The original face of Gerber baby food (now a sprightly 85) passes torch to new model

For more than eight decades Gerber baby food has featured the same child's face on all of its products, but next year it will introduce a new star.

Ann Tuer Cook, now 85, became the first Gerber model in 1928, and her trademarked portrait has appeared on millions of jars, cartons and tubs over the years.

And now eight-month-old Mary Jane Montoy, from Fresno, Califoia will join her in representing the brand, after she beat 300,000 hopefuls in a nationwide photo contest.

The infant will not replace the original Gerber baby, Mrs Cook, but she will feature in a series of ad campaigns, set to run next year.

Her mother, Sara, told Today: 'It took a little while to get that picture, too, because she would not stop looking at the grass and looking at the birds.

'Of course we think our baby is adorable and beautiful, but every parent sees that in their child.'

While Mary Jane's father, Billy, added: 'It's so exciting, you're just bursting at the seams with pride for your daughter.'

 

Too cute: Mrs Cook's portrait has been the Gerber logo for more than eight decades (left) but in 2013 the brand will welcome a new star after a photo contest selected eight-month-old Mary Jane Montoy as winner (right)

Mary Jane is the couple's first child and they plan on  putting the $50,000 cash prize towards her education.

Mother-of-four, Mrs Cook, who lives in Tampa, Florida, got her modeling start in 1927, when family friend and artist Dorothy Hope Smith asked her mother if she could use Ann as a model.

And just like this year's search winner, the sketch of Ann was entered into, and won, a nationwide contest.

She became the first Gerber baby in 1928, and three years later the U.S. company decided to trademark her portrait. It has been used on every Gerber product ever since.

However it wasn't until 1978 that her identity was revealed, and guesses ranged from from movie stars Humphrey Bogart and Elizabeth Taylor to former Senator Bob Dole.

Retired English teacher and mystery novelist, Mrs Cook said: 'It’s been wonderful to me to be the symbol for babies and I've become a symbol worldwide for babies.

'I can always be very proud of the product.'

And describing her new Gerber co-star, she exclaimed: 'She is just adorable, and she is a delightful little person.'