A 5-year-old Netherland dwarf-Dutch rabbit from Sunnyvale is the new cover bunny on a commemorative box of General Mills cereal.

Chestnut won General Mills’ Rabbit Showdown, besting hundreds of rabbits, dogs, cats and one pig to take the prize. The cereal maker sponsored the contest as part of a drive to showcase the removal of artificial flavors and colors in 90 percent of its cereals including Trix, Honey Nut Cheerios and Cocoa Puffs.

Entrants in the contest submitted videos of their pets showing off their moves. Chestnut, owned by aerospace engineer Natasha Barbely, was seen lifting bunny sized barbells and leaping through pillow and box obstacle courses.

Barbely, who is a NASA employee at Ames Research Center and specializes in rotorcraft aerodynamics and aeroacoustics, describes herself as a pet lover. Animals, she says, have brought her joy throughout her life.

“There is no better feeling,” Barbely says, “than coming home to a fluffy happy face.”

Barbely adopted Chestnut while attending graduate school at Georgia Tech. Two years ago Barbely and Chestnut moved West.

“Chestnut loves to explore,” Barbely says. “One of her favorite activities is to have cardboard boxes set up so she can go inside and climb around. She loves running around and getting treats.”

Although Barbely’s favorite breakfast food is Honey Nut Cheerios, Chestnut loves bananas, indulging in small bites, a little at a time, to keep her athletic physique.

The bunny spends time with dogs, cats and other bunnies, but she’ll welcome a dad into the hutch when Barbely weds on Oct. 22.

Barbely says she is excited to be a part of the Rabbit Showdown for General Mills Cereal, and is happy the company is making their food more natural so that both she and Chestnut can enjoy nutritional breakfasts.

You can follow Chestnut on her Instagram @Chestnut_the_Champion.

Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/AskJoanMorris. Read more of her Animal Life columns at www.mercurynews.com/animal-life.