GREENSBORO, N.C. —  University of North Carolina at Greensboro junior Asia McCray has been dancing since she was a child. In summer 2018, she decided to share her experience by starting her own youth majorette dance team.

What You Need To Know

  • Asia McCray started her own majorette dance team in 2018 to help young girls live out their dreams

  • The Pretty Girl Mafia Dance Team competes nationally and has won dozens of titles

  • McCray is a junior at UNC Greensboro majoring in human development and family studies

“This has been my passion since day one. So, I really wanted to have my own team so I could put my own twist to it,” McCray said.

With the help of her mother, Tamia Birch, they began recruiting girls to the Pretty Girl Mafia Dance Team. 

But McCray doesn't just coach and choreograph the girls — she’s a licensed hair stylist and prepares their hair for every competition. She also makes all of their uniforms.

“I make sure that I put my all into it because if your don’t put your all into it, what’s the point of even doing it?” McCray said. 

She does it all while studying human development and family studies, and working at her mother’s salon. Recently her team hosted their first competition since the COVID-19 pandemic in Greenville, South Carolina. Teams from Nashville, Atlanta and Winston-Salem participated. 

"Usually we would pack up this whole building, but since the pandemic happened, people getting COVID, some teams had to drop out,” McCray said.

P.G.M. has participated in competitions across the country and racked up dozens of titles.