Meet the 2026 Gerber Baby, Minnesota's Cameron Chung: 'Absolute Ray of Sunshine' (Exclusive)

Hannah SacksTue, June 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM UTC

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Cameron Chung and his parents Rachael Olson and Alden Chung.
Credit: Rachael Olson & Alden Chung (2) -

Cameron Chung was named the 2026 Gerber Baby after his parents entered the Gerber Photo Search contest

His parents, Rachael Olsen and Alden Chung, shared their journey through challenges like colic and Alden’s injury

The family will receive $50,000, a wardrobe valued at $2,000, and Cameron will appear in Gerber campaigns

Cameron Chung of Minnesota is officially Gerber's newest Gerber Baby!

On Monday, June 2, the family brand announced the winner of its 2026 Gerber Photo Search, introducing the public to Rachael Olsen and Alden Chung's son Cameron. The proud parents say that their son, who is about to celebrate his first birthday, brings them more joy than they ever could have imagined in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.

"Cameron is an absolute ray of sunshine. He is an incredibly cheerful, giggly baby who brings so much joy and laughter into our home every single day," they tell PEOPLE. "He has this cute, contagious smile that lights up our world."

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Cameron Chung
Credit: Rachael Olson & Alden Chung

"He loves to move and explore the world around him, whether that's touching new textures, splashing in water or climbing new obstacles," they continue. "He loves echoing the playful sounds we make, particularly rumbly noises that make him giggle. Every moment and milestone with him is a blast, and his joyful personality makes the messy, magical moments of parenthood entirely worth it."

The two explain that while parenthood has been the most "beautiful, humbling rollercoaster ride," it also hasn't been without its challenges.

"In the beginning, we faced some really tough moments. Supporting a newborn with colic that lasted 8 months was incredibly challenging for us as new parents," says Rachael and Alden. "Screaming, fussing, and crying became the default."

"Alden also suffered an injury during those first few months after Cameron was born, which limited his ability to support Rachael and Cameron," they share. "But those dark times showed us incredible strength as a family, and Rachael truly carried us through it all."

Rachael Olson and Alden Chung with their son Cameron Chung.
Credit: Rachael Olson & Alden Chung

Rachael and Alden share that they decided to enter the 2026 Gerber Baby Photo Search when they learned the theme of the contest for the year.

"When we saw the Gerber Photo Search theme was 'Behind the Baby,' celebrating not just babies but the everyday parents raising them, it really resonated with us," they say. "Our first year of parenthood was full of firsts that were messy, magical and everything in between."

"We were so touched that a brand wanted to celebrate our family's story alongside our baby," they continue. "Plus, we're a little biased, but we couldn't pass up the chance to share Cameron's winning smile! Gerber cereal was his first solid food, which led to his love for exploring different flavors and textures. He also loves Gerber Puffs, which is a full circle moment now that he's the Gerber baby in 2026."

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Alden adds that for him, the contest is also about celebrating all the ways his wife Rachael helps carry their family forward.

"Most people will look at our entry and see a cute baby photo, but Gerber’s focus on parents as 'unsung heroes' motivated me to enter as a dedication to my wife," explains Alden. "Rachael has always carried the 'unsung hero' title, she even won an award for it back in middle school."

"Navigating my injury as new parents all while she was experiencing postpartumwith a colicky baby, that title couldn't have been truer. She literally carried us both through our darkest days, all while working full-time and winning Employee of the Year," he continues. "For me, this contest is about celebrating Rachael as an inspiration for working mothers, just as much as it’s about Cameron being a Gerber Baby."

Cameron Chung
Credit: Rachael Olson & Alden Chung

When deciding what photo to choose, Rachael and Alden thought back to a very special moment for their family.

"The photo we submitted was captured at home after our family took a walk during a cold winter here in Minnesota," they share. "In the first several months of Cameron's life, we felt stuck in survival mode through his colic phase, which we know is a reality so many parents quietly share."

"But seeing Cameron's first intentional smile break through on that cold Minnesota day was pure magic. It erased the exhaustion of those early months and reminded us that his joy makes every single challenge worth it," they continue. "We have thousands of photos of him on our phones, but that specific picture carried so much warmth and beautifully captured the exact kind of real parenting joy, as reflected through the joy of a child, that Gerber was celebrating in this year's Photo Search."

When they learned that Cameron had won the contest, Alden and Rachael say they couldn't contain themselves.

"We immediately felt a mix of pure shock and overwhelming excitement when Gerber shared the news with us," they say.

Cameron and his family will receive $50,000, plus a special Gerber Childrenswear "Grow with Us" wardrobe valued at $2,000. Cameron will also be featured on Gerber's social media channels and in marketing campaigns throughout this next year.

"We entered thinking there was no chance of winning, but were absolutely stunned to witness the life-changing news in the presence of Rachael's mom and Cameron," they say. "We knew Cameron had no idea what was happening, but he could sense our joy and excitement and joined us in a group hug with laughter and dancing of his own."

"It took a moment to register that our sweet boy is the 2026 Gerber Baby, and we still feel like we're pinching ourselves!"

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”