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From breakout actresses to dazzling musicians to even a future president of the United States, these stars prove that the passion and athleticism of cheerleading really are for everyone.
Ciara
Ciara was the captain of the Riverdale High School cheer squad during her time. She's still a huge proponent for cheer in schools and believes it teaches girls immeasurable athletic skills and discipline. She did drop out during her senior year to pursue music, but she doesn't regret the decision. "Unfortunately, I couldn't be as involved as I wanted to be because it was the year when my music started to become even more important to me."
Balancing Music and Family
Ciara is married to football player Russell Wilson, though she was also previously in a relationship with rapper Future. She has three children and maintains a healthy work and life balance while taking care of them and making music. She's even close with her ex in order to healthily co-parent their son.
Olivia Munn
Olivia Munn spent some time in Japan while her father was stationed in the Air Force before her parents' divorced. Afterward, she and her mother moved to Oklahoma, and Munn joined the Putnam City North High School's cheerleading squad. After graduation, she studied journalism in college, but later on discovered that her true passion was acting.
Holding On To Her Roots
Munn is candid about her military past, and has discussed how she and her family moved around a lot to keep up with where her father was stationed. She's talked about how that made it difficult to make friends. When she made it to Hollywood, she landed acting jobs in movies like The Predator and shows like The Newsroom.
Cameron Diaz
Before she took on films like "There's Something About Mary," she was just an average high schooler. She was a head cheerleader at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Turns out learning how to be peppy 24/7 played out in her favor, because she landed tons of her acting roles based on her smile.
There's Something About Cameron
Though she retired from acting in 2016, Diaz had a wildly successful career. From the Shrek franchise to There's Something About Mary to The Other Woman, her films were always fan favorites. Now, she's married to singer Benji Madden and the couple welcomed a daughter in 2020.
George W. Bush
Yep, you read that right. Armed with a megaphone and tons of cheer, future President George W. Bush was once the cheer caption at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He also played basketball but was great at multi-tasking for both teams. He would later attend Harvard Business school and Yale University, but he never forgot his roots.
A Southern President
Texas-born and bred George W. Bush followed in his father's footsteps and became the 43rd president of the United States. He followed Bill Clinton, and preceded Barack Obama in office. His time in office was plagued by 9/11 and the war in Iraq.
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is one of America's favorite sweethearts. Before Miss Congeniality, she was Miss Varsity Cheerleader at her hometown's Washington-Lee High School in Arlington Virginia. Before she graduated, she was also a member of many of the school's theater productions.
Blindsided
One of Bullock's proudest roles was as a football mom in The Blind Side. She adopts future Baltimore Ravens player Michael Oher while he is still in high school, aware that he was homeless and needed help. Her other children are a cheerleader and a youth football player. Looks like spirit runs in that family!
Diane Sawyer
Hard-hitting journalist Diane Sawyer used to be a cheerful and bubbly blonde cheerleader. She was on the Seneca High School cheerleading team in Louisville, Kentucky. But after graduation, she traded her white sneakers for sensible heels and earned jobs promoting the Coca-Cola Pavillion at the World's Fair before eventually moving into news.
The Face of Journalism
Earning a time slot with Diane Sawyer meant that you were a celebrity worth talking about. Sawyer changed the game of interviewing. She had primetime anchor gigs for ABC World News Tonight, 20/20, and Good Morning America.
Kirsten Dunst
The Bring It On star can thank her high school cheer background for helping her land the role of Torrance Shipman. Dunst cheered at both Laurel High School and Notre Dame High School. Until the blockbuster cheer film came out, she was busy doing backflips and handstands on her own turf.
From Spider-Man to Super Mom
After starring in Bring It On, Dunst landed the leading lady role of Mary Jane Watson in the Toby Maguire Spider-Man franchise. She also played the French queen and aristocrat, Marie Antoinette, in a biopic of the same name. Now, she's in a relationship with actor Jesse Plemons, and the couple welcomed a child last year.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria can actually thank cheerleading for the start of her career. She loved being front and center while performing with her teams at Roy Miller High School in Corpus Cristi, Texas, and Texas A&M-Kingville. She was actually scouted by a Hollywood agent at one of her games, and the rest is history.
Desperate Housewife
The Desperate Housewives star made a name for herself thanks to the drama series. She played Gabrielle Solis, a rich woman cheating on her abusive husband with their landscaper. After the show, she landed roles in John Wick, Jane the Virgin, and Sylvie's Love.
