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A young performer from Penpedairheol has been named as one of a small group of future stars set to tour in America.

At 17, Alexis Spinola has joined a prestigious group of 20 other performers from around the world to represent ‘Elite International All-Stars’.

Alexis, who is a sixth-form student at Lewis Girls School in Ystrad Mynach, has been performing in musical theatre since she was seven-years-old.

According to mum Louise Spinola-Scott, this is a “new beginning” for Alexis, adding: “After having her mental health shattered and being forced to live with PTSD leaving her feeling like she had nowhere to turn, it is only in the last few years Alexis discovered her relief in the awakening of her love for all things theatre.

“It was a dark and scary time in her life where it literally came down to ‘it wouldn’t be worth living without theatre’.”

Having been selected by the All-Stars, Alexis is set to jet off to New York in January 2026, but needs help raising £9,000 to cover the cost of the trip – as well as a ‘chaperone’.

The trip itself will see the group travel to America, where they will undergo “intense” training sessions in dance, acting, singing, and characterisation, all while rehearsing for a tour in Atlanta, Georgia.

Having already performed in the Wales Millennium Centre, and several other venues, with Stardust Youth Theatre, her mum believes this could be her “once in a lifetime opportunity”.

For a full breakdown of the costs, and to donate, you can visit Alexis’ GoFundMe.