diff --git a/app/api/testimonials/route.ts b/app/api/testimonials/route.ts
index 69f4f12..78585af 100644
--- a/app/api/testimonials/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/testimonials/route.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
     const data = await request.json();
 
     // Basic validation
-    if (!data.name || !data.role || !data.email || !data.content || !data.imageUrl) {
+    if (!data.name || !data.role || !data.email || !data.content) {
       return NextResponse.json(
         { error: 'Missing required fields' },
         { status: 400 }
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
 
     const testimonial = await Testimonial.create({
       ...data,
+      imageUrl: data.imageUrl || '/avatar.svg',
       isApproved: false, // Explicitly false for public submissions
       type: data.videoUrl ? 'video' : 'text'
     });
diff --git a/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx b/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx
index bd9d1d0..ee7b8b6 100644
--- a/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx
+++ b/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
     role: '',
     email: '',
     content: '',
-    videoUrl: ''
+    videoUrl: '',
+    cta: ''
   })
 
   const handleImageChange = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
@@ -57,8 +58,6 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
         if (!uploadRes.ok) throw new Error('Image upload failed')
         const uploadData = await uploadRes.json()
         imageUrl = uploadData.url
-      } else {
-        throw new Error('Image is required')
       }
 
       // Submit testimonial data
@@ -84,7 +83,8 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
             role: '',
             email: '',
             content: '',
-            videoUrl: ''
+            videoUrl: '',
+            cta: ''
         })
         setImageFile(null)
         setImagePreview(null)
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
             </div>
 
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Your Photo *</Label>
+              <Label>Your Photo (Optional)</Label>
               <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
                 <Input
                   type="file"
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
                   onChange={handleImageChange}
                   className="hidden"
                   id="testimonial-image-upload"
-                  required
                 />
                 <Label
                   htmlFor="testimonial-image-upload"
@@ -215,6 +214,18 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Link to a YouTube video or similar.</p>
             </div>
 
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <Label htmlFor="cta">CTA / Message to Readers (Optional)</Label>
+              <Input
+                id="cta"
+                type="text"
+                placeholder="Join Dev Weekends to level up your skills"
+                value={formData.cta}
+                onChange={(e) => setFormData({...formData, cta: e.target.value})}
+              />
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Short call-to-action or closing thought.</p>
+            </div>
+
             <DialogFooter>
               <Button type="submit" disabled={loading} className="w-full">
                 {loading && <Loader2 className="w-4 h-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />}
diff --git a/components/testimonial-card.tsx b/components/testimonial-card.tsx
index 16346e5..0db0b4a 100644
--- a/components/testimonial-card.tsx
+++ b/components/testimonial-card.tsx
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ interface Testimonial {
   name: string;
   role: string;
   content: string;
+  cta?: string;
   videoUrl?: string;
-  imageUrl: string;
+  imageUrl?: string;
   type: 'text' | 'video';
 }
 
@@ -28,9 +29,10 @@ export function TestimonialCard({ testimonial }: { testimonial: Testimonial }) {
   };
 
   const videoId = testimonial.videoUrl ? getYoutubeId(testimonial.videoUrl) : null;
+  const avatarUrl = testimonial.imageUrl || '/avatar.svg';
   const thumbnailUrl = videoId 
     ? `https://img.youtube.com/vi/${videoId}/hqdefault.jpg` 
-    : testimonial.imageUrl;
+    : avatarUrl;
 
   if (testimonial.type === 'video' && testimonial.videoUrl) {
     return (
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ export function TestimonialCard({ testimonial }: { testimonial: Testimonial }) {
             <CardHeader className="p-4 pb-2 space-y-1">
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                 <div className="relative w-10 h-10 rounded-full overflow-hidden shrink-0 border">
-                  <Image src={testimonial.imageUrl} alt={testimonial.name} fill className="object-cover" />
+                  <Image src={avatarUrl} alt={testimonial.name} fill className="object-cover" />
                 </div>
                 <div>
                   <h3 className="font-semibold leading-tight">{testimonial.name}</h3>
@@ -99,6 +101,11 @@ export function TestimonialCard({ testimonial }: { testimonial: Testimonial }) {
                 </div>
               </div>
               <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground italic">"{testimonial.content}"</p>
+              {testimonial.cta && (
+                <p className="mt-3 text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">
+                  {testimonial.cta}
+                </p>
+              )}
           </div>
         </DialogContent>
       </Dialog>
@@ -115,7 +122,7 @@ export function TestimonialCard({ testimonial }: { testimonial: Testimonial }) {
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3 mt-auto pt-4 border-t">
           <div className="relative w-10 h-10 rounded-full overflow-hidden shrink-0 border">
             <Image
-              src={testimonial.imageUrl}
+              src={avatarUrl}
               alt={testimonial.name}
               fill
               className="object-cover"
@@ -126,6 +133,11 @@ export function TestimonialCard({ testimonial }: { testimonial: Testimonial }) {
             <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{testimonial.role}</p>
           </div>
         </div>
+        {testimonial.cta && (
+          <p className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">
+            {testimonial.cta}
+          </p>
+        )}
       </CardContent>
     </Card>
   );
diff --git a/models/Testimonial.ts b/models/Testimonial.ts
index a960af2..2cac3ff 100644
--- a/models/Testimonial.ts
+++ b/models/Testimonial.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ export interface ITestimonial extends Document {
   role: string;
   email: string;
   content: string;
+  cta?: string;
   videoUrl?: string;
-  imageUrl: string;
+  imageUrl?: string;
   type: 'text' | 'video';
   isApproved: boolean;
   createdAt: Date;
@@ -35,13 +36,17 @@ const TestimonialSchema = new Schema<ITestimonial>(
       required: [true, 'Testimonial content is required'],
       trim: true,
     },
+    cta: {
+      type: String,
+      trim: true,
+    },
     videoUrl: {
       type: String,
       trim: true,
     },
     imageUrl: {
       type: String,
-      required: [true, 'Image/Avatar is required'],
+      default: '/avatar.svg',
     },
     type: {
       type: String,