Cover Girl Finalist Teisha Mechetti Questions Legitimacy of Inked Originals Competition, Demands Transparency
The Californer/10319637

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. & SAN FRANCISCO & LOS ANGELES & DALLAS - Californer -- Mechetti, who leveraged her participation in the contest to drive awareness for social impact initiatives across Oregon and Northern California, reports that she was outbid by a contestant with no verifiable online presence—a repeat image from the 2023 competition, raising serious concerns of integrity.

"I pushed forward with the support of a strong donor base and a verified campaign strategy. But when I noticed the same image from a previous year—and zero digital footprint—I questioned their vetting process," said Mechetti.

When she requested information about candidate verification and fundraising totals, Inked's response failed to satisfy basic standards of transparency:

"We do not provide donation amounts raised by individual competitors. However, voters can reach out to us at any time and we'd be happy to provide them with receipts of all purchases they have made."

More on The Californer

• AI Visibility: The Key to Beating Google's AI Overviews and Regaining Traffic
• First Partner highlights apprenticeship program helping underrepresented youth break into careers in California's iconic entertainment industry
• Stuck Doing Math or Figuring Out Life's Numbers? Calculator.now Makes It Stupidly Simple
• Cal State LA secures funding for two artificial intelligence projects from CSU
• Colbert Packaging Announces WBENC Recognition

Mechetti believes this points to a systemic issue, questioning how much of the funds truly go to the B+ Foundation and how much is funneled back into Inked's operations. "I support the mission, but not at the cost of integrity," she said. "Donors, competitors, and the public deserve better."

As the founder of TH💡NK (https://thnkntnk.com), Mechetti leads a nationally scaling firm that bridges immersive design, compliance, creative development, and workforce training. Her mission-driven approach blends cutting-edge software with cultural impact to uplift underserved communities and emerging talent.

She is calling on Inked Originals, Maxim, and the B+ Foundation to disclose their candidate vetting process, release a verified financial report of funds raised and distributed, and rebuild trust through ethical standards.

For interviews, inquiries, or further comment: Teisha Mechetti CEO, TH💡NK Email: tmechetti@gmail.com Phone: (541) 816-2403 Web: thnkntnk.com | teishamechetti.com