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(Contributed Photo) Young two-year-old Eliana Sims of Breckenridge, daughter of Daniel and Karina Sims, is currently competing in the group round of voting for Colossal’s nationwide Toddler of the Year competition. To advance to the next round, Eliana must win her group finals.
A local two-year-old is competing in Colossal’s Toddler of the Year competition, a nationwide campaign that supports Toys for Tots. Young Eliana of Breckenridge, daughter of Daniel and Karina Sims, is currently in the group round of voting for the contest.
“Eliana is a beautiful two-year-old whose independent spirit shines in everything she does. Even at such a young age, she knows what she wants and approaches life with determination and joy,” Daniel Sims said. “We admire her confidence and individuality every day.”
Daniel described Elian’s favorite activities as being silly, playing on the playground and enjoying being read to and coloring.
The winner of the competition not only gets the title of Toddler of the Year, but will also star in a national ad campaign and lead the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The winning family also receives a $25,000 cash prize and a trip to Peppa Pig Theme Park in Dallas-Fort Worth.
The top five from each group advanced to the group finals, and Eliana placed fourth in her group to advance. The voting window for the group finals goes from Aug. 21 through Aug. 28.
“Eliana’s journey in this competition is about so much more than a title–it’s about hope. We work hard to provide for Eliana and her seven-year-old brother, Gabriel, despite facing the challenges of rising costs and our home’s serious repairs,” Daniel Sims said. “Our house has a foundation that is unlevel, a leaking roof, and other areas of disrepair, making daily life difficult and limiting our ability to give our children fun and enriching experiences. Yet, Eliana’s spirit never waivers; she inspires us and those around her.”
Listed below are each round of voting following the groups being narrowed down to the top five.
Group Finals: Aug. 21-28 – The top competitor in each group advances to the quarterfinals.
Wildcard Round: Aug. 29-31 – A short round giving the 2nd place finishers from group finals one more change to enter the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals: Sept. 1-11 – Group champions from earlier rounds compete; top vote-getter in each group advances to semifinals.
Semifinals: Sept. 12-18 – Same format, narrowing down to the finalists.
Finals: Sept. 19-25 – Votes reset again; the winner is chosen entirely by public vote.
Winner Announcement: On or before Oct. 10.
To vote for Eliana go to: https://toddleroftheyear.org/2025/eliana-0806 and use a daily free vote or make a tax-deductible donation which helps spread joy to children in need during the holidays.
“Winning Toddler of the Year would mean everything to Eliana and our family. The $25,000 cash prize and trip to Peppa Pig Theme Park would allow us to create special memories together, help us pay essential bills and restore our home to a safe and welcoming place,” Daniel Sims said. “Above all, we hope that by getting Eliana’s name out there, people will be moved by her story and vote for her–giving her the recognition she truly deserves.”
