Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Justin Hunter and courtesy of Tiffany Hendrix
For Presleigh Hendrix, the idea of participating in a parade in London, England, didn’t fully register at first.
It was exciting, of course – a far-off place tied to a title she had earned at cheer camp. Something special, but still a little abstract. It wasn’t until she and her mom were talking through what that All-American honor actually meant that the reality began to settle in.
“You know, Mom,” Presleigh remembers saying, “we can actually go to a parade for this.”
That parade turned out to be London’s 2026 New Year’s Day Parade. And just like that, the eighth grader from Bankhead Middle School was headed overseas to perform on an international stage.
Cheerleading has been part of Presleigh’s life almost as long as she can remember. She first started cheering around age three before shifting into competitive gymnastics, where she trained and competed for several years. By sixth grade, she began preparing for school cheer tryouts and officially joined the team the following year.
That foundation paid off in the summer of 2025, when she attended cheerleading camp at the University of Alabama. There, she tried out for All-American recognition, competing not just with students her age but alongside varsity athletes.
There were four middle school girls attempting to qualify. Presleigh was the only one selected.
The honor opened the door to London, though the magnitude of that opportunity unfolded slowly. She thought about it now and then, but it still didn’t feel real.
“It didn’t really click until we were actually walking the streets of London,” she says. “That’s when I thought, ‘Wow. I’m really here.’ It was kind of bizarre.”
Preparation for the parade was intense yet surprisingly minimal. Participants were sent choreography to learn on their own, with only one full-group rehearsal two days before the parade. Still, Presleigh said the experience brought unexpected growth.
Nearly everyone in the group was older – mostly high school seniors – which pushed her out of her comfort zone in the best way.
“I had to learn how to bond with older girls the whole time,” she says. “But it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot just being around them.”
That adaptability is something cheer has quietly taught her over the years. Presleigh said she’s had coaches who challenged her, and those experiences helped her learn to handle pressure and accept correction, lessons that extend well beyond cheer.
“I used to get upset when people corrected me,” she says. “Now I understand it’s not meant to hurt me. It’s meant to make me better.”
When the parade finally arrived, it became her favorite part of the entire experience. London doesn’t typically see American cheerleaders, and the crowd’s reaction surprised her.
“It wasn’t just little kids, it was adults, too. You could tell they were amazed,” she says. “It felt like I was really making someone’s day.”
Back home in Walker County, Presleigh knew people were watching and cheering her on. That awareness stayed with her, along with a sense of responsibility.
“Coming from a smaller county, I feel like people notice you more,” she says. “I want to be a good example.”
She’s quick to credit the people who helped her get there, like her coach, Allie Sickles; her parents; her grandparents; and the many supporters who encouraged her along the way.
Looking back now, Presleigh says the London experience is a reminder of why she cheers in the first place and what it means to represent something bigger than herself.
“That experience will always stay with me,” she says. “It reminds me of the honor of putting on a uniform for any school I represent.” WL
