Same glittery smile, different face as Golden Girl title changes hands

Alexa Phillips Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Alexa Phillips of Orlando, Fla., is the newest twirler to earn the title of Purdue University Golden Girl.

 An incoming freshman, she topped the auditions held on Saturday (Feb. 23), and formally committed to the position a day later. Jay S. Gephart, Director of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band made the announcement.

 Phillips has been on the national team every year since moving to Florida at the age of 8. She is now the feature twirler at Lake Nona High School in Orlando.

 She has collected many state, regional and national titles, including being crowned 2012 Senior Miss Majorette of Florida. She will become Golden Girl No. 28 in a tradition started by Bands professor emeritus Al G. Wright in 1954.

 Phillips won't be the only new twirler making her debut at Purdue's opening home football game of 2013 on Sept. 7 against Indiana State. There will be a new face in the Girl in Black position, as well as the Silver Twins.

 Jordan Foster, of Attleboro, Mass., was selected to twirl as the Girl in Black for the 2013 season. She previously twirled as part of the Silver Twins with Alyssa Lyzen of Brecksville, Ohio. Lyzen will be paired with another incoming freshman in the Silver Twins duet during the upcoming season.

 Joining her is Julianna Johnson of Niles, Ohio. In the fall of 2012, Johnson was among 15 women chosen nationwide as twirling ambassadors to Peru and participated in the 62nd annual Festival Internacional de Primavera.