Three Las Vegas youngsters try for milk mustache ads

Rebecca Malone

Wednesday, June 13, 2001 | 10:13 a.m.

The pearly white teeth and milky upper lips of three Las Vegas kids are gracing websites and may someday figure prominently in national ads.

Steve Lozano, 6, Stevie Nicole Ferris, 10, and Justin Miller, 7, were among about 1,200 hopefuls greeting the Chocolate Milk Mustache Mobile when milk promoters drove it into Las Vegas earlier this year.

The promoters behind the well-known milk mustache ad campaign are selecting three kids from more than 100 cities. Finalists from each of the cities will have a chance to appear in a national ad promoting the health benefits of milk.

Already, the three Las Vegas children chosen as finalists are featured on the milk website, www.whymilk.com, and the National Basketball Association's web site, www.NBA.com.

The milk promoters were in Las Vegas from April 6 to April 9.

Along with having their pictures taken, participants tried three different flavored milk smoothies to choose a favorite. Las Vegas participants chose Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup as opposed to Strawberry N' Cream and Totally Tropical.

Gil Levy of the milk mustache campaign said they were promoting the flavored milk and smoothies because such flavorings make it easier for parents to get children to consume the nutrients milk provides.

Bonnie Johnson, dietitian for the Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada, said the flavored milk, although it has added sugar, has the same amount of essential nutrients as plain milk.

"This campaign is getting people interested in milk again," Johnson said.