Each year, baby food company Gerber announces a very special distinction: who will be the year's "Gerber baby." The contest dates back to 1928, and the company receives thousands of entries a year. This year's baby is a real cutie named Magnolia Earl.
Much has been made of the fact that in recent years, Gerber has placed special emphasis on ensuring that its roster of Gerber babies is diverse in terms of ethnicity, ability, and more. In 2018, Lucas Warren became the first Gerber baby who has Down syndrome. And last year's Gerber baby, Kairi, was the first choice who is of Hmong descent. Magnolia is no exception: She is the first Gerber baby who is adopted.
Magnolia's mom, Courtney, is really moved by the company's choice: "This is incredible. It means that when people see our families, or if you see a family that doesn't necessarily match, that you don't have to question the belonging of anybody in that family."
Her dad, Russell, added, "Mommy always says a family is built on love. We may all look different, but we're one family."
Magnolia also has two big sisters, Whitney and Charlotte. Charlotte was also adopted by Courtney and Russell.
In a video interview with Today, Courtney shared that her family is in regular contact with Magnolia's birth parents. "We celebrate adoption in our family every single day. The real hero in this story are Magnolia's birth parents. They chose her life, and they sent her on this incredible journey."
They also made sure to tell Magnolia's birth parents when they found out she was a Gerber finalist: "If you could hear the joy in their voice of how proud they are of this little girl. Together with them and our community and our family, we all love this baby girl so much."
Gerber began its annual Gerber Baby Photo Search 10 years ago. "At Gerber, we have always recognized that every baby is a Gerber baby. In the 10 years we have hosted Photo Search, we have been proud to feature babies of diverse backgrounds. This year is no exception by featuring Magnolia, our first adopted Gerber Spokesbaby."
The original Gerber Baby contest began in 1928, when the company thought it would be a great way to find a baby to represent the company. "Artist Dorothy Hope Smith entered her simple charcoal sketch of a tousle-haired, bright-eyed cherub of a baby with endearing pursed lips. In her entry, Smith noted that she would finish the sketch if she won."
"Her drawing competed with elaborate oil paintings, but the judges fell in love with the baby face Smith drew, and when they chose it as the winner, they insisted that the simple illustration remain a sketch. The image of this happy, healthy baby was soon to become the face that launched a brand, a face recognized and loved across the globe."
Gerber made the drawing its official trademark in 1931 and has used it on all of its packaging since. The identity of the original Gerber Baby was revealed in 1978.
"In a poll taken across the United States, people speculated as to the identity of the Gerber Baby. Guesses ranged from movie stars Humphrey Bogart and Elizabeth Taylor to Senator Bob Dole. Over the years there have been rumors of the actress Jane Seymour being the Gerber Baby. But mystery novelist and retired English teacher Ann Turner Cook knew the correct answer: She is the Gerber Baby."
The Gerber Baby Photo Search began in 2010, and tons of families enter their children each year. The first Gerber baby photo contest winner was Mercy Townsend, who was 2 years old when she won. Her win was followed by Tate Rosendahl in 2011 and Mary Jane Montoya in 2012.
Twins Levi and Paxton Strickland won the contest next, followed by a baby named Grace who swept the contest. Grace's mom said, "She must have taken her hands out of her mouth and posed them like that for a split second because I didn’t even realize how cute she was posing until after I was completely done taking pictures and looking back at what I had just taken."
Seven-month-old Isla won next. Her mom commented, "She's always smiling and giggling and on the move. Her favorite thing to do is dance to music and play with her big sister, Nora."
Riley Shines was the winner the following year, which was no surprise considering that his mom shared, "People will stop us and say, 'He needs to model.'"
Magnolia definitely joins a list of awesomely adorable babies, and she will probably love hearing stories about the adventure when she's older. It's especially cool that her parents are shedding a little light on the joy that can come with open adoption, and that her birth family is allowed to bask in this special prize, too.
