All-Star I Think Every Athlete Is Special, My Thoughts On The Word "cheerlebrity"

[Cheer Tennessee]

I want to know what some the coaches think about it.. Does it effect the team or warm ups?

When Miley Cyrus's best friend Lesley was on Pumas we used to have serious problems during warm ups.. We would have kids just walk onto the practice mat while we were warming up and crowding the tumble track.. It's was awful and effected the whole teams warm up. It made me mad, at the kids who were being disrespectful of our warm ups, we had the hardest time controlling it.. I felt bad for Lesley cause there was nothing she could do about it either.

 

[mommadonna]

After witnessing "cheerlebrity" in action at NCA I would never want my cp experiencing that. It would scare me if people were making fake accounts in her name or mobbing her competitions. At NCA I saw a situation go down where Maddie Gardner had her back to a door and was trying to get to her team and kids were all around her asking for pictures or autographs. Finally someone (a parent I assume) opened the door she was backed into and pulled her through so she could get to the arena. All I could think of was "she needs a bodyguard stat". When she came back out a group of girls were waiting for her and literally broke into tears.
I don't know if the trend will die down because parents will do anything these days to get their child some fame. My cp who likes to do acting has asked if she can be on "one of those reality shows" if they do one for cheer. It was a definite NO...lol

I have never been to a comp where she was, but a friend of mine went to one, and her reaction was the same as yours. I can only imagine the pressure that girl feels...and to handle it gracefully at her age...wow! She definitely needs staff at comps to help her navigate the crowd, or at the very least, work out something where she has an arranged time and place to meet people and do photos/autographs, etc in a more organized, controlled way. You know..."Maddie will be at_____location at____time to meet and greet. Please refrain from approaching her otherwise, as she is attempting to focus on today's competition. Thank you."
Yeah...I don't think I want that for my child, either. I'm hoping the whole "cheerlebrity" thing goes away before she gets to level 5.

 

[StarshipTrooper]

Yeah, to each their own. First on the tape, nothing wrong with an opinion. If you are talking about mine, and I think the term applies to her over the last 2-3 years, the characterization of cocky, fake or doing something for fame is off base. I assume you are not because I'm certain you do not know her from Adam, but I cannot speak for other's you actually have interacted with and what you have heard or been told. She has always responded openly to other athletes approaching her in the the best manner possible. They are almost always younger girls who for some reason look up to her and her career and cheer and hope to emulate her. Ask them why I suppose, but it is not self promotion or looking for fame. The status found her through social media. I do not participate in YouTube, Facebook or Twitter, but to a certain extent everyone that does, including her on YouTube and Facebook, she has never been on Twitter that I know of, is inviting anyone on the media to look inside their lives. When they do, some are interested and attracted. I assume everyone knows they are putting themselves out there on media and let the chips fall where they may. No apologies from my family on that front, she found fans that sought her out on media and at competitions. She ended her personal Facebook about a year ago, only has a fan page she interacts on with fans.

CNN found her through Facebook and YouTube, they sought her out, and decided to use her as their subject along with SE and CEA. For better or worse, she became more notable. She took a lot of criticism about the form of the CNN documentary, but if you understand the way the editors decided to tell the story of All Star through her eyes, I believe the criticism was unwarranted. The did not ask her or us how to put the piece together. I think Kingston is correct to a certain extent, it may have been a phenomenon born of the growth of the Internet, social media and for her being now 6 years on point of a popular team. The term cheerlebrity may end because if I have learned anything from cheer, the industry is only interested in the next big thing and apparently this is getting old. So be it. I have read about outreach for the sport, introduction to non AllStars and those activities on this board. She and her mother respond to about 150 requests per week for things, a video for a birthday or a group of recreation level kids that want her to tell them something on skype about All Star. And she does them all. She has had a lot of impact overseas, and constantly is in touch with kids from all over the world about American Cheer and promoting the sport. So she does those things and other things for charity and sick kids that you will never hear about. And believe it or not we have been burned on more than one occasion by posers faking illness and personal tragedy for favors so beware. It is unbelievable.

Now, on the NCA and other competitions this year, it has been more than a bit frantic and we try to be with her but NCA is not that conducive to being at her side all the time, and the kids are relentless if anything else, so I apologize if I left her in a bad situation for a short period of time. I also hate it when she leaves in her car to go out with friends or her sister goes back to school. We cannot always be there with them. She handles it pretty well but I do think she has given it her best and is ready to retire.

