15 Iconic Fictional Cheerleaders From Film And TV
Pom-poms, bright uniforms, and unstoppable confidence have kept fictional cheerleaders front and center in pop culture for decades.
Some lead the squad, others steal scenes as sidekicks, these characters bring spirit, drama, and big personality to every scene, on the field and in the hallways.
Between gravity-defying stunts and unforgettable storylines, they’ve become screen icons whose influence still shows up everywhere.
Note: This article discusses fictional characters and storylines from film and television, and individual interpretations of cultural impact may vary by viewer.
1. Torrance Shipman (Bring It On, 2000)
Leading the Rancho Carne Toros takes more than just pom-poms and perfect splits.
Bringing captain Torrance to life, Kirsten Dunst mixed determination and vulnerability in a way that made audiences root for her squad.
Discovering her team’s championship routines were stolen presented a moral dilemma, forcing her to choose between winning and doing what’s right.
Capturing the pressure of high school competition perfectly is her rise from nervous new captain into a confident leader. Launching a cheerleading movie phenomenon that still resonates with fans today was this role.
2. Isis (Bring It On, 2000)
Gabrielle Union commanded every scene as the fierce captain of the East Compton Clovers. Her character exposed the uncomfortable truth about cultural appropriation in competitive cheerleading with style and grace.
Watching Isis stand up to the Toros became an empowering moment that elevated the entire film.
Union’s portrayal balanced strength with authenticity, showing that true talent doesn’t need to be stolen. The Clovers’ final performance remains one of cinema’s most electrifying cheerleading sequences, proving originality always wins.
3. Missy Pantone (Bring It On, 2000)
Shaking up the traditional cheerleading mold from day one was Eliza Dushku’s rebel-with-a-cause character. Transferring from Los Angeles, Missy brought an edgy attitude and gymnastic skills that challenged the Toros’ cookie-cutter image.
Providing the perfect contrast to the perky squad culture were her punk rock aesthetic and no-nonsense personality. Willingness to speak truth to power made Missy the conscience of the team during their ethical crisis.
Sometimes the best team players are the ones who dare to question the rules.
4. Darcy Sears (Varsity Blues, 1999)
Ali Larter created an unforgettable moment in cinema history with her a widely discussed, provocative scene.
Beyond that iconic image, Darcy represented the complicated reality of being a high school cheerleader dating the star quarterback. Her character navigated the pressures of small-town Texas football culture with a mix of confidence and vulnerability.
Larter brought depth to what could have been a one-dimensional role, showing the emotional toll of living in the Friday night lights spotlight. Darcy remains a quintessential representation of 1990s teen movie cheerleaders.
5. Diane Weston (Sugar & Spice, 2001)
What happens when the perfect cheerleader captain faces an unexpected pregnancy and financial crisis?
Marley Shelton’s Diane decided bank robbery was the logical solution, naturally. This darkly comedic character took the good-girl-gone-bad trope to hilarious extremes, orchestrating heists while maintaining her squad’s championship ambitions.
Diane’s transformation from innocent sweetheart to criminal mastermind provided satirical commentary on teenage desperation and social pressure.
The film may be lesser-known, but Diane’s audacious choice makes her unforgettable among cheerleader characters.
6. Lyla Garrity (Friday Night Lights, 2006-2011)
Portraying the quintessential Texas cheerleader whose life revolved around football was Minka Kelly, until everything changed.
Lyla’s character arc took her from stereotypical popular girl to someone searching for deeper meaning beyond the bleachers. Adding layers rarely seen in cheerleader portrayals on television were her complicated relationships and faith journey.
Watching Lyla evolve through much of the series demonstrated that people contain multitudes beyond their high school labels. Friday Night Lights gave her the space to become fully human, flaws and all.
7. Quinn Fabray (Glee, 2009-2015)
Dianna Agron’s Quinn started as the classic mean girl cheerleader before becoming one of Glee’s most complex characters.
Her pregnancy storyline shattered the perfect image she’d carefully constructed, forcing vulnerability into her formerly icy persona.
As head cheerleader under Sue Sylvester’s terrifying reign, Quinn navigated impossible social hierarchies while dealing with very real teenage problems. Her redemption arc throughout the series proved that people deserve second chances and room to grow.
Quinn’s journey resonated with anyone who’s ever felt trapped by others’ expectations.
8. Santana Lopez (Glee, 2009-2015)
One of television’s most important LGBTQ+ coming-out stories came from Naya Rivera’s powerhouse portrayal of Santana Lopez. Behind her sharp-tongued cheerleader exterior lived a girl struggling with identity and acceptance in small-town Ohio.
