For as long as baby food has been sold in American marketplaces, there has been the Gerber Baby.
Anyone who’s ever parented a child knows the visage of the Gerber food juggernaut well.
Rather, the blushing babe is in fact a real-life person.
Here’s the story behind America’s most famous baby.
They received an ample amount of submissions, including some finished oil paintings.
However, they opted for the minimalist route, instead selecting an unfinished charcoal sketch as the winner.
But the Gerber execs insisted on leaving it as is.
It is the epitome of a happy, healthy baby and the symbol of trust we have with parents.
It’s everything to our company."
Gerber trademarked the iconic sketch in 1931 and the company houses it at their corporate headquarters to this day.
It turns out that her name isAnn Turner Cook.
Cook has no difficulty seeing herself in the iconic sketch.
Kind of a quizzical expression."
Additionally, she’s always enjoyed being the face of the company.
And I thought it was quite a lovely thing."
Cook celebrated her 91st birthday at the end of 2017.
A retired teacher, she lives in Tampa, Florida.
For a long time, people wondered about the baby’s identity.
Some speculated that it was actor Humphrey Bogart, and others thought it could be senator Bob Dole.
Others thought actress Elizabeth Taylor was the big-eyed babe, or perhaps it was a young Jane Seymour.
Throughout the course of her life, however, Cook didn’t fixate on her famous secret.
That would seem a little self-promoting.
They wanted everyone to be able to identify with the baby as their child."
The baby made bank
Cook waspaid a lump sumby the Gerber corporation, but not right away.
So they gave me a start in our married life."
But Cook still had to work for her entire life.
Additionally, artist Dorothy Hope Smith wasn’t paid very much, according to Cook.
“I think she was only paid about $300 for the drawing,” Cook told Oprah.
Cook also believes that Smith is under-appreciated for her work.
Accordingto her website, she’s pursued two professional endeavors throughout her life that she’s proud of.
She taught high school English for 26 years, which is an impressive duration.
She’s also a novelist several times over.
Her titles includeHomosassa Shadows,Shadow Over Cedar Key,Micanopy in Shadow, andTrace Their Shadows.
The books feature protagonist Brandy O’Bannon, a newspaper journalist and crime guru.
Being the Gerber Baby helps get people interested.
The new Gerber Baby has Down syndrome
Gerber made history with their 2018 Gerber Baby selection.
This year, Lucas is the perfect fit."
Lucas, notably, is the first ever Gerber Baby with Down syndrome.
Cook had kind things to say about the selection, which Gerber shared in aFacebook post.
“Let me offer my warmest congratulations to Lucas, our newest Gerber spokesbaby, and to his parents.
I am delighted to take part in this celebration.
Lucas is precious and I look forward to watching him grow this year!”
