"Booth Babes" is probably kind of a sexist term. Showcase Girls maybe... Display Models, perhaps... Crass as it may be "Booth Babe" is probably the best word for it.

THE CONTEST:
Design a superhero ("Booth Boys" are perfectly acceptable) or superheroine that could be used to display or hype some new gadget or appliance, real or fictional. Maybe they get their powers from an MP3 player. Maybe they travel through cell phone towers. Back stories are not required, only stylized costumes.

Extra "points" will be awarded to pictures who can work one or more of the following into their picture. Said "points" do *not* necessarily ensure a person winning the contest, but they will help.

1. The gadget they're advertising is in the picture with them or part of their costume.

2. Parity ([link]) is the "booth babe" showing off some new gadget. (Parity's a fan of pocket knives and multitools. She says, "They cut, they pick, and they unscrew. I couldn't ask for more.")

3. The hero/heroine is using the gadget some kind of action pose. (For instance, a magician who uses an MP3 player and speakers to cast spells too difficult to speak quickly.)

4. A hero/heroine showing off how BugLabs' ([link]) product could be used for fighting crime.

THE RULES:
1. Submit it to me, either by posting it to DeviantART and telling me by note or emailing the image to me (tuglyraisin [at] aol [dot] com).

2. All submissions must be sent in no later than 12:00 midnight (EST) October 30th, 2006. I will be picking the winners on October 31st, 2006.

3. Two winners will be chosen by me and awarded $50 (USD). The money can either be Paypal'd, given in the form of an Amazon gift certificate, or used to purchase an item worth $50 (including shipping) from the store of your choice. I *will* *not* mail money or money orders, sorry. If you choose Paypal, I'll pay you $57 (USD) to cover their fees.

4. Artists may submit multiple images, but can only win once. The only way one person can win twice is if only one artist submits two pieces. Otherwise, two people will be picked.

THE CLOSING:
If there are any questions, feel free to note or email me at the above address. There are no restrictions to how you design the characters, but here are a few examples of what I think of as "Booth Babes", feel free to use or ignore as you like: [link] [link] [link] [link]

UPDATES:
Added #4 to the "extra points" list, listing BugLabs as something that would be cool to see with a heroic spokes person.