Local twirler named 2023 Juvenile Miss Majorette of America
Press release from Turner family
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Gainesville resident Lanier “Niery” Turner, 10, recently brought home the title of 2023 Juvenile Miss Majorette of America. The four-day competition was held last month at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Niery is a fifth-grader at Chiles Elementary. She qualified for the title back in April by winning Miss Majorette of Florida.
The Miss Majorette of America title is based on a three-part all-around competition that includes modeling with interview, x-strut, and a solo routine. Elite twirlers from across the country competed against her. Niery, as she is known in the twirling world, said, “I could not believe that I had won when they called my name. All of the girls against me are amazing twirlers, and I had hoped my hard work would pay off, but I was still in shock.”
She spent anywhere from 4 to 8 hours every day this summer preparing and practicing, running individual and group routines. During the school year, she had to learn to balance two hours of practice and two hours of dance most days. She has definitely learned time management at a young age.
Niery is excited to travel the country over the next year, hosting many different competitions and spending time with her twirling friends from across the country. She is coached by Barb Neely of West Virginia, Deb Herbster of North Carolina, and June Stoeber of Florida.
Way to go!