When Linda and Simon Holmes found out their daughter had won the Bay of Plenty Times Baby of the Year, Linda cried tears of joy.
Camile Holmes, 13 months, is a "happy-go-lucky" little girl who claimed the title with a clear win.
It was a huge relief for the family to be awarded the hundreds of dollars worth of vouchers just before Christmas, Mrs Holmes said.
"The Christmas present I had wrapped for Camile about half an hour before I found out was actually a second-hand toy, so I'll be able to unwrap that and get her something new.
"I was ecstatic, it's awesome. With the vouchers, financially, it's a relief to us."
Mrs Holmes had recently lost her part-time job and had been worried about providing the best Christmas for her family.
The award was Christmas come early, she said.
"It has made our Christmas, really."
They sent in a candid photo taken of Camile back in May because "that was a very popular one", Mrs Holmes said.
Mr Holmes' mother suggested the family enter the competition and the win had inspired them to take Camile's photogenic smile further.
"I am seriously looking at getting Camile into modelling and her winning this has made me really want to do it more."
Camile was happy around cameras and was always smiling for photos, Mrs Holmes said.
Baby of the Year co-ordinator Tara Childs said every baby was gorgeous but she was happy the win could help out the Holmes family.
"She was beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous and after meeting the family, it couldn't have gone to nicer people," Ms Childs said.
It had been a great year for the competition and an overwhelming response with entries and votes.
"We can't wait for next year," she said.
The competition was run by the Bay of Plenty Times in conjunction with Fraser Cove.
The prize awarded to Holmes family was nearly $1000 worth of vouchers from various Fraser Cove retailers.