Crucian Baby Leiyani Touches Hearts as She Competes to Be Baby of the Year

Born without a left hand, baby Leiyani’s charm and resilience inspire her mother and community. Dana Charles calls on Virgin Islanders to support her daughter, who is already a shining star in their lives.

A Crucian mother is seeking the support of Virgin Islanders at home and abroad in her quest to have her bundle of joy named Baby of the Year. At almost 4 months old, baby Leiyani has a somewhat different outlook on life to other children her age. “She loves her tummy,” said mother Dana Charles. “That's the only way she will be in quiet mode.” Outside of tummy time, “she will be crying your ears off.”

Ms. Charles got the idea to enter Leiyani into the Baby of the Year competition after seeing an ad on social media. The prizes were attractive – an exclusive ad campaign on Good Housekeeping and $25,000 in cash. “One of my friends added her son in it, and she was like, you should try,” Ms. Charles told the Consortium. The publicity and attention from having Leiyani adjudged one of the cutest babies in the country would be prize enough for Ms. Charles, but the monetary portion would be especially helpful, as her baby faces mounting medical bills due to a congenital condition.