2020 Gerber baby is first adopted baby chosen for campaign

May 11, 2020

Parents Courtney and Russell Earl adopted Magnolia last year, making it three girls in the family alongside Whitney (left), 12, and Charlotte, 8, at their California home. The Earl family.

Source: Today Show

By: Scott Stump

This year's Gerber baby shows that love is the most important part of building a family.

Magnolia Earl, celebrated her first birthday on Saturday, May 9, has made history after being announced on the 3rd hour of TODAY Friday as the latest Gerber baby, a tradition that dates back to 1928.

The company said Magnolia is the first Gerber baby who was adopted, making her the latest in a string of groundbreaking "spokesbabies" in recent years. She follows in the baby steps of the first Gerber baby with Down syndrome and the first one of Hmong descent.

Gerber says the adorable Magnolia Earl is the first Gerber baby they know has been adopted. The Earl family

Magnolia's parents, Courtney and Russell Earl, were joined by Magnolia and their older daughters, Whitney, 12, and Charlotte, 8, for the sweet surprise on Friday.

"This is incredible," Courtney Earl said. "It means that when people see our families, or if you see a family that doesn't necessarily match, that you don't have to question the belonging of anybody in that family."

"Mommy always says a family is built on love," Russell Earl said. "We may all look different, but we're one family."

After having previously adopted Charlotte, the Earls brought home Magnolia a year ago after waiting six months for the phone call that she would be joining their family.

Courtney said they are still in regular contact with Magnolia's biological parents.

"We celebrate adoption in our family every single day," Courtney said. "The real hero in this story are Magnolia's birth parents. They chose her life, and they sent her on this incredible journey."

The proud mom said she spoke with her little girl's birth parents about Magnolia being a Gerber finalist.

 

 

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