Chrissy Teigen
The social media comic and supermodel Chrissy Teigen owes a lot of her snark to her time as a head cheerleader. She was a member of the Snohomish High School squad and recently shared this throwback pic. She and her friends dazzled in red, white, and black.
Chrissy and John Forever
Lately, she's taken a step back from the modeling industry. Teigen has lept into the food world and has released tons of easy recipes for her fans. If she's not cooking, she taking care of her two kids whom she shares with singer John Legend.
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford started cheerleading at the age of 14. She was also a frequent pageant queen, winning Maryland's Junior Miss Pageant in 1970. She later attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma and studied drama and music.
Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee
Before there was Kelly, there was Kathy Lee. Gifford co-hosted the popular morning talk show alongside the late Regis Philbin for 15 years. She recently shared a heartfelt tribute about their last conversation before he passed, and it's hard not to get emotional over the bond they shared.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is going to go down in history as a Hollywood legend. She has her early cheerleading days at Bernards High School in New Jersey to thank for her natural confidence in front of a crowd. She was a varsity member during her senior year!
Here We Go Again
Meryl's background in cheer probably helped her with her role in the Mamma Mia franchise. Streep really did sing and dance to all of those ABBA hits. Who could forget her performance with Donna and the Dynamos?
Kelly Ripa
Kelly Ripa is best known for co-hosting the morning talk show, Regis and Kelly, but before she got a start in Hollywood, she was a spirited cheerleader in New Jersey. She was a member of the Eastern Regional High School squad and later took drama classes. Her teacher inspired her to pursue acting, and she later landed several soap opera roles.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry was the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. But before all the fame, she was a cheerleader from Bedford High School in Cleveland, Ohio. On top of that, she was a straight-A student, took honors classes, and wrote for the newspaper. As if she couldn't get any cooler, she was also prom queen.
Cynthia Bailey
Before she moved to New York, Cynthia Bailey was stealing hearts on the football. The reality star cheered for Deshler High School in Alabama. She packed her things for the big city at the young age of 18 as soon as she greaduated.
Gabrielle Union
Bring It On pitted Gabrielle Union and Kirsten Dunst against each other, and both had tons of experience before the film. Union came from a huge sports family. She's quoted as saying, "In my family, if you couldn't talk Cornhusker football, then you don't get to have an opinion."
Jenna Dewan
Step Up propelled Jenna Dewan into the world of professional dance, but she can thank her cheerleading days for her moves. She loved the intense physicality of cheer's dance elements and decided to pursue it as a career. She was scouted while dancing backup for Janet Jackson in 2001.
Lindsey Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is one of America's favorite child stars. She went to a normal high school in Long Island, New York, and she cheered at both Cold Spring Harbor High School and Sanford H. Calhoun High School. However, she did eventually decide to switch to exclusively homeschooling as her career was picking up.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus comes from a star-studded family. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, encouraged her to perform since she was a kid. At the age of seven, she cheered for the Tennessee Premiere soccer team. In her teens, she starred on the Disney Channel show, Hannah Montana.
Blake Lively
Did you know Blake Lively only pursued acting because her parents thought she'd be good at it? Despite a breakout career as a teen, she left room in her filming schedule to be a normal kid, and cheered for her high school between shooting scenes. Her first big break was in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Sally Field
From Forest Gump to Mrs. Doubtfire, Sally Field was winning over audiences well before she reached Hollywood. She was a member of her cheerleading squad at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California. After graduation, some of her early roles included The Flying Nun and Gidget.
Fergie
The former Black Eyed Peas singer, born Stacie Ann Ferguson, was a member of her high school cheer team at Glen A. Wilson High School. She had the right attitude and determination and also defied the stereotype that cheerleaders aren't too bright. She managed to maintain straight-As.
Amy Poehler
Before she was head of Pawnee's Parks Department, comedy legend Amy Poehler was head of her cheer squad. She was a member of the Burlington High School team in Massachusetts. Then she went to Boston College and rose through the ranks to earn roles on shows like SNL.
Danielle Brooks
Orange Is The New Black star Danielle Brooks actually quit her high school cheer squad because she was uncomfortable with the flashy uniforms. She later went on to write in her blog, "Never ever quit anything again because you're scared of what others might think of you – unless you become an exotic dancer, the only exception. But even then, only quit because you want to." It led her to some amazing career opportunities, regardless.
