It depends on what you mean by "blooming". I started getting uncontrollable boners at 14, but I didn't get an opportunity to put them to use until I was 23. It was a frustrating 9 years.

I was a late bloomer myself. I still toe the line between extrovert/introvert. I depends on the situation.
It's not that I didn't notice girls/women, I assure that I did, but I just had too much other stuff going on.

I was a late bloomer,had interest but very naive about sex ,sort of feel like i have lived my life backwards in that department,,very openminded now for fun and comfortable with my self,,certainly was not in the early years

I eas an early bloomer. I was sexually active around 12 - 13 years old. I was like a jack rabbit at the bunny farm. ? (If ya know what I mean)

i went on a blind date my sister set up for me. it was a disaster. i had lovers but we didn't meet on, or get to know each other on, dates; we went out together after becoming lovers. i met people through other means. i did go on two newspaper ad dates in the 1980s. one showed up drunk. with the other i hit it off and we were really enjoying ourselves when he put his hands around my throat. i don't LIKE that. it was a dealbreaker. (he went back to his ex, anyway.) and i met ONE guy on a computer date. he turned out to be married. so i am 67 now and have been with my guy for 19 years now. we didn't realy date. i am a late bloomer in terms of falling in love. in terms of dating... that's a bloom that passed me by.

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I was puberty-delayed. All my life, people mocked me for being too skinny.

At 15, I finally developed a little figure. Suddenly I was pretty and popular. In high school, I made friends with everyone because I knew how hurtful cliques can be.

Between ages 18 - 22, I grew 1-1/2 inches taller. A later bloomer, indeed.

At 21, I ate 23 pancakes for breakfast. Amazed the cook! Was still growing.

Photo: Age 12 with little sister, 7. Loved that padded swimsuit top. Thought it made me look like I had a figure (breasts). Dream on, Kathleen.

Nope. Was doing drugs and had lost my virginity at 15, married at 17, divorced at 21. All of which was pretty stupid, but I did learn from it, and settled down later.

She also might not know the full story about her niece... She could be LGBTQ or not interested in the type of dating you would tell relatives about.

I was 14 years old when I had my first Girlfriend Lost my virginity at 17 and got married the first time at 20 We were married for 17 years Got divorced and I did it again for an additional 8 years. It has been a wild ride. Asking myself am I ready to begin again? My mind says NO stay single. My Heart tells me Wake up I need Love. Time will tell

I think I’m more of a “never-bloomer”

Very mixed bag here. I was a super early bloomer as far as interest goes, moderately late side of normal as far as putting it into practice goes. Started liking women as early as 5, first girlfriend/kiss/long distance relationship at 14, first “normal/local” relationship at 16, lost virginity at 18. (Which is super late when you’ve been a ball of hormonal interest since 5). Still haven’t had a normal live-in relationship as an adult, which feels super late to be starting to me. I hope it happens soon before my will exceeds my energy.

I was in private school when I was 13, hated to study so off to a school that required it. We were dating at 14 and lost my virginity to an ninth grader (older woman). My view on women was skewed for a while till I ran into the right woman she got me straight!

I didn't go on my first date until my last year of college (my fifth year); not because I wasn't ready until then but because I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go on a date with me.

Just more of "society's" opinions on how other people "should" be.
People make an awful lot of assumptions based on their own opinions.

My radar is sounding alarms. My former religion pushed marriage and that's pretty much why I got married at all. I hope your friend's niece never feels like she HAS to date in order to be normal and healthy.

About average, I think we all mature at different rates at different things and we can have growth spurts. I learned a whole lot about sex in a short time after I got together with my first serious girlfriend. Like wise, I had to learn elementary finance pretty quickly once I was on my own. I have definitely seen many people rise to the occasion, I was a late parent but that's something else some people have to take up young.

I wanted to start dating around 15. Unfortunately I was all enthusiasm and no clue. I was like the kid that stands on the sidelines of a game running back and forth trying to figure out the rules so I can jump in and play. If there had been a manual, or some kind of protocols it would have been super helpful.

I started dating at 16-17 years old... Pretty normal I think...