Gerber Baby: Photos of Gerber's Photo Search Winners Through the Years

The term "Gerber Baby" is synonymous with an absolutely adorable baby face, thanks to the brand's longtime logo featuring an angelic, chubby-cheeked infant (based on Ann Turner Cook, who died in 2022). And since 2011, Gerber has run an annual Photo Search contest, for proud parents and family members to nominate their own cute kiddos to take on the title of that year's Spokesbaby (as well as win a cash prize and be featured on Gerber's social media).

The 2024 winner, Akil "Sonny" McLeod, was just announced on June 25. "Every day it's an honor to watch Sonny conquer so many tiny achievements, from giggles to trying new foods, to standing up and everything in between," his parents said in a statement. "He's a light in our lives and brings joy to everyone around him."

Look back at more than a decade of Gerber's Photo Search winners below.

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2024

Arizona's Akil "Sonny" McLeod, who just turned 1, is the 2024 winner, and the first one selected by a panel that included parents of Gerber Babies from years past.

"After 14 incredible years of Photo Search, this year we are grateful our former Gerber Baby families could join us in selecting Sonny as our 2024 Gerber Baby," said Chandra Kumar, President of Nestlé Nutrition. "Sonny immediately captured our hearts with his joyful smile and his heartwarming demonstration of what it means to grow with love."

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2023

Madison "Maddie" Mendoza, of Colorado, was 10 months old when she received the title. Her parents said it "felt like a dream" to have their daughter named as that year's Gerber Baby, and said it was extra-special to have a military baby chosen for the honor.

"Military children especially go through a lot with their parents being deployed or out a lot, supporting the country," said her dad Jun. "So I think that Maddie is a military child, it really helps highlight how special these children are and how strong and resilient they can be."

Gerber donated to March of Dimes and Operation Homefront on Maddie's behalf.

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2022

On May 4, 2022, Gerber revealed the winner for that year's photo search contest as Isa Slish of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Isa, whom her mother, Meredith Slish, describes as a "strong, amazing little girl" via a press release, was born without a femur or a fibula in her right leg.

"We hope Isa's story can bring more awareness for limb differences and create greater inclusion for children like her. Because, just like Isa, they too can be or do anything they want!" Meredith said.

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2021

Zane Kahin, 4 months, of Winter Park, Florida, was named the 2021 Gerber Spokesbaby.

Zane, according to a press release, captivated the judges with his "cheerful attitude, infectious giggles and playful smile that can light up any room."

Erin Kahin, Zane's mom, said in a statement, "Zane is our little comedian. He loves to crack himself up and even wakes up laughing."

She added that their "shining light" baby beat "all odds" when he was born Feb. 3, 2021. "When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 27 years old and a newly single woman, my doctors were unsure how the impact of chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy would impact my ability to have children. After getting married to my husband over a year ago, we surprisingly conceived naturally and had a near perfect pregnancy."

"Our family continues to enjoy every moment and look at life with appreciation and a sense of humor," added Erin.

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2020

Gerber Baby Photo Winners — Magnolia Earl/Gerber

One-year-old Magnolia Earl was named the 2020 Gerber Spokesbaby, making her the first adopted baby to win the title.

Sweet Magnolia "captured the hearts of the judging panel with her joyful expression, playful smile and warm, engaging gaze," Gerber's announcement read.

Magnolia represents Gerber babies around the globe and her family's story of adoption "unites all parents and drives everyone at Gerber: the promise to do anything for baby."

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2019

Kairi Yang, with her adorable smile and sweet personality, won over the judges and became 2019's Gerber Spokesbaby.

The little girl with the big grin beat a staggering 544,000 other entrants on Instagram, with Gerber's President and CEO saying in a press release, "As soon as we saw her photo, we fell in love with Kairi's expressive eyes and angelic face, looking toward the future and being excited for all that it holds."

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2018

Gerber-Lucas-Winning-Photo — PRNewsfoto/Gerber

Sweet, smiley Lucas Warren took home the title in 2018! He was the first baby with Down syndrome to win Gerber's Photo Search Contest, breaking the mold for babies everywhere while looking absolutely adorable.

"We're hoping this will impact everyone — that it will shed a little bit of light on the special needs community and help more individuals with special needs be accepted and not limited," said dad Jason Warren at the time of his son's win. "They have the potential to change the world, just like everybody else."

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2017

gerber baby riley — Kristen and Devin Shines.

2017 winner Riley Shines really lives up to his last name! With a shining personality and sweet baby grin, Riley took home the 2017 title, out of 110,000 entries.

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2016

Big smiles from 2016's winning baby, Isla, from Troy, Michigan! When she won, her mom told PEOPLE, "She's the happiest little baby, she's always smiling. The smile from the photo is literally on her face all the time!"

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2015

Darling Grace won the Photo Search in 2015 when judges "just fell in love with [her] smile (and those dimples!)" She's now 5 years old.

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2014

Double the cuteness! In 2014, Gerber broke the mold and named twins Paxton and Levi the winners. The adorable brothers are now 6 years old!

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2013

Now 8, Mary Jane stole our hearts and the top spot in the Photo Search Contest in 2013. According to Gerber, "Mary Jane's big, bright eyes and adorable smile drew the Gerber judges to her photo."

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