Gap Inc.
January 29, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO − January 29, 2007 − America has spoken…more than 132,000 votes have been counted, and babyGap is excited to announce the two winning babies – out of more than 360,000 contestants – who stole America’s heart and will be featured in an upcoming babyGap campaign. And, without further ado, the winners are…
Sarah from Monument, Colorado is a fourteen-month old with rosy cheeks and a smile that lights up the room. She loves to dance, sing and laugh and even though she is just starting to say her first words she “talks up a storm” with her parents using sign language. A ‘model’ in training, Sarah makes the most adorable scrunchy pursed-lip face – especially when there’s a camera in sight. Her personality can be described as bubbly, friendly, silly and vivacious.
When we got the call that Sarah won we had just walked in the door so I answered the phone kind of frazzled. The minute I found out who it was and that Sarah had won I was so excited – I couldn’t wait to hang up the phone so I could scream,” said Sarah’s mom, Erin when asked how she found out her baby was chosen out of hundreds of thousands. “It’s quite an honor…not to mention, just so, so fun.”
Fourteen-month old Jon from Raleigh, North Carolina is an extremely inquisitive and curious baby who enjoys making funny sounds and does a spot-on imitation of a pterodactyl. He has a great big smile, crystal blue eyes and eye lashes that are so long they’d make any girl jealous. Jon loves nursery rhymes and classical music, talking on cell phones and sharing food with Dad. J.D. and Denise, Jon’s parents, were “stunned, shocked and elated” when they heard the news that Jon was chosen as one of the winners of the 2006 babyGap Casting Call Contest.
“I just started screaming, jumping up and down. I just absolutely could not believe it. It was one of the best feelings ever. I didn’t calm down for about ten hours,” said Denise. “We were especially amazed that Jon won because the 20 semi-finalists were truly major league babies – there were some amazingly cute, babies,” added J.D.
“We’re thrilled with the overwhelming number of contestants and enthusiasm of the parents who entered their little ones into our 2006 Casting Call Contest," said Pam Wallack, General Manger of babyGap and one of the judges of the 2006 babyGap Casting Call Contest. "babyGap has a long history of featuring the most adorable babies and we're very pleased that America chose Sarah and Jon to continue in this legacy.”
Contest judges had their work cut out for them as they narrowed the contestant list from more than 360,000 babies to 20 semi-finalists – ten baby boys and ten baby girls. In early November, judges including Trey Laird (Gap creative director), Pam Wallack (General manager of babyGap), Miriam Arond (editor-in-chief of Child Magazine), and Stefano Azario (famed child photographer), selected the 20 semi-finalists.
During the month of December, Americans nationwide had the chance to vote for their favorite babies on babygap.com, narrowing the top twenty semifinalists down to Jon and Sarah - two babies with sparkling blue eyes, sweet smiles, and endearing expressions - as the babyGap Casting Call winners and newest babyGap models.
Both winners were flown to a babyGap photo shoot at Nanakuli Beach Park in Oahu, Hawaii that took place on Friday, January 19. Their photographs will be featured in babyGap stores nationwide as well as in an upcoming spring issue of Child Magazine. Additionally, both winners will receive a $5,000 college fund from Child Magazine, a year supply of babyGap clothing, a KODAK EASYSHARE DIGITAL Camera Prize Pack and more.
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