Smile For The Camera, Baby
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - Remember the little girl in the Hanes commercials with basketball star Michael Jordan?
The little girl, Zia Marie Rios, was discovered by winning a cutest baby contest sponsored by New Star Discovery, Rockford, Ill. From there, Rios completed a photo shoot with Papadakis Photography, South Barrington, Ill., a company that specializes in children's photography. She then went to state and won that competition as well.
Much like Rios, a new star may be discovered in North Manchester. Gavin Quentin Brown, 14 months, is following in Rios' tiny footsteps. He recently won the same cutest baby contest and also will compete at the state level.
"We were shopping at the mall," Nicole Brown, Gavin's mom, said, "and we saw they were having a cutest baby contest, so we entered him."
Roger Brown, Gavin's dad, happened to have the family's video camera with him.
"So, we were able to catch his win on tape," Nicole said. "He got up on stage and just acted like a kid. The judges were crying because they were laughing so hard."
Gavin acted like an "ornery kid," Nicole said. Roger was videotaping Gavin as he crawled across the stage.
"And when he saw his dad, he went nuts. He wasn't interested in the judges. He was interested in playing with the video camera," she said.
"He went up on stage and he just took off booking," she said. "He goes flying across the stage and grabs the video camera from Roger.
So I would pick him back up and put him at the other end," she said. "And he would just do the same thing again. The judges loved it. They told us to enter him in the personality-plus category."
And that's just what Roger and Nicole plan to do at state competition.
"If he enjoys it, I want him to do it. He really seemed to enjoy himself at regional and that's why we're going to state," she said. "Gavin loves the camera. He loves to smile."
Gavin's love for the camera helped him bring home a first-place trophy and medallion at regional competition.
"He also won a photo shoot with Papadakis Photography, and $200 towards his state entry fee," Nicole said.
After winning the regional competition, Gavin will compete at state in Richmond April 28-29.
"He needs another $100," Nicole said. "We're looking for sponsors to cover that cost."
Gavin's picture will be featured in a program at the state competition and his sponsors' names will be listed under it.
For information, dates and locations for New Star Discovery baby contests, call 877-330-BABY.
Information for Papadakis Photography can be obtained by calling 847-428-4400, or visit the Web at: www.papadakisphotography.com
Anyone interested in sponsoring Gavin for state competition should contact Roger or Nicole Brown at 982-8816. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - Remember the little girl in the Hanes commercials with basketball star Michael Jordan?
The little girl, Zia Marie Rios, was discovered by winning a cutest baby contest sponsored by New Star Discovery, Rockford, Ill. From there, Rios completed a photo shoot with Papadakis Photography, South Barrington, Ill., a company that specializes in children's photography. She then went to state and won that competition as well.
Much like Rios, a new star may be discovered in North Manchester. Gavin Quentin Brown, 14 months, is following in Rios' tiny footsteps. He recently won the same cutest baby contest and also will compete at the state level.
"We were shopping at the mall," Nicole Brown, Gavin's mom, said, "and we saw they were having a cutest baby contest, so we entered him."
Roger Brown, Gavin's dad, happened to have the family's video camera with him.
"So, we were able to catch his win on tape," Nicole said. "He got up on stage and just acted like a kid. The judges were crying because they were laughing so hard."
Gavin acted like an "ornery kid," Nicole said. Roger was videotaping Gavin as he crawled across the stage.
"And when he saw his dad, he went nuts. He wasn't interested in the judges. He was interested in playing with the video camera," she said.
"He went up on stage and he just took off booking," she said. "He goes flying across the stage and grabs the video camera from Roger.
So I would pick him back up and put him at the other end," she said. "And he would just do the same thing again. The judges loved it. They told us to enter him in the personality-plus category."
And that's just what Roger and Nicole plan to do at state competition.
"If he enjoys it, I want him to do it. He really seemed to enjoy himself at regional and that's why we're going to state," she said. "Gavin loves the camera. He loves to smile."
Gavin's love for the camera helped him bring home a first-place trophy and medallion at regional competition.
"He also won a photo shoot with Papadakis Photography, and $200 towards his state entry fee," Nicole said.
After winning the regional competition, Gavin will compete at state in Richmond April 28-29.
"He needs another $100," Nicole said. "We're looking for sponsors to cover that cost."
Gavin's picture will be featured in a program at the state competition and his sponsors' names will be listed under it.
For information, dates and locations for New Star Discovery baby contests, call 877-330-BABY.
Information for Papadakis Photography can be obtained by calling 847-428-4400, or visit the Web at: www.papadakisphotography.com
Anyone interested in sponsoring Gavin for state competition should contact Roger or Nicole Brown at 982-8816. [[In-content Ad]]