Meet Sonny, The New Gerber Baby Contest Winner
There’s officially a new Gerber baby on the scene!
On Tuesday, the baby food brand announced the winner of its 14th annual Gerber Baby photo contest: 1-year-old Akil “Sonny” McLeod from Arizona.
A panel of judges ― which for the first time ever included the parents of previous winners ― selected Sonny from the pool of tens of thousands of submissions of babies up to 2 years old.
“The adorable submission photo of Sonny featured his smiling face and a fitting sunshine mobile hanging in the background,” Angela Madlangbayan, vice president of marketing at Gerber, told HuffPost. “His submission instantly captured the hearts of the selection panel. We loved hearing how his family celebrates moments with him daily and appreciate how their past experiences have led them to look for light even in hard times.”
As the 2024 Gerber Baby, Sonny will appear on the brand’s social media channels and marketing campaigns for the year. His family will receive a $25,000 cash prize, free Gerber products for up to a year, a new wardrobe and an assortment of other prizes.
“When we had Sonny, everyone kept telling us he looked like a Gerber Baby, which inspired us to apply!” his mother, Dominque McLeod, told HuffPost. “We are still in shock! We believed Sonny could win, of course, but the experiences that have followed since we found out have been amazing.”
To announce the news, the brand flew Sonny and his parents and sister Sage to New York, where they attended press events and also had the chance to reunite with extended family in the state. They hope the “sunny” disposition that inspired their son’s nickname also inspires joy and kindness in others.
“Sonny has a smile and unique presence that should be shared,” his father Akil McLeod said. “He lights up every room he enters! I think it’s important to share love and positivity, and our family feels the importance of that every day with Sonny. If even just one person’s day is made better by seeing our sweet Sonny, that’s something worth celebrating.”
