1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with Model Guide, we may collect different types of information.

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

You may voluntarily provide personal information when you contact us, submit content, participate in an interview, request publication, submit an enquiry, subscribe to communications, advertise with us or otherwise interact with Model Guide.

This information may include:

• Your name or stage/professional name;
• Email address;
• Telephone or WhatsApp number;
• Social media usernames or profile links;
• Website address;
• Professional information;
• Modeling or pageant information;
• Photographs and videos;
• Biography or profile information;
• Interview responses;
• Advertising or business information;
• Messages and correspondence you send to us;
• Any other information you voluntarily submit.

1.2 Information About Other People

If you submit information about another person, such as a model, photographer, makeup artist, pageant contestant or business representative, you should only provide that information where you have the appropriate permission or lawful authority to do so.

2. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our website, hosting provider, analytics services or other technologies.

This may include:

• IP address;
• Browser type and version;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Approximate geographic location;
• Pages visited;
• Time spent on pages;
• Referring website;
• Links or buttons interacted with;
• Date and time of visits;
• Website performance information;
• Error and diagnostic information.

We generally use this information in aggregated or technical form to understand website performance, improve our services and protect the website against abuse or security threats.

3. Information You Provide

Model Guide may operate contact forms, submission forms, interview forms, advertising enquiries, registration forms, newsletter forms or similar features.

Information submitted through these features may be used to respond to your request, process your submission, communicate with you or provide the service you requested.

Please avoid submitting sensitive personal information through public forms unless it is specifically requested and necessary.

4. How We Use Information

Model Guide may use collected information for legitimate business, editorial, operational, communication and security purposes, including:

• Operating and maintaining the website;
• Responding to enquiries;
• Processing submissions;
• Publishing approved editorial content;
• Conducting interviews;
• Creating model, pageant and industry profiles;
• Communicating with contributors and clients;
• Providing advertising or promotional services;
• Improving website content and functionality;
• Understanding audience interests;
• Monitoring website performance;
• Preventing spam, fraud and abuse;
• Maintaining website security;
• Complying with applicable laws;
• Protecting our rights and legitimate interests.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Model Guide may use cookies and similar technologies to improve website functionality, remember preferences, understand website usage and support advertising or analytics.

5.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They can allow websites to recognize your browser and remember certain information.

5.2 Types of Cookies

Cookies used on the website may include:

• Essential cookies: Required for certain website functions.
• Functional cookies: Used to remember preferences and improve functionality.
• Analytics cookies: Used to understand website traffic and visitor behaviour.
• Advertising cookies: May be used by advertising partners to deliver or measure relevant advertising.

You can usually control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling some cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of the website.

6. Analytics

Model Guide may use third-party analytics services to understand how visitors use the website.

Analytics services may collect information such as pages viewed, approximate location, device information, browser information, traffic sources and interactions with the website.

Analytics information is generally used to measure website performance, understand audience behaviour and improve our content and services.

7. Advertising

Model Guide may display advertisements from third-party advertising networks or directly from advertisers.

Advertising partners may use cookies, pixels or similar technologies to measure advertising performance, understand audience interactions or provide advertisements that may be relevant to users.

Model Guide does not necessarily control the privacy practices of third-party advertising providers. Users should review the privacy policies of those providers for additional information.

Model Guide may also publish sponsored content, promotional articles, advertisements, brand features or other paid promotional material. Where applicable, such content may be identified as sponsored, promotional or advertising content.

8. Social Media and Third-Party Platforms

Model Guide may link to or embed content from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp or other social media services.

When you interact with third-party social media features, those platforms may collect information according to their own privacy policies and terms.

Model Guide is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party social media platforms.

9. User-Submitted Content

Model Guide may allow users, models, photographers, agencies, pageant contestants, businesses and other contributors to submit photographs, videos, biographies, interviews, announcements, articles or other materials.

By submitting content for publication, you confirm that you have the necessary rights and permissions to provide that content to Model Guide and authorize Model Guide to use it for the purposes agreed at the time of submission.

Submitted material may be edited for spelling, grammar, formatting, length, editorial style or presentation.

Model Guide reserves the right to refuse, remove or edit submitted content where it considers the material inappropriate, misleading, unlawful, defamatory, infringing or inconsistent with its editorial standards.

10. Publicly Displayed Information

Some information submitted to Model Guide may be intended for public publication.

For example, a published model profile may include a person’s name, professional biography, photographs, social media links, pageant history, achievements or other information provided for publication.

Model Guide cannot guarantee that publicly published information can be completely removed from the internet after publication or redistribution by third parties.

11. Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may contain links to websites, applications, services and platforms operated by third parties.

These may include social networks, advertisers, video platforms, payment providers, analytics providers, hosting providers, news sources or other websites.

Clicking a third-party link may take you away from the Model Guide website. Once you leave our website, the privacy policy and terms of the third-party service will apply.

Model Guide does not control and is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

12. When We Share Information

Model Guide does not intend to sell personal information as a standalone product. However, information may be shared with appropriate third parties where reasonably necessary for the operation of our website and services.

This may include:

• Website hosting providers;
• Website developers or technical service providers;
• Analytics providers;
• Advertising partners;
• Email or communication providers;
• Social media platforms;
• Professional service providers;
• Law enforcement or regulatory authorities where legally required;
• Other parties where you have provided appropriate consent.

We may also disclose information where reasonably necessary to protect the safety, rights, property or security of Model Guide, our users or others.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by applicable law.

The retention period may depend on the nature of the information, the reason it was collected, legal obligations, business requirements and whether the information forms part of published editorial content.

14. Data Security

Model Guide takes reasonable measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, disclosure or destruction.

However, no internet transmission, website, database or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You should therefore understand that submitting information online carries some level of security risk.

15. Children’s Privacy

Model Guide recognizes that children and teenagers may participate in modeling, pageants and other activities covered by our platform.

Where content involves a minor, appropriate parental or legal guardian permission should be obtained before submitting photographs, personal information or other material for publication.

We do not knowingly request unnecessary personal information from children through general website forms.

If you believe that personal information relating to a child has been submitted or published without appropriate permission, please contact us so that we can review the matter.

16. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on applicable law and your circumstances, you may have rights relating to your personal information.

These may include the ability to:

• Request information about personal data we hold about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request deletion of certain information;
• Object to or restrict certain processing;
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• Request removal or correction of certain published information;
• Ask questions about how your information is being used.

Some requests may be subject to legal, editorial, contractual or other limitations. For example, we may need to retain certain records where required by law or legitimate business obligations.

To exercise a privacy-related request, please contact us using the details provided below.

17. International Data Transfers

Some technology, hosting, analytics, advertising or social media providers used by Model Guide may operate outside Zimbabwe.

As a result, information submitted through our website may be processed or stored in other countries.

Where required, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information is handled in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection requirements.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Model Guide may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our website, services, technology, business practices or legal requirements.

When changes are made, the updated version will be published on this page and the “Last Updated” date will be changed accordingly.

We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to request correction or removal of personal information, or have a privacy-related concern, please contact Model Guide.