'We're hoping this will impact everyone': baby makes history with this award-winning photo
American baby food brand Gerber, is in it's eighth year of a spokesbaby competition. The annual winners have their face featured on Gerber products.
This year, however, the winner of the competition is a truly special little guy.
Lucas Warren, is the first child with Downs Syndrome to be chosen as spokesbaby.
Just look at his little face!
"He's very outgoing and never meets a stranger," Lucas's mum, Cortney, revealed while talking to TODAY. "He loves to play, loves to laugh and loves to make other people laugh."
She continued to say hat she had entered the contest on a whim, never suspecting that they would be chosen out of 140,000 entrants.
According to Gerber's CEO, Bill Partyka, it was Lucas's winning smile and delightful expression stole the show.
"Every year, we choose the baby who best exemplifies Gerber's longstanding heritage of recognising that every baby is a Gerber baby," said Partyka. "This year, Lucas is the perfect fit."
Dad Jason, hopes that Lucas's picture will have a positive impact on the special needs community.
"We're hoping this will impact everyone — that it will shed a little bit of light on the special needs community and help more individuals with special needs be accepted and not limited.
"They have the potential to change the world, just like everybody else."
Cortney continued to say that she hopes that this will be a source of pride for Lucas in years to come:
Cortney says she hopes her son will be seen not only as a baby with Down syndrome, but also as a funny, energetic child who loves music and socializing.
"He may have Down syndrome, but he's always Lucas first. He's got an awesome personality and he goes through the milestones of every child… we're hoping when he grows up and looks back on this, he'll be proud of himself and not ashamed of his disability."
We could just look at that smile all day!