TOLEDO — An Ohio toddler has stepped out in front of thousands of other kids to win the starring role in a new ad campaign for Gerber children’s food.

The company said its contest judges felt a photo of Mercy Townsend of Toledo had the perfect look of a healthy, happy child. The 2-year-old was recently picked from among more than 217,000 applicants to appear in a Gerber print ad beginning in May. She also receives a $25,000 scholarship.

Gerber notes in a statement that the winning photo was taken right after bath time when Mercy’s curls were “extra full and bouncy.”

Her mother, Tahisha Williams-Townsend, said Mercy doesn’t completely understand her win but goes around saying, “Thank you, thank you.”