Gerber Names Magnolia Earl As Their First Adopted 'Spokesbaby'

Baby food company Gerber has made history Friday after the announcement its new "spokesbaby" for 2020, and she is none other than Magnolia Earl, an adopted one-year-old child from California.

Gerber picked Earl among 327,000 applications for its 10th yearly photo competition. According to the press release, Earl won the hearts of the judges for her "joyful expression, playful smile and warm, engaging gaze."

"At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity, Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together: our desire to love and be loved, our need to find belonging, and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology," Bill Partyka, the company president said.

As the winner of the photo competition, the Earl family will receive $25,000 cash, $1,000-worth of Gerber children's wear, $1,000 from Walmart, and phones from Verizon with a year of free and unlimited service.

Courtney Earl, the baby's adoptive mother, said that they were able to connect with Magnolia's birth mom while she was in labor. Hours after that phone call, Magnolia was born on May 9, 2019.

"Magnolia has brought so much joy to everyone she meets. Her personality is beyond happy and joyful," Courtney said. "Adoption is incredibly special to our family's story. Winning Photo Search is an opportunity to tell Magnolia's story and shed light on all the beautiful and different ways families are made."

The new Gerber baby is close to her 12-year-old sister, Whitney, and 8-year-old sister, Charlotte, who is also adopted.

Gerber launched its photo campaign in 2010 after noticing how much parents liked to copy their logo.

"Photo Search is a moment of celebration that so many families look forward to each year. And this year – perhaps more than ever – the Gerber family is thrilled to celebrate with Magnolia and her family, and with families across America,” Kelly Schneider, Gerber's spokesperson, said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made all of us feel more isolated than ever before, so finding new ways to feel connected has never mattered more.”

The company also made history when it featured a baby with Down syndrome, Lucas Warren, in 2018, and a Gerber baby from the Hmong ethnic group, Kairi Yang, in 2019.

Its original Gerber baby, Ann Turner Cook, celebrated her 93rd birthday in November.