Yesterday Lacey Norrell turned 18. The Fort Dale Academy senior celebrated the milestone birthday with a trip to Montgomery – but not just any trip.

Norrell began a nine-day odyssey in the Capitol

City as part of Alabama's Junior Miss program.

&#8220I am every, very excited about this,” Norrell, the daughter of David and Melissa Norrell, said in a phone interview earlier in the week.

The teenager was chosen Butler County's Junior Miss last fall. She swept most of the category awards, including fitness, talent, self-expression, the &#8220Best Your Best Self” Award and the &#8220Spirit of Junior Miss” Award.

She has been busy preparing for a hectic time in Montgomery, which will culminate in the Alabama's Junior Miss finals on Saturday night, Feb. 18 at Garrett Coliseum.

Norrell and her fellow county winners will be vying for thousands of dollars in scholarship monies and a chance to represent the state at America's Junior Miss in Mobile on June 30.

Playing point guard on FDA's area championship-winning basketball team &#8220has kept me fit” for the competition's challenging fitness segment, Norrell said with a laugh.

With the team pursuing a state championship, Norrell said it would be one thing &#8220I will hate missing out on, being part of the playoff games.”

The teen said she and her mom Melissa have made &#8220many, many shopping trips” to prepare her wardrobe for the many functions and competitions that will be part of the state finals.

&#8220Getting all those clothes together, and having the types of outfits they request – that is quite a challenge,” she said.

Norrell said she have also been &#8220perfecting” her state competition talent, her comedic monologue first presented at the county program.

While she will miss her parents and sisters, Madison, 19, and Peyton, 14, family time will be at a minimum for Norrell over the next several days, as she is totally immersed in all things Junior Miss.

&#8220We are not allowed to talk to our family. I can't take my cell phone. We are allowed letters and cards…my family can e-mail my host parents at their e-mail address, and then they can pass it on to me,” she explained.

Her parents are excited about this opportunity, although her mom is &#8220a little more excited” than her dad, Norrell said.

&#8220I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of people; I already know some of the girls and my roommate is really sweet. I think it's going to be a great experience,” she said.