Now there are a couple of things I regret, one is CheerSport this year and the sign and greet for her stunt group. We did not know that a subscription was needed before we started and regret the line and costs until they started and decided not to pull out at the last moment. If we would have known, we would have asked the PTB to give them a table to sit at and sign autographs for free. The other is that sometimes when she is getting ready to compete she can be a little short about stopping and signing and it gives the wrong impression. I think maybe put yourself in her shoes when she is trying to do her job and get her mind right for her team, she just wants to be left alone and focus, even if walking through a hallway to warm-ups. I know at NCA, they were next to hit the mat, 3 kids came up and asked for a picture. Sometimes it is a bit too much. I do not regret Fancy Face, that is an arrangement with Varsity and we are very supportive of anything Varsity asks her to do and so is she. Her decision, and they have never led us in the wrong direction. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people in cheer through her and almost all are kind people who just want to promote the industry.

Now, lastly as my time here is ending soon, to all of you who want to promote their kids in cheer it will not work. Either the fans and other athletes like them or they do not. The vast majority of opportunities, such as web series, deals, and those such things never pan out. 99 times out of 100 in fact. Don't sweat it, there is really nothing lucrative in the cheer industry for these athletes. Maybe a little exposure in a magazine or on a video, but they are going to have to make or break their careers after cheer and the best I can tell and that is like everyone else, in school working hard. No easy way that I have seen. So peace and have a great Worlds. I'm done on this.

 

[Rudags]

I don't see the difference between you posting videos to motivate someone vs. a "Cheerlebrity" being a great tumbler or flyer on a team and that video getting posted. I see most of the cheerlebrities being nothing more than stand out athletes that others want to be like. I don't get where all the hate comes from.

I had cheerlebrities in my day. I wanted to jump like Matt Mcgrath, Stunt like Michael May, and Tumble like Gary 'Reggin' Ford. I never got my jumps to Matt McGrath status, but I did have phenomenal jumps. I could never stunt like Michael May - but I could throw big Phenomenal Stunts. I couldn't tumble like Reggin, but weight 240 lbs and throwing Punch to Whip Doubles was a pretty big accomplishment for me. I used them as role models, and although I never could 'Out do' my role models - Their videos were online for me to oooo and ahhhhh over. Im glad no one hated on them.

 

[Liljuju2012]

Hahaha everything i said flew completely over your head, listen to what i said in the video before you compare me to anybody... I DONT DO THIS FOR FAME, I COULD CARELESS ABOUT WHO WATCH MY VIDS OR HOW MANY VIEWS I GET. BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO WATCH THEM ARE INSPIRED AND I GOT MY POINT ACROSS. Theres is no hate coming from me at all, i posted this to hopefully humble some people that it applied to so they can help another person instead of staying stuck on themselves. But hey think what ya wanna, everyone is titled to their own opinion.

I don't see the difference between you posting videos to motivate someone vs. a "Cheerlebrity" being a great tumbler or flyer on a team and that video getting posted. I see most of the cheerlebrities being nothing more than stand out athletes that others want to be like. I don't get where all the hate comes from.

I had cheerlebrities in my day. I wanted to jump like Matt Mcgrath, Stunt like Michael May, and Tumble like Gary 'Reggin' Ford. I never got my jumps to Matt McGrath status, but I did have phenomenal jumps. I could never stunt like Michael May - but I could throw big Phenomenal Stunts. I couldn't tumble like Reggin, but weight 240 lbs and throwing Punch to Whip Doubles was a pretty big accomplishment for me. I used them as role models, and although I never could 'Out do' my role models - Their videos were online for me to oooo and ahhhhh over. Im glad no one hated on them.

 

[Liljuju2012]

Yeah, to each their own. First on the tape, nothing wrong with an opinion. If you are talking about mine, and I think the term applies to her over the last 2-3 years, the characterization of cocky, fake or doing something for fame is off base. I assume you are not because I'm certain you do not know her from Adam, but I cannot speak for other's you actually have interacted with and what you have heard or been told. She has always responded openly to other athletes approaching her in the the best manner possible. They are almost always younger girls who for some reason look up to her and her career and cheer and hope to emulate her. Ask them why I suppose, but it is not self promotion or looking for fame. The status found her through social media. I do not participate in YouTube, Facebook or Twitter, but to a certain extent everyone that does, including her on YouTube and Facebook, she has never been on Twitter that I know of, is inviting anyone on the media to look inside their lives. When they do, some are interested and attracted. I assume everyone knows they are putting themselves out there on media and let the chips fall where they may. No apologies from my family on that front, she found fans that sought her out on media and at competitions. She ended her personal Facebook about a year ago, only has a fan page she interacts on with fans.