Her vocal talent matched her dancing skills, making every Cheerios performance electric. Santana’s evolution from antagonist to beloved character demonstrated the courage required to live authentically.
Rivera’s own tragic passing in 2020 makes her performance, and the groundbreaking character she helped create, an even more poignant and celebrated legacy for fans worldwide.
9. Brittany S. Pierce (Glee, 2009-2015)
Heather Morris brought incredible dance talent and comedic timing to Glee’s lovably airheaded cheerleader.
Brittany’s hilariously nonsensical comments provided comic relief while her relationship with Santana added emotional depth to both characters. Despite playing someone not academically gifted, Morris ensured Brittany never became just a punchline or stereotype.
Her phenomenal dancing made every Cheerios routine visually stunning and proved that intelligence comes in many forms. Brittany taught viewers that being different doesn’t mean being less valuable or worthy of love.
10. Claire Bennet (Heroes, 2006-2010)
A cultural phenomenon emerged from the phrase “Save the cheerleader, save the world,” thanks to Hayden Panettiere’s indestructible character.
Claire’s regenerative abilities made her both invulnerable and incredibly vulnerable as she navigated superhero life while trying to maintain normalcy. Representing the ordinary life she desperately wanted despite her extraordinary powers was her cheerleading.
Creating a unique character that transcended typical genre boundaries was this contrast between pom-poms and superpowers. Claire proved that heroism looks different on everyone, even someone in a cheer uniform.
11. Cordelia Chase (Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel, 1997-2004)
Charisma Carpenter transformed Cordelia from a shallow cheerleader stereotype into one of the Buffyverse’s most beloved characters.
She started as Sunnydale High’s queen bee, and her arc across Buffy and Angel, ending with a final guest appearance in 2004 demonstrated remarkable character growth. Cordelia’s brutal honesty and designer wardrobe initially masked a kind heart that gradually emerged through supernatural battles.
Her evolution from self-centered cheerleader to selfless champion proved that people can change while staying true to their core personality. Cordelia’s wit remained sharp even as her compassion deepened beautifully.
12. Brooke Davis (One Tree Hill, 2003-2012)
Sophia Bush’s Brooke started as the party-girl cheerleader but became Tree Hill’s heart and soul over nine seasons.
Her transformation from insecure teenager seeking validation through popularity to successful fashion designer and devoted friend remains inspiring.
Cheerleading was just one facet of Brooke’s multidimensional personality that included business savvy and fierce loyalty.
Bush brought vulnerability and strength to a character who could have easily remained one-note throughout the series. Brooke proved that beneath the cheerleader exterior often beats the heart of an entrepreneur.
13. Betty Cooper (Riverdale, 2017-2023)
Modern audiences saw the classic Archie Comics character reimagined as a dark, complex cheerleader-detective hybrid by Lili Reinhart.
That blonde ponytail and River Vixens uniform concealed a brilliant mind constantly solving Riverdale’s endless mysteries.
Providing normalcy amidst dangerous villains, secret groups, and supernatural chaos was the cheerleading that defined the show’s wild storylines.
Reinhart balanced Betty’s girl-next-door sweetness with a darker edge that made the character fascinatingly unpredictable. Sometimes the most dangerous person in town is the one everyone underestimates.
14. Cheryl Blossom (Riverdale, 2017-2023)
Madelaine Petsch created television’s most dramatically intense cheerleader captain in Riverdale’s crimson-clad queen bee.
Cheryl’s razor-sharp insults and theatrical delivery made every River Vixens practice feel like a performance worthy of Broadway.
Beneath her mean-girl facade lay deep trauma and surprising vulnerability that Petsch portrayed with nuance and commitment. Her character’s gothic aesthetic and unapologetic confidence made Cheryl a fan favorite despite her often harsh choices.
Riverdale wouldn’t be the same without her iconic red outfit and even more iconic one-liners.
15. Lana Lang (Smallville, 2001-2011)
Warmth and grace were brought to Clark Kent’s first love by Kristin Kreuk, a character who balanced cheerleading with running the Talon coffeehouse.
Lana represented the normal life Clark desperately wanted before fully embracing his Superman destiny. Her cheerleading at Smallville High symbolized the All-American girl who somehow always found herself caught in supernatural danger.
Evolving from sweet cheerleader to capable woman forging her own heroic path, Lana grew throughout the series.
Sometimes being Superman’s girlfriend is just as complicated as having superpowers yourself.
