The right stuff -- Allman qualifies for national baby contest

Friday, May 30, 2003

Gavin Taylor Wayne Allman is eight months old, and already the trophies he's won, just for being himself, nearly outweigh him. He's the third runner-up in the New Star Discovery Most Beautiful Baby Contest's statewide competition, conducted in Springfield, Mo., May 24 and 25, qualifying him for a spot in the national event in Chicago in August. "It started out just for fun, just something to do," Melissa said. The first event was in Joplin in February, and she decided to take her son to the event to see what happened. As it turned out, Gavin was at ease in the spotlight and did well enough to go on to the state event. In Springfield, his charm and agreeable nature helped him bring home five trophies -- first place in the Personality Plus category, first place in the Most Photogenic category, first place in the Mother and Son category and second runner-up in the Sweetest Smile category. Girls who win in the personality and snapshot categories get tiaras. Boys get a medal, so Gavin now has two medals as well -- which he apparently believes come in handy when one is teething. As he sat happily in the Daily Mail's offices, his main interest in the medals was chewing on them, and inspecting the way they gleamed in the light. Melissa said he seemed to enjoy the event, which she believes was a more trying event to her than to him. Melissa said she made friends with a few couples, but had little in common with others. Some were kind, others less than kind. Some were fierce competitors, and behind the scenes there was some name-calling as well among some of the parents of the nearly 500 babies in the contest. Gavin, however, was undaunted. "He'd wave both his hands, and laugh and clap at the other children. He thought it was funny." Despite Gavin's behavior that obviously charmed the judges, Melissa didn't expect to take home even one of the trophies. "I was kind of surprised that we won. There were so many other parents who really spent a lot of money on this. There was one woman who'd spent $300 on a dress for her little girl. And they had props! All sorts of props!" Melissa described a sleepwear category in which some parents provided all manner of set dressings, up to and including expensive toddler beds. "He was just there, in his sleeper," she said. By a twist of fate, mother and son ended up with an unplanned theme for the mother and son category. "You just take 'em up there and stand with them, and they judge you on how you look together, looking alike, the most unique personality, that sort of thing," she said. She was wearing a white top. Gavin wore a white top, a black tie and his socks. It was too warm for the pants. Melissa explained that the judges liked their Tom Cruise "Risky Business" look. Gavin stole some hearts during the process, too -- even trying to kiss one of the judges. "It was just for fun at first, but at the national level the first prize is $25,000," Melissa said. They'll be competing for a variety of cash prizes, bonds and other prizes, including possible placement with a talent agency. "It's still for fun, though," she added. With any luck, Gavin's father Jason, who's serving in the military -- in Afghanistan -- will be home in time to go with his son to the national competition, if Melissa can generate the sponsorship needed by then. "When we told him about it he was so excited, he couldn't wait to tell all his friends. We don't know if he'll be home by then or not," Melissa said.

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