CNN found her through Facebook and YouTube, they sought her out, and decided to use her as their subject along with SE and CEA. For better or worse, she became more notable. She took a lot of criticism about the form of the CNN documentary, but if you understand the way the editors decided to tell the story of All Star through her eyes, I believe the criticism was unwarranted. The did not ask her or us how to put the piece together. I think Kingston is correct to a certain extent, it may have been a phenomenon born of the growth of the Internet, social media and for her being now 6 years on point of a popular team. The term cheerlebrity may end because if I have learned anything from cheer, the industry is only interested in the next big thing and apparently this is getting old. So be it. I have read about outreach for the sport, introduction to non AllStars and those activities on this board. She and her mother respond to about 150 requests per week for things, a video for a birthday or a group of recreation level kids that want her to tell them something on skype about All Star. And she does them all. She has had a lot of impact overseas, and constantly is in touch with kids from all over the world about American Cheer and promoting the sport. So she does those things and other things for charity and sick kids that you will never hear about. And believe it or not we have been burned on more than one occasion by posers faking illness and personal tragedy for favors so beware. It is unbelievable.

Now, on the NCA and other competitions this year, it has been more than a bit frantic and we try to be with her but NCA is not that conducive to being at her side all the time, and the kids are relentless if anything else, so I apologize if I left her in a bad situation for a short period of time. I also hate it when she leaves in her car to go out with friends or her sister goes back to school. We cannot always be there with them. She handles it pretty well but I do think she has given it her best and is ready to retire.

Now there are a couple of things I regret, one is CheerSport this year and the sign and greet for her stunt group. We did not know that a subscription was needed before we started and regret the line and costs until they started and decided not to pull out at the last moment. If we would have known, we would have asked the PTB to give them a table to sit at and sign autographs for free. The other is that sometimes when she is getting ready to compete she can be a little short about stopping and signing and it gives the wrong impression. I think maybe put yourself in her shoes when she is trying to do her job and get her mind right for her team, she just wants to be left alone and focus, even if walking through a hallway to warm-ups. I know at NCA, they were next to hit the mat, 3 kids came up and asked for a picture. Sometimes it is a bit too much. I do not regret Fancy Face, that is an arrangement with Varsity and we are very supportive of anything Varsity asks her to do and so is she. Her decision, and they have never led us in the wrong direction. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people in cheer through her and almost all are kind people who just want to promote the industry.

Now, lastly as my time here is ending soon, to all of you who want to promote their kids in cheer it will not work. Either the fans and other athletes like them or they do not. The vast majority of opportunities, such as web series, deals, and those such things never pan out. 99 times out of 100 in fact. Don't sweat it, there is really nothing lucrative in the cheer industry for these athletes. Maybe a little exposure in a magazine or on a video, but they are going to have to make or break their careers after cheer and the best I can tell and that is like everyone else, in school working hard. No easy way that I have seen. So peace and have a great Worlds. I'm done on this.

You made a very valid point, but i never said anything about maddie, ive met her a few times (Not at meet and greets) and she was normal to me. This thread wasnt a shot at anybody specificly, i never called anyone out at all. I just want athletes to see the bigger picture that its more than being a cheerlebrity, its about helping others get to your level and beyond. But like i said everyone has their own opinion, some change some dont. i just hope i got "my" point of view across in the right way.

 

[Xtremegirls:)]

Heres my opinion: I am sick and tired of people "hating" on these "cheerlebrities". I dont think any one of them wanted this at all. I dont think Maddie or Kelsey or any other cheerlebrity go to the gym everyday and work their butts off to gain "fans" or a higher status in the cheer world. They do it because they love the sport and their team. They do it because they want to make themselves better for their teams. I highly, highly doubt they really love the over-obssess stalkers and being bombarded by screaming kids at comps. I understand young children looking up to them as role models to improve themselves, their is nothing wrong with that all. But the facebook fan pages, tshirts, etc are all a little but out of control. I mean for God's sakes I heard that on twitter that girls are trying to figure the hotel room number of a certain very attractive athlete on cheetahs. Like eww!! stalker alert!!! You think these kids enjoy this at all?? They cant have a facebook page without getting 100 random friend requests a day, they cant have an instagram without having random "fans" comment all over their pictures, they cant have a twitter account without people tweeting at them every 5 seconds "Im your biggest fan retweet please!" I guess what I am trying to say is they didnt ask for any of this nor can they control any of this.

