Show Off Your Good Jeans: Gap Searches for the New Faces of babyGap and GapKids With Its Fifth Annual Casting Call Contest

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Gap's coast-to-coast search for radiant, charismatic babies (ages four and under) and kids (ages five to 10) has officially started today with its fifth annual Casting Call contest.

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This year, Gap wants to see contestants show off their "good jeans" and is asking parents to submit photos of their precious tots sporting their favorite pair of jeans. Four lucky winners, a boy and girl for babyGap and a boy and girl for GapKids, will be featured in a nationwide Gap campaign early next year. Contestants also have a chance to win the highly coveted America's Fan Favorite award.

"Denim is such an integral part of American fashion and culture, and it's also the heart and soul of Gap," said Mark Breitbard, executive vice president of babyGap and GapKids. "Your favorite pair of jeans says a lot about your personality, so we're asking contestants to show off their individual style by posing in their favorite jeans for their submission photo. Our Casting Call contest is all about finding the brightest personalities with 'good jeans' and a sweet smile to match."

Gap is making it even easier for parents to enter their children into the contest with the introduction of its Gap Casting Call iPhone app. The app, which will be available this week, allows moms and dads to enter their children into the contest, plus cast their vote, while they're on the move. Parents can download the free app at gap.com/castingcall, or by visiting Apple's App Store.

How Casting Call Works:

Entry Phase: From Sept. 27 to Oct. 24, parents across the country can upload up to five photos of their baby(ies) (ages four and under) or kid(s) (ages five to 10) either online at gap.com/castingcall or through the Gap Casting Call iPhone app.

The Finalists: After the entry phase closes on Oct. 24, judges will narrow down the field to 20 finalists -- 10 babies (five girls and five boys) for babyGap and 10 kids (five girls and five boys) for GapKids. The 20 finalists will be flown to San Francisco with their families to participate in an official Gap photo shoot and will receive prize packages, including a $500 Gap GiftCard.

Voting Phase: On Dec. 6, the 20 finalists will be unveiled and voting will begin on gap.com/castingcall. It will then be up to America to decide the next faces of babyGap and GapKids for the 2011 campaign. Voters can vote once a day every day for babyGap [one boy and one girl] and GapKids [one boy and one girl] online at gap.com/castingcall or via the iPhone app. And contestants won't be the only ones with a chance to win great prizes [see more about the Fan Favorite and Voter's Sweepstakes awards below].

The Winners: Four children will be selected as winners of the Gap Casting Call -- a girl and boy for babyGap and a girl and boy for GapKids. The winners will be featured in the windows of babyGap and GapKids stores from coast-to-coast and will receive a $1,000 Gap GiftCard. Winners will be unveiled in February 2011.

The Fan Favorite Award:

Due to the overwhelming popularity of last year's America's Fan Favorite award, Gap is once again offering one lucky child a $1,000 Gap GiftCard for receiving the most votes at gap.com/castingcall. Fan Favorite voting runs from Sept. 27 through Nov. 14 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 6, along with the 20 finalists. To help get the word out, parents can leverage the power of Facebook, Twitter and e-mail to help get votes for their little one.

Voter Sweepstakes:

Also back by popular denim, Gap is offering a special Voter Sweepstakes prize for the second year in a row. For each vote cast at gap.com/castingcall from Dec. 6 – Dec. 20, voters will be entered in a contest to win a $1,000 Gap GiftCard. The winner will be revealed in January 2011.

Visit gap.com/castingcall for official contest and sweepstakes rules and information.

About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands. Fiscal 2009 sales were $14.2 billion. Gap Inc. operates about 3,100 stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Japan. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

SOURCE Gap Inc.