Cheerleaders are often the most popular people in high school. It seems to make sense that these people would go onto become some of the most popular people in the world after they have graduated. You might be surprised as you read over our list of some famous people who were at one time cheerleaders.
Being a part of a cheerleading squad helps young people gain self confidence and the ability to perform in front of large crowds of people. Think about the crowded football stadium on a Friday night back in high school. That’s a pretty big audience. It makes sense that some very famous television and movie actors and actresses had, at one time in their life, been a cheerleader. Some of these people include Courtney Cox Arquette, Kelly Ripa, Sela Ward, Teri Hatcher, Calista Flockhart, Reese Witherspoon, Jenny McCarthy, Eva Longoria Parker, Denise Richards, Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, Ann Margaret, Halle Berry, Alicia Silverstone, Renee Zellwegger, Other actresses who participated in cheerleading include Sarah Shahi, Blake Lively, Kirstie Alley, Jamie Lynn Spears, Charlene Tilton, Raquel Welch, Vanessa Minnillo, The list of former cheerleaders contains two acclaimed actresses – Meryl Streep and Sally Field, both of whom were high school cheerleaders.
One misconception that some people might have is that men aren’t cheerleaders, or the ones that do cheer are something less than manly. That isn’t the case either. Many men who would be described as very masculine have been cheerleaders in the past. Was there a more masculine actor than the late Jimmy Stewart? He was a cheerleader at Princeton University. Would anyone describe Samuel L. Jackson as less than manly? He was a cheerleader when he was in high school.
Several very well known and talented comedic actors were former cheerleaders. Jerry Lewis and Steve Martin were both cheerleaders when they were in high school. CBS news anchor Katie Couric, as well as the legendary television producer Aaron Spelling were also cheerleaders.
We’ve even seen our share of former cheerleaders who have had some success in reality television. Brooke Hogan has her own reality program on Vh1. Several celebrities who have competed on the hit reality television program Dancing With The Stars were also cheerleaders in their youth. Jennie Garth, Stacy Keibler, Shannon Elizabeth, Vivica Fox, Belinda Carlisle, and Melissa Rycroft. Paula Abdul (perhaps one of the most famous cheerleaders of all time) has made a name for herself, both as a musician and a judge on the reality program American Idol. Former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler was a cheerleader in high school, and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood was a high school cheerleader as well.
Many women who have gone on to find fame as musicians were former cheerleaders. They include Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Faith Hill, Toni Basil, Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilera, Natalie Mains, and Lauryn Hill.
Is there any bigger arena than politics, and is there any bigger leader than the President of the United States? Several former presidents were at one time a cheerleader. They include President George W. Bush, President Ronald Reagan, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Other politicians who have participated in the sport of cheerleading include Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, and Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran.
You can’t say that if you are a cheerleader you’ll go on to fame and fortune, but you might say that being a cheerleader helped some very famous people get to where they are today.
By: Katie O'Hara
About the Author:
Katie is a former Cheerleader and a current full time stay at home mom and freelance writer for the Cheerleading Portal.
