The Cheerleaders Who Became Famous – From Pom Poms To Oscars

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler might be one of the funniest comediennes and actresses around today, but her talent for making people laugh is matched by her ability to get people motivated. She was a Burlington High School cheerleader, back in her Massachusetts hometown. When Amy noticed that she was making people laugh far harder off the field than she was getting them to cheer on it, she decided that she might be better suited for the comedy world.

Danielle Brooks

While Danielle Brooks is better known for heading the Orange Is the New Black cast, she enjoyed a far milder role during her time on her high school cheer team. She would not spend much time on the side, however, given how uncomfortable the skimpy outfits made Brooks feel. Her blog has a post detailing this experience: "Never try to quit anything again only because you are scared of what other people might think of you – unless you become a great exotic dancer, the only exception. But even then, only quit because you want to."