Written for your account
Not a template and not tips everyone already knows. Someone from our team studies the accounts you applied with and your recent feed against the four judging criteria and writes down what they see.
02Judging
Judged on the work
Every entry is checked by hand, every entrant receives a personal report, and an independent jury scores against the same four published criteria. Here is exactly how it works.
- CriteriaFour, published
- The work90% of the score
- Your report30 November
- Finalists30 January 2027
The process
From entry to the stage, in seven steps
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16 to 25 November
Checks by hand
After entries close on 15 November, we check that every entrant is 18 or over, lives in the UK, posts in English and owns the account they applied with. A person, not a tool, then looks at how followers grew and who comments. Accounts with bought followers or engagement go no further. We then place each entry in the categories your profile fits.
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Monday 30 November
Your personal report
Our team writes every entrant a report on their own account: what already works, and what to sharpen before judging. It is included in the fee. What is in it.
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1 December to 17 January
Your development period
Seven weeks to put the report into practice. The jury follows the accounts you applied with and looks at everything you publish in this period, so progress counts.
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18 to 25 January
Independent scoring
Each juror scores each entry against the four weighted criteria before seeing anyone else’s scores. Jurors do not score entrants they know personally or work with, and never see the reports.
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26 to 28 January
The jury meeting
The jury discusses the highest-scoring entries in each category and agrees up to six finalists. A juror with a conflict leaves the room for that category.
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Saturday 30 January
Finalists announced
We write to every entrant on the same day, finalist or not. Finalists receive their posted invitation in the first week of February.
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Saturday 13 February
Winners revealed
Winners are announced on stage at the awards evening. The jury also chooses The Muse of the Year from all finalists.
Included in your entry
Your personal report
What it covers
- What already sets your profile apart, so you keep it
- Three to five specific changes, each shown on your own posts: light, palette, framing, grid rhythm, captions or formats
- A simple publishing plan for 1 December to 17 January
- Links to techniques and references that fit your aesthetic
When it arrives
By email on Monday 30 November, once every entrant’s 14-day cancellation period has ended. Questions about it can go to hello@themuseawards.group.
Kept apart from judging
The report is written by our team, not by the jury. Jurors never see it, it does not predict a result, and every entrant receives one in the same depth.
The criteria
What scores high, what scores low
| Criterion | Weight | Scores high | Scores low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | 40% | A recognisable eye: light, palette, styling and composition that are clearly yours. | A look borrowed from trends or from another creator. |
| Consistency | 30% | The look holds across months and formats, not in one lucky post. | Strong single posts with no thread between them. |
| Originality | 20% | Work others reference rather than repeat. An idea, format or treatment that is yours. | Templates, trending audio and formats used as they come. |
| Community | 10% | How people respond: real comments, saves and conversation. Not how many follow. | Large numbers with little real response, or signs of bought engagement. |
Ninety per cent of the score is the work itself. Follower count is not a criterion.
The jury
Independent people, named in public
Who sits on it
Five to seven people from the creator scene, brand marketing, photography and the press, including at least one member with no link to us or to any partner.
Names are announced before judging begins, each with a short note on why they were asked. Jurors appear on this site only once they have agreed in writing to be named.
What jurors agree to
- Declare every conflict of interest before judging starts
- Not score anyone they know personally or work with
- Keep entries and scores confidential
- Receive no payment from entrants or partners linked to an entry
Fair by design
The rules we hold ourselves to
- The fee pays for the review, never for a result. Every entry costs the same and is judged the same way. This is not a lottery and paying more does not help.
- Partners never judge, see entries or see scores. Partner logos and judging are kept apart.
- Errors are corrected. The jury’s decision is final, but if we find a genuine scoring or administrative mistake we fix it and tell the people affected.
- Full refund if you withdraw within 14 days of paying, or any time before entries close if that is later. If the ceremony is cancelled, every fee is refunded without you asking.
- Fixed dates. Deadlines are published now and are not extended for anyone.
The binding rules are in the Entry Rules, sections 8 to 11.