Such a cutie!

A three-year-old Holly Springs girl is making national waves as she advances into the quarterfinals of the Hasbro-sponsored Toddler of the Year competition.

Ava Evans, described by her mother Alesia Evans as a “walking smile,” is currently one of 14 finalists in her quarterfinal group. The online competition, which raises funds for Marine Toys for Tots, started with nationwide group rounds before narrowing down the field.

“I saw some posts last year of people that did it, and was like, `Oh, this might be cute,’ but I never expected her to get this far in it,” Alesia Evans said. “It was really cool because I put a post out on Facebook to my circle and was just like, `Hey guys, Ava’s doing this,’ and she immediately jumped to number one. I was like, `Oh, this has been cool. We might actually be able to do something in this.’”

Voting for the quarterfinal round runs through Aug. 6, ending at 9 p.m. Central time. Public voting is allowed once per 24-hour period per voter. Supporters also have the option to purchase additional votes, with those proceeds going directly to Toys for Tots.

Alesia Evans said the outpouring of encouragement from neighbors and strangers alike has been overwhelming.

“It was very humbling, like to know that there are so many people that are supporting our family right now,” Evans said. “It’s such a special thing that people keep showing up every day to vote. They have the opportunity to pay for votes if they want to, and people have come in and paid for 50 votes, 100 votes, 200 votes for her. I’m sitting here just like, for my three-year-old, this is my kid that people are showing up for. It’s just a very humbling experience.”

The support has extended well beyond the immediate family circle of Alesia, her husband William Evans II, and their five-year-old son, Luca.

“We have had strangers that just reply to my post and go `Team Ava,’” Evans said. “There are so many people that are just Team Ava right now. I’ve kind of become friends with some of these people that just keep showing up. It feels very much like a community, and to us Holly Springs feels like a community, so this just feels like an extension of what we feel day to day.”

If Ava captures the national title, she will receive a $25,000 grand prize, appear in a national advertising campaign, and serve as the Junior Grand Marshal in the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Regarding the $25,000 cash prize, the Evans family already has a plan in place.

“Our plan is to put it into a fund for her,” Evans said. “We have funds for each child, so we would put that $25,000 for her. I’d love to say for college, but by the time she gets to college age, who knows if college will even be relevant? Whatever she wants to pursue as she goes through life, that money will be there to support her with that.”

As the Aug. 6 deadline approaches, the family hopes the local community will continue casting daily votes to help push the North Mississippi toddler into the next round.

“Ava really is enjoying this moment as well,” Evans said. “Ava has a heart of gold. She is the sunshine in our household, and really around town. Whenever people see her, it’s big smiles, and we would love to just continue to push and press and represent Holly Springs all the way.”