Hoover High graduate Gabby Carreiro went from shining on stage as a Tornado to starring in a faith-based Super Bowl ad.

The Class of 2014 Prom Queen, who won Hoover’s talent show her senior year, made a splash when she appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for “HeGetsUs.com.”

“I had a commercial agent, auditioned, got a callback for that particular ad, and the process was actually really smooth. I booked the commercial and did it,” Carreiro recalled.

When asked about her initial reaction to the news, she said, “I was definitely happy to book a commercial because that’s what I had been waiting for. The fact that it was a religious commercial was a surprise. They didn’t tell me exactly what it was until it aired.”

Carreiro shared that her faith made the experience even more meaningful.

“As I had been growing closer to God and building a deeper relationship, it meant a lot for the commercial to be about Jesus,” she said.

“And since the Super Bowl is such a huge event, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I wasn’t expecting that at all. It felt like a grand gesture from God. It was awesome,” she added.

The attention she received after the commercial aired was overwhelming. Carreiro said she got at least 25 text messages and phone calls from friends and family.

Reflecting on what the experience meant to her, Carreiro explained, “The thing that meant most to me was that the commercial represented my faith and gave me a chance to share it. It felt like a message from God: ‘Everything is going to be okay.’”

She also noted the professional significance: “For people who have been acting all their lives and hope to make it big, a Super Bowl commercial is a huge deal—a career-pushing moment.”

Carreiro described her father’s reaction, saying he loved it and kept sending the family numerous articles about the commercial, talking about it constantly.

Finally, she offered advice to current students chasing big opportunities.

Said Carreiro: “In the age of social media, where everyone wants fame so badly, the most important thing is to focus on your passion and what you love to do. When you truly love something, your dedication will have longevity. Don’t chase fame. Big opportunities will come when you fully commit to your craft, even when no one is watching.”