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Being crowned America’s Next Top Model was never Kristen Wilkerson’s dream. <\/p>\n
And yet, the Upper West Side mother of four often finds herself updating headshots, prepping for photo shoots and walking out the door on last-minute bookings with athleisure brands like Nike. <\/p>\n
But she’s not the one posing for the hottest fashion photos \u2014 it’s her 10-month-old daughter, Rosie. <\/p>\nWilkerson signed Rosie to the Zuri Agency on a whim, never thinking the youngster would become an instant star. Stephen Yang for the NYPost<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n“We randomly got her into modeling in March, and she’s already landed eight castings,” Wilkerson, 34, told The Post of her pint-sized superstar. <\/p>\n
“We absolutely love it,” added the mother of multiples, who pastors New York’s Trinity Church with husband Taylor. “But I wasn’t quite prepared for how much her modeling would affect my schedule.”<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\nOften with less than 24 hours notice, reserved and busy baby mamas must be ready to answer career calls. <\/p>\n
As Gen Alpha cherubs (currently ages 0-14) continue to steal the spotlight online \u2014 think the Four Seasons Orlando baby \u2014 the demand for little VIPs on billboards, ads and social media ads continues to grow. <\/p>\n
In fact, 58% of marketers gave them feature roles in promotional materials last year, according to findings from the Influencer Marketing Hub. <\/p>\nWilkerson credits her daughter’s on-camera success to her naturally rosy cheeks. Stephen Yang for the NYPost<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGlobal footprints now spend more than $2.9 billion raising rugrat “kidfluencers” \u2014 a figure expected to grow by about 22% by 2031, according to researchers. <\/p>\n
Long Island babe MJ is getting her share of that pie. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/aside>\nAt just 8 months old, the diaper diva has already earned over $4,000 this year as the cute face of Walmart and Costco campaigns.<\/p>\n
But her stay-at-home mom, Melissa Duzant, tells The Post that she and her husband Korrie weren’t motivated by money when they signed up their toddler son, Korrie Jr., for modeling in February . <\/p>\n
Instead, the Staten Island native, who now lives in northern New Jersey, hopes the experience will instill a lifelong sense of pride in the 1-year-old. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want my son to develop a strong work ethic and know that he can do anything he puts his mind to,\u201d said Duzant, 28. \u201cThe sky’s the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the five months since his career began, on-camera hottie Korrie Jr. has flashed posts for Amazon, Nike and baby food brand Beech-Nut. <\/p>\nDuzant tells The Post that Korrie Jr.’s Nike campaign. will debut in the fall. @ashtonxbenjamin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n“My son should never feel like he’s not good enough,” Duzant continued, adding that she’d be happy to support his pursuits beyond modeling as he gets older. “Look at how much he’s already achieved.”<\/p>\n
Here’s how NYC’s tiniest cuties\u2014and their mom managers\u2014are making it big as baby models. <\/p>\n
of pampered<\/em> princess <\/h2>\nBaby Rosie has been known to light up photoshoot sets with her happy glow, as she did when she posed for a Nike x Kohl’s collaboration. Kohls.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBaby Rosie’s rosy cheeks and cool spirit serve as the package’s secret weapons on set. <\/p>\n
But while the cute, natural-born girl giggles and giggles during shoots for The Children’s Place, Garanimals or Maxi Cosi car seats, Wilkerson’s mind is working a mile a minute. <\/p>\n
“The world of baby modeling is really fast-paced,” said the multitasker, whose tot is signed to Zuri Agency in Midtown. The firm exclusively submits Rosie for work, then notifies Wilkerson of the booking just hours before the lights, camera, action. <\/p>\n
“If I haven’t already told them we weren’t available on a certain day, they expect Rosie to show up as soon as she’s hired,” she said. \u201cI’m a pastor and traveling speaker with three older children, so I usually have to juggle a lot around Rosie’s schedule.<\/p>\n
“But it’s a blessing.”<\/p>\nWilkerson gets a kick out of balancing Rosie’s busy schedule with work and family life. Stephen Yang for the NYPost<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAnd thankfully, most photo shoots are short, sweet, and usually worth the sweat. <\/p>\n
“Filming takes about two to four hours, and Rosie usually earns a flat fee,” Wilkerson said. The baby money is transferred to a trust that is mandated by the government for all children of the field. <\/p>\n
“A little small [her earnings] it pays for diapers and food,\u201d Wilkerson said. “But we’re more invested in making sure Rosie feels happy and safe for as long as she wants to continue modeling.”<\/p>\n
She is a big ‘Apple’ beauty<\/h2>\nMartinez says she was stunned to learn her bundle of joy had booked a major gig with the tech giant. Photo Copyright John Chapple \/ instagram: @JohnChapple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen Patricia Martinez took 11-month-old daughter Valhalla to pose for a top-secret photo shoot last October, the Bronx native had no idea which celebrity brand had hired her child. <\/p>\n
Just a few months after the photos were taken, the mother-of-three and her partner, Bling, reaped the fantastic fruits of Valhalla’s labor. <\/p>\n
“Her agency, Paloma Model and Talent, sent us an email, like, ‘Hey, your daughter is on a billboard for Apple,'” Martinez, 28, a recent Los Angeles transplant, told The Post. “We couldn’t believe it.”<\/p>\n
Valhalla’s big, round eyes, even rounder cheeks and precious mold were plastered all over Gotham – as well as major cities in the US, Canada and Dubai – promoting the tech giant’s iPhone 15 Pro . <\/p>\nValhalla makes a big splash on an Apple billboard in the Big Apple. Courtesy Patricia Mertinez<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n“All my life, I’ve always seen beautiful babies on billboards around town,” said Martinez, whose 3-year-old son, Emitheos, and 8-week-old newborn son, Vasilieos, are also professional models. <\/p>\n
“I never thought my child would be one of them,” she said. “It’s wild.”<\/p>\nMartinez and her partner are excited to see the heights their baby modeling generation will reach as they grow up. Photo Copyright John Chapple \/ instagram: @JohnChapple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMartinez and Bling believe the benefits of baby modeling will serve as an asset to their offspring as they thrive. <\/p>\n
“Our kids will be able to own any room and present themselves with confidence,” said the mommy dynamo. “We’re raising little tourists.”<\/p>\n
Twinkle, twinkle, little star <\/h2>\nKorrie Jr. secured his Nike campaign in May. @ashtonxbenjamin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe camera loves little Korrie\u2014and the feeling is mutual. <\/p>\n
In fact, Duzant tells The Post that the boy’s innate knack for wowing in family photos inspired her to turn him into a paid pro. <\/p>\n
But she does a ton of work for the money. <\/p>\nDuzant says that Korrie Jr. has displayed his elegant modeling instincts since birth. @ashtonxbenjamin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n“My son should never feel like he’s not good enough \u2014 look at how much he’s already accomplished,” Duzant said. @ashtonxbenjamin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cBefore we go into town for a shoot, I make sure I have his diaper bag, birth certificate, Social Security card, health forms and work voucher forms ready,\u201d said the meticulous mom. <\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a New Yorker, I’m used to the hustle and bustle of business,\u201d she said. “But leaving the house for filming is serious business.”<\/p>\n
Once on set, Duzant, who dabbled in acting before becoming a parent, usually does a few rounds of peekaboo to encourage Korrie’s rubbery little smile. <\/p>\n
“He has a very lively personality, like me and my husband,” she said. “From the time he was born, he loved being on camera.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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