The nationwide search for the next faces of babyGap and GapKids is generating some excitement in west central Minnesota.
Parker Knutson, 2½-year-old son of Abby Andries and David Knutson of St. Cloud, was chosen as a finalist from more than 800,000 entries to be a model for the clothing retailer.
Andries is formerly of Renville, and Knutson grew up in Spicer. And grandparents Mike and Deb Andries and Bob and Julie Knutson all live in Spicer.
Parker was part of a photo shoot in mid-November in San Francisco, and his photo is now online as part of the contest to be decided by the public.
Abby Andries called the photo shoot an "amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience."
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The clothing fit him just right, but the shoes were a little tight, she said. "I talked with Parker and told him that he was going to have to wear the shoes 'that were too tight' for just a little bit while he had his picture taken," Andries wrote in an e-mail about the trip.
The contest to find the children to be the next babyGap and GapKids models is now open to online voters. According to the firm's news release, four children will be chosen: a boy and a girl from two age groups. People can log onto www.gap.com/castingcall to view the finalists and vote. Voting ends Dec. 15.
Each winner will reportedly be featured in the windows of babyGap and GapKids stores nationwide early next year. They'll also receive other prizes, including an appearance on the Rachael Ray show Jan. 28 when Ray will help unveil the winners as part of her show.
