each Entrant releases and holds harmless the Sponsors and their affiliated companies, advertising agencies and all other entities involved in this Contest, as well as the employees, officers, directors and agents of each (the “Sponsor Entities”), and all social media, including but not limited to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or any social media where this Contest may be promoted or referenced, from all claims and liability relating to their participation in the Contest, and the acceptance and use/misuse of the prize offered. Entrants waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages. Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Contest or use/misuse or redemption of a prize. Sponsors are not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Contest or in the announcement of any prize. No child under the age of majority in the child’s state of residence shall receive any prize unless and until such child’s parent or legal guardian signs a written Release in a form acceptable to Sponsor.

No confidential relationship is established by any Entrant and any Sponsor as a result of participating in the Contest. No information, ideas, plans, or concepts submitted by the Entrant in their Video or during the Contest will be treated as confidential or proprietary. Entrants acknowledge and agree that any Sponsor may use or adopt any information, idea, concept or plan submitted as part of an Entry or during the participation in the Program without any compensation to you.

GENERAL:

The Sponsor Entities are not responsible for: (i) lost, late, misdirected, damaged or illegible entries; (ii) any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of submission materials; (iii) for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind; (iv) the inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive submission information by any Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or any combination thereof; or (v) any injury or damage to Entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in the Contest.

By participating in the Contest, each Entrant (i) agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) agrees to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsors, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Contest. If, for any reason, the Contest including the prizes and the Program is not capable of being conducted as planned, for reasons including, but not limited to infection by computer viruses, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or other causes whether or not beyond the control of Sponsors, then the Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and/or the nature of the Prizes. Sponsors are not responsible if the Contest cannot be implemented or prizes cannot be awarded as planned due to delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, strikes, governmental action, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism. Sponsors also reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual found to be violating these Official Rules or suspected of attempting to disrupt or defraud the entry process or the operation of the Contest. Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any Entrant who may be determined to be ineligible to enter the Contest or win any prize. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or any social media.

GOVERNING LAW AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:

This Contest, including the administration of the Contest and award of the prizes, is governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other laws.

BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANT AGREES THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (A) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONTEST, OR ANY PRIZE AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (B) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED (IF ANY) NOT TO EXCEED TEN DOLLARS ($10.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (C) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY ENTRANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS AND/OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES, OTHER THAN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED TEN DOLLARS ($10.00), AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND (D) ENTRANTS’ REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND ENTRANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

DISPUTES:

The parties hereto each agree to finally settle all disputes regarding the Contest or prizes only through arbitration; provided, however, the Sponsor Parties shall be entitled to seek injunctive or equitable relief in the state and federal courts in Kings County, New York and any other court with jurisdiction over the parties. In arbitration, there is no judge or jury and review is limited. The arbitrator’s decision and award is final and binding, with limited exceptions, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction. The parties agree that, except as set forth above, any claim, suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Contest shall be resolved solely by binding arbitration before a sole arbitrator under the streamlined Arbitration Rules Procedures of JAMS Inc. (“JAMS”) or any successor to JAMS. In the event JAMS is unwilling or unable to set a hearing date within fourteen (14) days of the filing of a “Demand for Arbitration”, then either party can elect to have the arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or any other mutually agreeable arbitration administration service. If an in-person hearing is required, then it will take place in Kings County, New York. The federal or state law that applies to these Official Rules will also apply during the arbitration. Disputes will be arbitrated only on an individual basis and will not be consolidated with any other proceedings that involve any claims or controversy of another party, including any class actions; provided, however, if for any reason any court or arbitrator holds that this restriction is unconscionable or unenforceable, then the agreement to arbitrate doesn’t apply and the dispute must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in Kings County, New York. Sponsors agree to pay the administrative and arbitrator’s fees in order to conduct the arbitration (but specifically excluding any travel or other costs of entrant to attend the arbitration hearing). Any party may, notwithstanding this provision, bring qualifying claims in small claims court.

PRIVACY:

Personal information collected from entrants are subject to the Sponsors’ Privacy Policies, which can be found at https://www.essence.com/privacy-policy and https://www.ulta.com/ulta/common/privacyPolicy.jsp.

WINNER CONFIRMATION REQUEST:

For a written confirmation of the winners (available after 01/30/20), send a stamped, self-addressed envelope (no later than 03/31/20), to: ESSENCE - ULTA GIRLS UNITED BEAUTIFUL POSSIBILITIES VIDEO CONTEST, Winner Confirmation Request, 241 37th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11232.

SPONSORS:

ESSENCE Communications, Inc., 241 37th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11232 and Ulta Inc., Suite 120, 1000 Remington Boulevard, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440.