Out of 680 applicants from across the country, GE Appliances has chosen Ally Phillips of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina to be the brand’s “Great American Grandma.”
Phillips will serve as the spokesperson and brand ambassador for GE Appliances, with a “focus on cooking, cultural and family traditions” in interviews, events and social content and personal appearances, the company says.
"Selecting just one of the nearly 700 well-deserving grandmothers was a daunting task with so many vibrant, fun and beloved applicants,” said Wendy Treinen, director of public relations at GE Appliances. “There were many standouts, but Ally ultimately had the style, panache and passion for life and family that made her an ideal fit for the position. We can’t wait to see what Ally cooks up over the next year!”
Ally Phillips is a mother of five and grandmother of eight, who know her as “Mama Ally”. Born in West Virginia, she credits her own mother and grandmother for her love of cooking and bringing family together, and takes inspiration from her bohemian roots for her “Bohemian Bold” style of cooking. Phillips started her professional career in education, serving as a special education supervisor and school psychologist. She is a recognized expert in ADHD and learning disabilities, and founded her own company to serve children and adults in the Southeast.
In 2008 she re-focused her career on acting and cooking, and made it to the semifinals in an audition for the first season of MasterChef. She has since won numerous cooking contests, and her 2015 cookbook, “Ally’s Kitchen: A Passport for Adventurous Palates,” is an Amazon Top 100 International. Her website, allyskitchen.com, features original recipes and photography.
“Time with my grandchildren and friends is always punctuated by food,” Phillips says. “I’ve been given a gift for cooking and what good is a gift if you don’t give it to anyone? Life happens around the table, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than giving this gift to those I love.”
The part-time “Great American Grandma” role includes a $50,000 salary and five top-of-the-line GE Appliances kitchen products.
