LITTLE CHAMP! JENSEN IS M.E.N. BABY OF THE YEAR
LITTLE CUTIE JENSEN WINS OUR BABY OF THE YEAR TITLE ... NEARLY 30 YEARS AFTER HIS DAD WON SIMILAR CONTEST
WITH his cute face and winning smile, Jensen Howard looks the image of his dad – and has also inherited his winning ways.
Hundreds of people have voted for their favourite youngster in the M.E.N.’s 2017 Baby of the Year contest and we can now reveal that Oldham tot Jensen is the winner.
The cheeky little chappie has won over many of our readers and has been crowned this year’s winner after getting the most votes.
His dad, Steven Howard, was ecstatic at the news and revealed he also won a top Manchester baby competition when he was the same age.
He was crowned champion in 1989 and an adorable newspaper photograph from the time shows him happily holding his winning trophy. 15-month-old Jensen didn’t win a trophy like his dad did – but did win £500 cash and the accolade of being Manchester Evening News Baby of the Year 2017.
Speaking about the win, Steven, 29, a barber, said: “I’m ecstatic. I can’t believe he’s won.
“I thought he would have a good chance of winning but you never know, do you?”
“I’m over the moon that he has won.
“Myself and my family kept buying papers and getting friends to vote over text.
“His mother also got her family to vote.
“I’m so happy that he’s won it, just like his daddy. He’s always been a champion in my eyes and now he is in everybody else’s.
“He’s such a happy little boy. He smiles all of the time. He is just the most lovely little boy.”
He said the money has come at a good time and will go to good use.
Not surprisingly, Steven says he has little recollection of his own winning moment – but his family had kept newspaper cuttings from the time.
He added: “Jensen is really into animals and cars so I will re-decorate his bedroom.
“I will split the money with Jensen’s mum and will put the cash towards his Christmas presents.
“I have just started buying them for him so it couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Three runners-up are as follows and their parents will each receive £50 to spend on their little one:
Isla Lowndes – 0-9 month category. Roman Shepard – 19-36 month category. Milania-Lovelle Williamson – 3-5 age category.