By CLEOPATRA MURPHY

Freeport News Reporter

cleopatra@nasguard.com

After weeks of anticipation about which of the island's cutest would take the top spot as the Beautiful Baby Contest winner, the judges have selected 11-month-old Fabian Cairo Fox.

Fox's mother Covaghn Missick said she is elated about her son's win and it is even more meaningful because he was entered at the last minute.

"Initially I didn't know about the contest, and a few persons kept telling me to enter him in it after they saw his picture and I kind of entered him in it basically at the last moment," she said.

Missick said it was a decision that ultimately paid off.

"I am pretty excited due to the fact that there were so many kids entered into the competition and he was chosen," she said.

There had to be something that the judges saw in the 11-month-old old that influenced their decision, and Missick said she believes it was his overall innocence that was showcased in the picture she submitted.

Among the prizes Fabian will win are; he will be the model in the Kelly's Christmas advertising campaign, there's a one-night stay at the Pelican Bay Hotel for the family, a dolphin encounter with UNEXSO and a $100 Kelly's gift certificate.

Missick said she was happy with the prizes.

She said now that he has gone up against some of the other babies on the island and has come out the winner, she would consider getting him into modeling.

"I would never not use it as an option. It is an option I will always keep open," Missick said.

Missick said she is excited about the whole thing and she intends to preserve the memories for Fabian so he can look back and appreciate his accomplishment when he gets a little older.

"I am very grateful and am thankful for it and I do appreciate it," she said.

The 10 runner-ups in the contest included four-year-old Deijah Forbes, one-year-old Rashad Russell Jr., two-year-old Koen Micah Kenworth, two year-old Kandis Forte and one year-old Shadaie Ariel Munnings.

Other runner-ups included one-year-old A'maiya Arianna Jahnell, two-year-old Maxime Dormans, two-year-old Aaliyah LaTanya Burrows, one-year-old Jamia Danishka and four-year-old Ronald Justin.

The precious princess winner was three-year-old Pierrah-Lorren Pierre.

The hungry baby winner went to one-year-old Inaya Nesbitt.

The water baby title went to two-year-old Krishna Pratt.

The Freeport News Facebook Favorite went to three-year-old Niko Maleik Farrington.

The competition, which was run in association with Kelly's, was a huge success with more than 400 babies and toddlers all fighting for the top prizes.

The Freeport News Managing Editor John Fleet thanked the judges, Kelly's and Lynne Fraino for all the behind-the-scenes organisation.

He said: "As soon as we officially opened the competition, the photos came flooding in. The response was amazing.

"It was a very difficult task for our judges, all the children are so cute, but there had to be a winner and Fabian is very worthy of the title.

"I would like to thank Kelly's, Lynne Fraino and all our prize sponsors for their generosity."