The other Princess Kate: Local cheerleader marches through London

For 18-year-old Kate Pierson, a dream came true this past New Year.

Chosen to be a part of a 700-person American cheerleading team, Kate marched in London’s New Year’s parade. She was selected for her standing in the top 10 percent at a summer cheerleading camp in Orlando.

Her South Walton High School cheer coach, Ashlee Scarpoola, selected six of the SWHS cheerleaders to compete for the opportunity to win the trip. Of the six selected by Scarpoola, the judges selected two.

The trip marked Kate’s first trip across the pond, and her first trip without family.

“Since I’m going to college — flying out of the bird’s nest — I might as well jump,” she said.

“It was hard choice between London or a car,” said the South Walton High School senior. “But I decided to live the dream I’ve had since I was eight.”

“I was excited for her when she first brought home the news that she’d been invited,” said her father Allan Pierson. “We knew it had been a dream of hers for some time.”

Kate became enamored of London when she picked up her first Harry Potter book.

“I told myself, ‘One day I’m going to go to London,’” she said.

Once she had made up her mind to participate in her dream city’s event, all there was left to do was raise the $2,800 to fund the weeklong trip. She spent her summer at Silver Sands working at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and saved every penny she earned, even while her friends were shopping.

“It was hard for me because I’m high maintenance, I love to shop,” she said. “I would look at my beautiful paycheck, and then have to put it away.”

“She stuck with it and learned a valuable lesson about setting a goal and working toward it,” said her father. “She didn’t disappoint.”

The lesson was learned and her summertime frugality paid off, as she was able to raise most of the $2,800 to fund the London trip.

According to Kate, it was all worth it.

During her stay Dec. 26 through Jan. 2, Kate had her picture taken with her team in front of Westminster Abbey, sampled fish and chips, visited Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, got a bird’s eye view of the city from The London Eye, saw “Legally Blonde: The Musical” at Savoy Theatre, and even tried on a 400-year-old costume at Shakespeare’s recreated Globe Theatre.

“The Globe was under construction, but I did try on the Ophelia costume, from ‘Hamlet,’” she said. “It was heavy.”

And though she missed King Cross Station’s famed Platform 9 ¾, she did see some of the other filming locations for the Harry Potter movies.

“My aunt was pulling for me to bring back Prince Harry,” she said, smiling. “But I would have been happy with Harry Potter.”