Super-duper circus hooper

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

TOP SPINNER: At 6, Americus Wilson is a seasoned roadshow performer, and now a TV star.

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Americus Wilson doesn't need to jump through hoops to run away to the circus - she was born under the big top.

The six-year-old hip-swinger, who is touring with the Loritz Circus, has been a part of the travelling roadshow since she was 18 months old and is based in Porirua for the school holidays.

She performs her hula hoop act at every show and can hula up to 17 hoops at a time.

Americus is also the smallest competitor on Prime TV's New Zealand's Got Talent, and this week she made the final of the televised talent quest, which will screen on October 27.

After scoring well with public text voting, Americus was voted through to the final by judges Paul Ellis and Miriama Smith during Wednesday night's live results show.

Americus burst into tears - as did her family.

"We were all crying tears of joy that night," her mother, Jo Wilson, said.

Americus has become good friends with fellow finalist Chaz Cummings - a teenage dancer from Wellington - and Mrs Wilson said there was a spirit of camaraderie, rather than competition, among the performers.

Americus had never been shy of performing. "She started [hula-hooping] when she was three," Mrs Wilson said.

"She's performed it in the circus since she was 4 1/2 and has gradually got better ... and practised harder and harder."