 

[Rudags]

Hahaha everything i said flew completely over your head, listen to what i said in the video before you compare me to anybody... I DONT DO THIS FOR FAME, I COULD CARELESS ABOUT WHO WATCH MY VIDS OR HOW MANY VIEWS I GET. BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO WATCH THEM ARE INSPIRED AND I GOT MY POINT ACROSS. Theres is no hate coming from me at all, i posted this to hopefully humble some people that it applied to so they can help another person instead of staying stuck on themselves. But hey think what ya wanna, everyone is titled to their own opinion.

“Stop using your skills to get Famous”
“Is no mo real athletes, most of em fake”
“Yall a bunch of leaves, that Im about to rake”

 

[NEliteSteven]

I'm confused. You usually start a new thread everytime you post a new video. Is that not self promotion and trying to get more views? I think it's a case of Pot. Kettle. Black. I think it's extremely arrogant that you're trying to "humble people".

 

[bluecat20]

Like i said before (first post) what does the vid of your tumbling have to do with the topic about Cheerlebrities? I was like is this guy trying to "hype himself" with his tumbling vid? Post something about a popular topic then promote yourself. Talk trash about "Cheerlebrities" then promote yourself in hopes of becoming one. Lol. What's his real agenda???

 

[CCCBeBad]

Can you explain what "Cheerlebrities" you are talking about?? B/c your mass generalization of "cheerlebrities" comes over very ignorant and the only one I really see using their skill to get "notice" is you..... if you were just doing this to inspire people, you would let people find your videos. Not come on the boards rap about other people and bring them down, and then at the end of your video ask them to follow you on twitter and Facebook. Just my outside opinion but obviously I am not the only one with this same opinion.

 

[icheer8796]

Photos of Twist: Canada's Cheerleading Magazine | Facebook

Hey! My name is Ashley Impellezzere and I cheer for the IO5 team from Vancouver All Stars. I have been entered into a contest to be featured on the front of Twist a Canadian Cheerleading magazine. I've been cheering now for 10 years 4 of which I've competed at worlds in the All Star Division as well as ICU (Team Canada All Girl and Group Stunt). In the past I went to worlds motivated to of come out on top, however this year I will be attending with a different motivation. A month and a half ago my Dad passed away suddenly, and since then I have made him my motivation to keep going. This year I will be taking the floor at the 2012 worlds in honour of my Dad. I will prove not only to myself but everyone else that with the love and support of your team mates and the people around you, you have the power to over come anything.

If you support my story please follow the link above and "like" my photo so I can be featured in 2012 spring addition of TWIST and share my story with the world.

Thank you

I voted for you! I admire you for pushing on and I hope you get the opportunity to share your story with everyone. Good luck at Worlds & continue to be strong!

 

[justcheer5678]

I think there are what I would call true "cheerlebrities" like Kiara Knowlin who has actually accomplished something with her tumbling (World Championships) or Maddie that gets noticed cause she's that good....then theres those who are definitely talented but are more of the "self promoters". They don't necessarily have more skills or accomplishment then others their age or level but they are constantly posting videos or entering contests so they are now "cheerlebrites". Not saying they're not good or talented just saying if they didn't promote themselves they would just be like the hundreds of other great athletes that we love to watch.

 

[bluecat20]

I do see that more and more now about "self promoters" in cheerleading. Parents promoting their kids but there are many kids out there with the same or more talent. Is that what JuJu's rap is about. The kids that "self promote" with average talent thinking their a "Cheerlebrity" like Kiara, Whitney or Kelsey. At the other end I think there is a girl ( Taryn f5)that doesnt self promote that has great overall talent. Maybe she feels uncomfortable with the exposure but she should be on the Cheerlebrity level with the kids mentioned above.

 

[Liljuju2012]

I'm confused. You usually start a new thread everytime you post a new video. Is that not self promotion and trying to get more views? I think it's a case of Pot. Kettle. Black. I think it's extremely arrogant that you're trying to "humble people".

Why comment if its something negative, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT VIEWS... YOU PEOPLE VIEWING MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS ISNT GETTING ME ANYWHERE IN LIFE. I DONT "GOT" TO INSPIRE THE PEOPLE I HAVE INSPIRED, I GET TO. i SEE IT AS A PRIVALEGE. BUT ITS WHAT EVER