Prized example of peer pressure at the start (5)
I believe the answer is:
pearl
'prized example' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'peer pressure at the start' is the wordplay.
'peer' becomes 'earl' (earl is a kind of peer**).
'pressure' becomes 'p' (abbreviation).
'at the start' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'earl' after 'p' is 'PEARL'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for pearl that I've seen before include "Girl < , pretty" , "Small type" , "prized example" , "coming out of shell?" , "one regularly in stitches" .)