Top Tots: Last year’s winner still sitting pretty

From getting her picture in the paper to being mobbed in supermarkets, it has been a whirlwind experience for Deryn and her mum Kerry Baxter, 26, of Drylaw.

As the 2013 competition heats up, Kerry has spoken about what it meant to win – and urged this year’s winners to enjoy the experience.

Deryn was only 14 months old when she won the hearts of Evening News readers, who voted for her more than 11,000 times using newspaper coupons and text messages.

Kerry said: “I would say just keep calm and enjoy what really is a very special moment.”

Deryn, who turned two in January, is still too young to know of her fame, but plenty of people recognise her.

Kerry said: “Some really funny things have happened since she won. Her gran took her into our local supermarket and loads of people came over to see her.

“I’ve got a really big family and lots of friends so thankfully she’s used to people. She’ll be starting nursery next year and I think she’ll do really well because she’s always very sociable.”

And though Deryn probably won’t be able to remember winning once she’s grown up, her mum will have plenty of keepsakes with which to remind her.

“I’ve kept all her newspaper cuttings – she doesn’t understand what they are yet, though when she looks at them and sees herself she says ‘Deryn!’ I’ve got them all in a memory box for her when she’s older, which I hope she’ll really like – though I’ll maybe use it to embarrass her when she starts bringing boys home.

“I hope she’ll be proud of it though, and of me for all the effort I’ve put in.”

Time to tot up all your votes

THE competition has been as popular as ever, and this Wednesday we will reveal the tots who made it to the top 30.

To vote for the winner simply cut out and complete one of the vote coupons that will appear with the supplement then post it or deliver it by hand to the Evening News offices on Holyrood Road.

You can also vote by text or on Facebook. The winner will be revealed on Wednesday, April 10.