​In real life, cheerleaders are usually well-liked, outgoing and popular. Because of that, it’s no surprise that cheerleaders are popular in movies and television shows. Of course, their characteristics are often exaggerated to make stories more entertaining and memorable.

Here are a few cheerleaders we can't forget!

SNL's Spartan Cheerleaders
Saturday Night Live’s Spartan Cheerleaders are unforgettable and constantly imitated. With the “perfect cheer,” how could they be cast aside? Will Ferrell, who plays Craig, brings an innocent, endearing enthusiasm while Cheri Oteri’s Arianna is definitely a wanna-be alpha cheerleader.


"Bring It On" Cheerleaders
This movie was a huge hit in the world of cheerleading and beyond. Cheer squads around the nation gathered at their local theaters to watch the Toros take on the Clovers. It was the first time competitive cheerleading was highlighted in a full-length cinematic feature, and people flocked to see its sensational acrobatics and over-the-top characters. Though many of them tended to portray stereotypes, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for the world of competitive cheering—it actually made the sport more well known. 

Sandy from "Grease"
This character has stood the test of time. She's pretty, pure, and fulfills the "girl next door" archetype. Although her positive attitude shows she has the heart of a cheerleader, she probably needs to work on her skills just a bit more! Regardless, she's a great example of a girl who wants to cheer her team to victory and bring spirit to her school. The world would be a better place with more people like Sandy.

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Lyla Garrity from "Friday Night Lights"
Lyla, played by Minka Kelly, is portrayed as the All-American golden girl from Texas. Unsurprisingly, that also makes her the star quarterback’s girlfriend. She played this beautiful, but flawed character for three seasons before pursuing other acting opportunities.

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Quinn, Brittany, Santana and Coach Sue Sylvester from "Glee"
Glee’s “Cheerios” were definitely favorites on the popular, musical FOX network show. Quinn, Brittany, Santana and their nightmare coach, Sue Sylvester, had TV watchers glued to their televisions from 2009-2015. They actively competed, hired choreographers, dealt with team members with personal drama, and had the cheer coach everyone prays they never have! They definitely entertained viewers with their much-adored choreography.


Claire Bennet from "Heroes"
The popular NBC series featured Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with regenerative healing powers. As a result, she became a regular on the sci-fi convention circuit and was invited to attend them around the world in 2007. 

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Kim Possible
In addition to being head cheerleader at her school and a straight-A student, Kim Possible was a freelance hero/vigilante who set out to do right by those who deserved her help. Her character was popular with kids because although she was an adventurous, teenage female hero for hire, she was also dealing with typical teenage angst. Kim Possible ran from 2002-2007 on the Disney Channel.