Fil-Am toddler is this year's Gerber Baby
A 10-month-old Filipino-American baby from Colorado, USA was hailed the winner of Gerber's annual Photo Search, making her the 2023 Gerber Baby.
Gerber said Maddison "Maddie" Mendoza captured the attention of the judges with a throwback submission that included a photo of herself and her mom.
The photo showed a striking resemblance between Maddie and her mother, even at a young age. They had the same facial features, including their eyes, nose, and mouth. They also had their hair tied up in the same way.
“The throwback submission of Maddie and her mom brought a smile to the judges’ faces and perfectly captured the spirit of this year’s program," said Gerber president and CEO Tarun Malkani.
Since 2010, Gerber is championing to find its "Spokesbaby." For this year's contest, Gerber asked parents to send their childhood photos along with their children's.
As a 10-month-old baby, Maddie enjoys baby music classes, swim lessons, hiking with her mom and dad, and exploring new food.
Her story was lauded by the company, which according to them, embodies the spirit of generations of Gerber babies.
“Gerber has always believed in the magic of babies, and Maddie's story, filled with love, resilience, and adventure, embodies the spirit of generations of Gerber babies,” Malkani said.
Her mom Crystal, who works as a dentist, highlighted how their daughter brings joy to the family.
“Being a rainbow baby, Maddie has brought us immeasurable joy with every milestone, snuggle, and moment spent with her enriching our lives and making every day more meaningful and beautiful,” she said.
Meanwhile, her dad Jun, who is a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force, said in an interview on The Today Show that this accomplishment feels like a dream and he is very excited for the future of his Gerber baby.
"It’s definitely been surreal, it feels like a dream. It felt like a one-in-a-million shot; we never thought she’d be a [Gerber baby]. We are just so grateful for this opportunity and excited for the world to meet Maddie," Jun furthered.
EXCLUSIVE: Meet the 2023 Gerber Baby! 🍼 Maddie and her parents join us live! pic.twitter.com/0Eml2oUBtL
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 12, 2023
Maddie will work with the company to help the next generation of babies grow and thrive as a 2023 Gerber Baby.
She will also be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year.
Maddie and her family also took home a $25,000 (P1,358,650) cash prize, about a year’s worth of supply of Gerber products, a wardrobe change care of Gerber Childrenswear, as well as surprise goodies from the brand’s partners.
Gerber will also match Maddie’s cash prize with a donation to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.