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COURTESY OF MENDOZA FAMILY 10-month old Maddie Mendoza captured the hearts of the Gerber Baby Contest judges. |
Gerber's 2023 Gerber Baby looks a lot like my daughters and nieces. from the topknot of black hair to her sparkling almond eyes to the skin, a golden shade of brown. A Filipino American toddler from Colorado was picked to represent Gerber, the baby-food making giant.
Madison “Maddie” Mendoza, along with her remarkable parents, captured the attention of the judges with a standout throwback submission and story full of love and resilience.
According to Gerber, Maddie is a “rainbow baby” – the name for a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant.
“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,” said Crystal Mendoza, Maddie’s mom.
“We look forward to witnessing her grow into a kind, compassionate, strong, independent and worldly individual as we hope to be stationed overseas again to teach Maddie about all the different parts of the world.”
At almost 10 months old, Maddie enjoys her baby music classes, thrives in her swim lessons, loves hiking with her parents and fearlessly explores new foods.
Just like mom, Maddie came into this world with a full head of hair, captivating expression and the most joyful attitude. Together as a family, they enjoy the outdoors, photography, trying different foods and restaurants and interacting with animals.
While her sweet smile won over the Gerber judges, her parents also want people to know she has a strong spirit and a mind of her own. When she was born, she had trouble breathing and needed supplemental oxygen. After a few nights, she apparently decided she’d had enough oxygen, tore off her tubes and breathed just fine, say her parents.
“She was able to tell us when she was ready to go home,” dad Jun Mendoza told TODAY in an interview before the broadcast from his office in Colorado Springs. “That kind of aligned with her adventurous, independent spirit.”
As part of her tenure as the 2023 Gerber Baby, Maddie will work with Gerber to help the next generation of babies grow and thrive.
Maddie's parents, who have been together for 22 years, have a heart-warming love story. From their days as high school sweethearts to enduring a long-distance relationship for 9 years, their bond has only grown stronger.
As a US Air Force Academy grad, dad Jun is now a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force and has been serving for 16 years. Crystal, Maddie’s mom, is a dentist.
Madison “Maddie” Mendoza, along with her remarkable parents, captured the attention of the judges with a standout throwback submission and story full of love and resilience.
According to Gerber, Maddie is a “rainbow baby” – the name for a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant.
“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,” said Crystal Mendoza, Maddie’s mom.
“We look forward to witnessing her grow into a kind, compassionate, strong, independent and worldly individual as we hope to be stationed overseas again to teach Maddie about all the different parts of the world.”
At almost 10 months old, Maddie enjoys her baby music classes, thrives in her swim lessons, loves hiking with her parents and fearlessly explores new foods.
Just like mom, Maddie came into this world with a full head of hair, captivating expression and the most joyful attitude. Together as a family, they enjoy the outdoors, photography, trying different foods and restaurants and interacting with animals.
While her sweet smile won over the Gerber judges, her parents also want people to know she has a strong spirit and a mind of her own. When she was born, she had trouble breathing and needed supplemental oxygen. After a few nights, she apparently decided she’d had enough oxygen, tore off her tubes and breathed just fine, say her parents.
“She was able to tell us when she was ready to go home,” dad Jun Mendoza told TODAY in an interview before the broadcast from his office in Colorado Springs. “That kind of aligned with her adventurous, independent spirit.”
As part of her tenure as the 2023 Gerber Baby, Maddie will work with Gerber to help the next generation of babies grow and thrive.
Maddie's parents, who have been together for 22 years, have a heart-warming love story. From their days as high school sweethearts to enduring a long-distance relationship for 9 years, their bond has only grown stronger.
As a US Air Force Academy grad, dad Jun is now a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force and has been serving for 16 years. Crystal, Maddie’s mom, is a dentist.
Both parents are from first-generation immigrant families from the Philippines. Like many Filipinos, both of Maddie’s grandfathers served in the US Navy and came to the United States with very little. Their journeys are a testament to resilience and love.
For this year’s photo search, parents were encouraged to submit a throwback picture of themselves as babies and a photo of their own child. When applying, Crystal (Maddie’s mom) sent a picture of herself and her newborn daughter, Madison “Maddie” Mendoza.
After Gerber unveiled the winner, the company posted both photos of the mother-daughter duo on social media and the resemblance is uncanny. From the rosy round cheeks to their fluffy black hair, Crystal and Maddie practically look like identical twins.
For this year’s photo search, parents were encouraged to submit a throwback picture of themselves as babies and a photo of their own child. When applying, Crystal (Maddie’s mom) sent a picture of herself and her newborn daughter, Madison “Maddie” Mendoza.
After Gerber unveiled the winner, the company posted both photos of the mother-daughter duo on social media and the resemblance is uncanny. From the rosy round cheeks to their fluffy black hair, Crystal and Maddie practically look like identical twins.
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GERBER Maddie and her parents, Jun and Crystal. |
“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,” said Tarun Malkani, Gerber President & CEO. “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. We’re excited to partner with Maddie and her family throughout the next year to highlight the full-circle journey from baby to parent.”
This year’s Photo Search winner will serve as the 2023 Gerber Baby and will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year. Additionally, Maddie and her family were awarded a $25,000 cash prize, free Gerber products for up to one year, a new wardrobe provided by Gerber Childrenswear, as well as surprise perks from our partners. Gerber will also match Maddie’s cash prize with a donation to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.
“With Gerber’s continued support of March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs, together, we can make a lasting impact on maternal and infant health, ensuring that every baby has the best start in life," said Kelly Ernst, SVP, Chief Revenue & Impact Officer. “We’re proud to be part of Photo Search again and join Gerber in congratulating Maddie and her family!”
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @eduardodiok on Threads.net, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.
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