Electric Hair

LAKE BAY, WA -- From the day she was born, 16 month-old Ava's electric red hair always had people talking.

But it was a hair-raising photo taken when the Lakebay, Washington girl was 4 months old that Hailey and Caleb Lystad thought just might make their daughter famous.

"One night her dad had given her a bath so we got the blow-dryer out just to see what would happen 'cause she had a lot of hair," said Hailey Lystad. "And it just automatically went 'whoosh.'"

They thought it was so funny that Hailey entered it in a Mother's Day Hallmark contest, along with a greeting that said: "Being a mom is hard work. It can make your hand stand on end. Happy Mother's Day."

Ava made the cut out of 2,000 entries and became a finalist. Her photo turned into a Mother's Day card which was sold out at Hallmark stores everywhere.

"I wish it hadn't sold out so fast only so more people could enjoy Ava," said Caleb Lystad.

The contest was based on sales and online votes and today, Hallmark announced Ava won the grand prize.

"Just amazing that 11,000 stores nationwide and people were out there smiling and got a kick out of Ava the same way we do a lot," said Caleb Lystad.

As a finalist, the Lystads won $250. Another $250 was donated to their charity of choice. They also won $2500 as the grand prize winner.