Jesse James Decker
The country singer has been signed to Nashville labels since she was 15, but in her downtime, she was cheering for her hometown football team. Now all grown up, Decker has moved into the fashion industry. If she's loyal to her roots, maybe she'll dabble in uniform design.
Mandy Moore
Before she played the head cheerleader and certified mean girl Lana Thomas in The Princess Diaries, Mandy Moore was actually a super sweet member of another squad. Weirdly enough, it was the Pop Warner football team. After she made her mark on the industry, she landed roles in Tangled, A Walk to Remember, and This is Us.
Megan Fox
Before she starred in Transformers and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, she was cheering for Morningside Academy in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She was actually bullied in high school and used the sport as a way to deal with her stress. Later, she overtook Hollywood as a go-to mean girl character and even played a few head cheerleader roles.
Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd was the same heartthrob in high school as he is in Hollywood. Before starring in Clueless, he was one of Overland Park High's "yell leaders." He was a go-to hype man, and even knew how to flip, cartwheel, tumble, and lift. Do you think he does all his own stunts today?
Steve Martin
Steve Martin himself was a member of his high school cheer squad. The Garden Grove, California team was a ton of fun and known for their hilarious cheers thanks to the comedy icon. Martin's never been one to shy away from a spotlight, so it only makes sense that his career started at a young age.
Denise Richards
Denise Richards outgrew her tomboy phase from her childhood in Illinois and reinvented her look when she moved to Oceanside, California. She joined the El Camino High School cheer team and went on to star in shows like Saved By The Bell. She even met her now ex-husband, Charlie Sheen.
Renee Zellweger
The Bridget Jones's Diary star is actually quite graceful despite her bumbling character in that film. Renée Zellweger attended Katy High School in Katy, Texas, and is still involved in the gymnastics aspect of cheerleading. She once showed off her moves for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Stacy Keibler
Before she was a WWE wrestler, she was a professional cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens. In 1999, she switched over to the WCW ring, and in 2001, she became a pro with WWE. Needless to say, don't ever tell her cheerleading isn't a sport.
Reese Witherspoon
Who else should be at the top of the pyramid than the notoriously petite Reese Witherspoon? She was a member of her high school's cheer squad before she starred in Legally Blonde or Walk the Line. She posted this throwback photo herself, hyping up the Generals.
Ann Margret
The Swedish starlet is a true triple threat — she sings, dances, and at one point she cheered for New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. She was front and center for the crowd before she ever broke into Hollywood. She later acted in films like Bye Bye Birdie, Carnal Knowledge, Grumpy Old Men, and The Cheap Detective.
Sela Ward
Though she's a gifted actress today, Sela Ward is best remembered by the University of Alabama as being one of the cheer team's most prestigious alumni. She gave her all to the Crimson Tide before she made it to Hollywood. She graduated in 1977 with degrees in fine art and advertising.
Jayma Mays
The uptight guidance counselor from Glee was actually a member of her very own Cheerio's squad. Her team was called the Wolves and she happily flipped cartwheels in that blue and yellow uniform. Hollywood now knows her as Glee club instructor Will Schuester's wife.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson can thank cheerleading for her "cool-girl" energy. She attended Richardson North Junior High School in Texas and was a star on the court for only two years. She dropped out at the age of 15 to pursue singing and even landed a job as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
Alicia Silverstone
As if this Clueless icon wasn't on her cheer team. Of course she was! She was a base stunter for the San Mateo High School Bearcats. Later, she'd portray one of the most famous It girls in modern-day history, Cher Horowitz.
Kirk Douglas
The late Kirk Douglas was a proud member of the Amsterdam High School's cheer squad. He's filmed 100 movies over the course of his life, and was a staple in dramas, westerns, and war films. The Amsterdam High alumni have the privilege of saying they once shared the field with the iconic actor.
Jennifer Lawrence
Katniss needed to be athletic, and Jennifer Lawrence had an advantage over other actresses with her gymnastic background. She has also tried modeling and is now a famous actress, but when she was younger, she had a hand in basketball, field hockey, and softball too.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is one of Hollywood's most favorite beautiful faces. With that captivating smile and gorgeous head of hair, she was a stunner even from a young age. She starred in Blue Lagoon as just a teen, and she has much of her time as a high school cheerleader to thank for her initial confidence to put herself out there.
Paula Abdul
It's no surprise that dancer Paula Abdul was once a cheerleader. She performed with the Van Nuys High School squad in Los Angeles while also maintaining honors-level grades. After graduation, she joined the Laker Girls dance team, and went on to become their head choreographer. She cheered on Jamaal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson.
