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Rebel does have a school lookbook but honestly those designs are nothing that Varsity hasn’t already covered. Rebel’s bread and butter are the comp unis, and their crown jewel is the “couture” line that they aggressively promote by taking cheer’s Cool Kids to Europe every year.

Which is weird because every year they get further and further away from any viable cheer uni design in favor of what are essentially glorified Halloween costumes (over the last few years especially, the couture designs have literally been styled to reflect the next vacay spot than the demands of cheer). And while I understand that the couture designs are supposed to be “conceptual,” the fact remains that nobody is ordering a modified toga to wear to Worlds. I don’t care if Gabi Butler models it on top of a horse. It’s not happening. And they should know that if they have any cheer experience whatsoever. So ultimately, I’m not sure what the point of the whole campaign is, or how sustainable it’ll be in the future if they keep going down this road. Eventually the novelty will wear off.
Rebel is successful because of the new generation of cheer mommies and their ad campaigns cater to them. Many care more about their kid being an "ambassador" for Rebel (and any brand imaginable) and create IG and tik toks for their kids than they do about their child being in a quality cheer program and being a dedicated athlete. They don't blink when they spend hundreds on a Rebel sports bra or backpack and they fly to Rebel "casting calls" and photo shoots but they will rip a coach or gym owner up one side and down the other for charging a reasonable monthly tuition and uniform cost. Cheer is secondary to them.
 
I don't understand how Rebel modeling things work.

If you're chosen as a Varsity model, you're in the catalog and actually used in their campaigns.

I see lots of kids online who say they're Rebel models, but when you look at Rebel's print campaigns, social media stuff, it's the same 8-10 main cheerlebrities like Gabi, etc.

What are the Rebel casting calls even for and what do these models actually do? Because it's not really modeling if you do not see them representing the brand in any official modeling capacity?

That and how many photoshoots does one child need with the same CheerPhotographer if the photos are not actually being used by Rebel for paid work?

Like, what even.

Is it really just a way to get moms and kids to buy bras and shorts?
 
I also noticed that there are kids who want to use cheer type modeling to break into real modeling,

Modeling agencies are generally looking for kids who look like KIDS in their portfolios, not like cheer models with tons of hair and make up, or cheer hairspray models, or bikini models. I feel like the time and money spent on that could be spent on some more "toned down" pics?
 
I don't understand how Rebel modeling things work.

If you're chosen as a Varsity model, you're in the catalog and actually used in their campaigns.

I see lots of kids online who say they're Rebel models, but when you look at Rebel's print campaigns, social media stuff, it's the same 8-10 main cheerlebrities like Gabi, etc.

What are the Rebel casting calls even for and what do these models actually do? Because it's not really modeling if you do not see them representing the brand in any official modeling capacity?

That and how many photoshoots does one child need with the same CheerPhotographer if the photos are not actually being used by Rebel for paid work?

Like, what even.

Is it really just a way to get moms and kids to buy bras and shorts?

Lots of the models you’re seeing are probably in the ready-to-wear Purple Lookbook, which is the one nobody cares about. You’ll notice that’s where they shove their “diverse” models so the same high-profile, mostly white faces can be the couture models. Which comes across as particularly odious for all their “We’re different!” bluster. Because idk about you, but I’ve seen skinny blonde models literally since I was born in the 80’s. Nothing different about it.

And regarding bras and purses: Rebel has always left me with the impression that it wanted to be a real fashion house, but their penchant for overt ostentatiousness wasn’t fashion forward enough (not when Versace did it in the 90’s, and not when things like sustainable and eco-friendly fashion are a thing now). So they took their ideas to the cheer world, where things like lace and baubles would be considered edgy, not passé. And it worked. So now they’re branching out into their desired arena: actual clothes/accessories. Purses, workout wear... this is their next move.

And who knows; maybe that’ll work too. But honestly probably not if they keep charging hundreds for flashy, youth-friendly designs. Just ask Betsey Johnson and the Juicy Couture girls. You can’t market exclusively to young people and then charge prices they cannot possibly afford. Like I’m honestly a little surprised I’m seeing them go down the same road. It’s bankrupted better people.
 
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I just discovered West Covina hip hop. These kids are BEASTS. If you want to see some classic, gender-neutral, non-sexualized hip hop, here it is. Doubly recommended if you’re an ageing millennial like myself. You will rock out. Their coach clearly grew up with early aughts pop and I love it.

And on a more personal note, it actually warmed my heart a bit to hear Kids Today react so positively to 2001-era Diddy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SORI5trCTOI
 
What in the fresh hell?

I was personally victimized by THE hats in football/cowboys cheer theme.

This is beyond.

I could MAYBE see it for Tiny or Minis.

Not a Worlds team.

If I had to have a Dora theme in HS or MS, I would have quit.

I just do NOT understand it. There is no need for it!
 
I just do NOT understand it. There is no need for it!

It’s a real misfire for a Worlds team. Younger teams maybe, but even then it still doesn’t make any sense. It has nothing to do with cheer.

I like a good theme, but there’s definitely an art to picking one. You can’t just grab any random idea out of the ether and call it a day. A good theme should tie back into a program’s identity and ideally work on two levels. Or if that isn’t an option, it should at least somehow complement the sport of cheer.

For a team like Diamonds, it’s a little more difficult because their team name is already a theme so they’ve pretty much cemented themselves into it forever. They could maybe broaden it to jewelry/gemstones/treasure, but they’re stuck with diamond-something from now on. Nothing else would make sense for them. As we’ve seen today.
 
It’s a real misfire for a Worlds team. Younger teams maybe, but even then it still doesn’t make any sense. It has nothing to do with cheer.

I like a good theme, but there’s definitely an art to picking one. You can’t just grab any random idea out of the ether and call it a day. A good theme should tie back into a program’s identity and ideally work on two levels. Or if that isn’t an option, it should at least somehow complement the sport of cheer.

For a team like Diamonds, it’s a little more difficult because their team name is already a theme so they’ve pretty much cemented themselves into it forever. They could maybe broaden it to jewelry/gemstones/treasure, but they’re stuck with diamond-something from now on. Nothing else would make sense for them. As we’ve seen today.
I love the overall theme of their gym; especially their one team, Adam & Eve, I crack up every time I hear it because it's such a Christian gym and nothing gets more Christian other than the story of Adam & Eve. it's overall a funny name but I love it so much haha! I liked it when Lady Eve had an apple as a prop. I just don't get how they get a Dora theme out of the blue especially level 6? What's the story behind that????
 
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