This West End Alexandria Baby Is in the Running for $25,000—and He Needs Votes Tonight
His Bright Smile, Love Of Family And Everyday Adventures Could Help Make Him A Standout Favorite
Alexandria, VA — A little boy from the West End of Alexandria is having a very big week.
Asher Perez Muka, who lives in the 22304 ZIP code, has made the Top 15 in the national Baby of the Year competition, a public-voting fundraiser that supports Baby2Baby, the nonprofit that provides essentials for children and families facing poverty and crisis.
His mother, Kelsey Muka, reached out to The Zebra with a request that is both very Alexandria and very hard to refuse: would neighbors consider supporting a local baby with a free vote—or simply sharing his link?
Asher’s entry describes a child whose smile starts in his eyes, then spreads into a grin that tends to bring everyone else along with it. He loves being held by his mom, dancing with her and taking in the outdoor details many of us walk past too quickly: sunlight filtering through trees, birds singing and a gentle breeze.
And, apparently, diaper time is among his unexpected favorite activities. According to his family, Asher rather enjoys watching everyone react to whatever surprise he has left behind. Fair enough. That is one way to command a room.
The competition’s grand-prize winner will receive $25,000, appear in a national digital advertising campaign with The Honest Company and be featured in Variety magazine. Asher’s family says that if he wins, they would save part of the prize for his future and use the rest to create family memories—visiting loved ones, exploring new places and giving him experiences filled with adventure and togetherness.
The current voting round, which determines who advances to the Top 10, closes Thursday, September 24, at 7 p.m. Pacific time—or 10 p.m. in Alexandria.
Supporters can cast one free vote every 24 hours. Additional donation-based votes are available through the competition, which is operated by Colossal in partnership with DTCare and benefits Baby2Baby.
Kelsey says double votes are being offered today, Sept. 23.
For Asher’s family, this is about more than a national contest. It is a chance to rally a neighborhood around a child who is still small enough to be fascinated by the breeze—and already has a pretty serious cheering section.
Vote for Asher Perez Muka: babyoftheyear.org/2026/asher-9566