Phaedra Parks
The Real Housewives star cheered for the Clarke Central High School team in Athens, Georgia. Her red, white, and gold uniform gave her all the confidence she needed to break into acting. Before that, she went into law school and pursued a degree.
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley cheered for the Wichita Southeast High School team in Kansas for a few years. One thing about her time on the squad — she was the only member with a short haircut. However, talent scouts like it, because she was cast on Cheers a few years later.
Nene Leakes
Nene Leakes has proven time and time again that her career is nothing short of spectacular. She's been entertaining as a reality star for the better part of a decade, but before that, she was doing kicks and flips for her home team. Her spunky attitude and go-getter mindset are likely the reason why she's propelled herself into such a successful career.
Kendall Jenner
She might be a graceful model today, but in high school, she was somewhat of a clutzy, awkward cheerleader. She used high school as a break from being in the Kardashian's spotlight. This photo, unfortunately, haunted the Internet for a number of years after it was taken.
Snooki
The best part about Jersey Shore is that the cast is made up of all normal people. Or at least they were before they were famous. Snooki joined her high school cheer team, but eventually quit to maintain her mental health. "Cheerleading was my life in high school, but it wasn't always easy for me. I started to be anorexic," she said, "There were freshmen, who were seventy pounds and I was, like, my spot as a flier is going to get taken away. So I ended up starving myself."
Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning is America's other favorite childhood star, and she was able to act and attend high school and college like anyone else. She'd already had roles in Uptown Girls and Gone, Baby, Gone as a child, but as a teen, she attended Campbell High School and cheered for their varsity team. Afterward, she transitioned into more mature films like The Runaways.
Brooklyn Decker
Model and actress Brooklyn Decker was a former cheerleader for Butler High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was also the senior class president before she graduated and started taking on acting gigs. She's been seen in Just Go With It, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and Stretch.
Kathy Griffin
The high-caliber comedian cheered for Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois. She literally got her kicks. Though she later transitioned into comedy and acting, her first taste of the spotlight was on the field.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde was a member of the Phillips Academy's step team because they didn't specifically offer cheerleading. The dances and styles are similar, but there isn't any stunting in step. Wilde said "it's just another form of cheering," and she killed it while she was there!
Madonna
Madonna doesn't need to thank anyone for her superstar career, but she did get her start on the mat. She attended Rochester Adams High School and was a straight-A student and star athlete. She got a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan but ultimately dropped out to become, well, Madonna.
Calista Flockhart
The Ally McBeal star has been performing ever since her time on the field with the Shawnee High School cheer squad. She later graduated and attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. From there, her career picked up speed.
Melissa Rycroft
Melissa Rycroft wasn't a cheerleader, but she was a drill squad member. She eventually became captain, and then took a gig with the Dallas Cowboys cheer team after graduation. Her big break was actually in Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.
Rachel Ray
The Lake George High School cheer squad can proudly claim celebrity chef Rachel Ray as alumni. Now, she shares recipes on her talk show and writes cookbooks in all categories. She doesn't seem to be super interested in revisiting her pompom shaking past any time soon.
Michael Douglas
Just like his father, Michael Douglas also knew how to cheer, chant, and tumble. He attended Choate Preparatory School, and took the sport by storm. When he was cast in the Marvel franchise as Hank Pym, he was among the ranks of another former male cheerleader, Paul Rudd.
Samuel L. Jackson
Anyone else know that the acclaimed Samuel L. Jackson was once a cheerleader? He did admit to joining the Morehouse College squad so he could meet girls. The only issue was, Morehouse is an all-boys college. Nice try!
Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones grew up in the spotlight thanks to her celebrity parents, but she also managed to have a relatively normal childhood. She cheered through middle school and high school, but also had a passion for the mathlete team and the National Honors Society. She always has been a multi-talented person.
Katie Couric
The famous journalist has been seen on Yahoo! News and 60 Minutes before her tenure on The Today Show. Before that, she attended a variety of high schools in Arlington, Virginia, and cheered at each one of them. She's nothing if dedicated to her passions.
Lucy Hale
The Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale cheered for her middle school team before she ever took on acting. She's now a singer as well, proving that the spotlight was always meant for her. How adorable is her smile in that throwback pic?
Christina Aguilera
North Allegheny Intermediate High School is lucky enough to say that Christina Aguilera once cheered for their squad. She was also a member of the exclusive Mickey Mouse Club. Her iconic career only went up from there.