These Famous Celebrities Used To Be Cheerleaders In School

#30. Cameron Diaz

OK, this one doesn't come as much of a surprise, as Cameron Diaz always had the typical cheerleader look. She used to be a popular girl in high school and adored cheerleading.

This got her the attention of a modeling scout, who hired her at just 16 years old. Another fun fact about Diaz is that she attended high school with rapper Snoop Dogg and the two were actually friends.

#29. Diane Sawyer

Diane Sawyer is best known as one of the most famous journalists America has ever seen. She was the first female correspondent on 60 Minutes and was even a staff member for President Richard Nixon.

But way before she got into politics and journalist, Sawyer was a cheerleader at Seneca High School in Kentucky. She was also the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.

#28. Olivia Munn

Before becoming an actress, Olivia Munn had a very interesting childhood. Born in Oklahoma, she moved with her family to Tokyo, where her stepfather was stationed.

Her mother and stepfather broke up when she was 16, and she and her mother moved back to America. Once she was back home, she became a cheerleader and absolutely loved it.

#27. Ciara

Ciara grew up as an army brat, moving from place to place. She lived in Germany, Utah, Arizona, New York, and Nevada.

Once she became a teenager, her family finally settled in Atlanta, Georgia, and she joined the cheerleading squad at her school. She was even the captain at one point, but had to quit because her music career was starting to take off.

#26. Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst started acting when she was only seven years old, and it didn't take her long to get big parts in movies. One of the most famous movies she was in as a teenager was Bring It On.

In the movie, she famously played the captain of a cheerleading squad. Her real-life experience probably helped her with the role, as she was also a cheerleader in high school.

#25. George W. Bush

Way before he got into politics and became President of the United States, George W. Bush was the head cheerleader at his school in Massachusetts.

He was not only a cheerleader, but was also part of the baseball team. He was also a cheerleader in college while attending Yale.

#24. Eva Longoria

Before becoming the super successful actress she is today, Eva Longoria had many different jobs. She worked at Wendy's, worked as a kinesiologist, and also participated in beauty pageants.

But, even before all of that, she was a cheerleader at Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she grew up. Cheerleading helped her gain confidence and made her realize she wanted to be in the spotlight.

#23. Kathie Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford started her career in the 1970s making TV appearances and working as an NBC News correspondent. Nowadays, she is best known as the co-host of the Today Show.

When she was a teenager, she loved cheerleading and participating in beauty pageants. She actually won Maryland's Junior Miss Pageant in 1970!

#22. Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is arguably the greatest actress of her generation. She has appeared in countless movies and has received a record 21 Academy Award nominations and won 3.

She was also nominated for 33 Golden Globes and won 9. But before her impressive acting career began, Meryl was a cheerleader at Bernards High School in New Jersey.

#21. Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock is one of the biggest stars on the planet. A recipient of both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood for several years.

Bullock spent most of her childhood in Germany before her family moved back to Arlington, Virginia, where she was born. There, she attended Washington-Lee High School and was both a cheerleader and a member of the drama club.

#20. Steve Martin

Steve Martin is not only known for being one of the most famous comedians in America, but also for his fabulous silver hair. However, there was a time when he had a full head of brown hair and was a popular cheerleader.

Martin grew up in Garden Grove, California, and attended Garden Grove High School, where he enjoyed being a part of the cheerleading team. He also enjoyed doing magic and eventually worked as a magician and illusionist at Disneyland.

#19. Denise Richards

Denise Richards rose to fame as a 1990s sex symbol. Her big break came with Starship Troopers and she appeared in numerous projects during the decade.

Before she became a model and an actress, Richards was a tomboy and was the only girl on the baseball team at school. In high school, she changed her image and became a cheerleader, which got the attention of a modeling agent.

#18. Kelly Ripa

Kelly Ripa started out as a dancer in the 1980s, but her real goal was to become a newscaster. She then became an actress and rose to fame thanks to the soap opera All My Children.

In high school, Ripa was a cheerleader and had a passion for it. She was also in the drama club, and her drama teacher encouraged her to pursue a career in acting.

#17. Halle Berry

Halle Berry is a woman of many talents, on top of being absolutely gorgeous. Before she became the super famous actress she is today, she did beauty pageants and was first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant.

In high school, she literally did it all. She was a cheerleader, the editor of the school newspaper, an honor student, and even prom queen, all while maintaining her perfect grades. She was destined for greatness!

#16. Jenna Dewan

The beautiful Jenna Dewan began her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson and several other artists. Her life changed forever in 2006 when she starred in Step Up, which helped her rise to fame. She also met her ex-husband, Channing Tatum, on set.

Given that she was an excellent dancer, cheerleading was a piece of cake for her. In high school, she shone as the lead cheerleader. She also played a cheerleader in the TV film Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal.

#15. Lindsay Lohan

Before she got into trouble with the law and became a controversial figure, Lindsay Lohan was a child star. She appeared in several Disney movies and had to grow up in the spotlight.

This did not make it easy for her at school. She was a cheerleader for a few years before she had to be homeschooled due to her celebrity status and busy schedule.

#14. Sally Field

Sally Field is one of the greatest actresses Hollywood has ever seen, with two Academy Awards under her belt and several other accolades. She has appeared in countless movies and TV shows throughout her career.

Before she discovered her passion for acting, she was a teenager growing up in Van Nuys, California. She was part of the cheerleading squad at Birmingham Hgh School.

#13. Fergie

Fergie rose to fame as the only female member of the Black Eyed Peas and later launched her solo career in music. Before all of that happened, she was known as Stacy Ann Ferguson.

Stacy was one of the most popular girls in school thanks to her talents and looks. She was both a cheerleader and a straight-A student at Glen A. Wilson High School in Los Angeles, California.

#12. Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. She has received two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes, and has appeared in numerous films that show her versatility as an actress.

Growing up in Katy, Texas, Renée was not only a cheerleader, but also a gymnast and a debate team member. She also played football, baseball, and basketball.

#11. Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore rose to fame as a singer thanks to her debut single Candy and later pursued an acting career. She is currently on the TV series This Is Us.

Before she played the mean cheerleader in The Princess Diaries, Moore was a cheerleader in real life, all through primary school and high school.

#10. Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus always knew she wanted to be a star. As the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, she grew up listening to music and getting comfortable in the spotlight.

Not only did she pursue a career in music and acting since a young age, but she also enjoyed being a cheerleader for her school's soccer team in Tennessee.

#9. Blake Lively

Blake Lively caught the acting bug early in life when her parents took her to the acting classes they taught just so they wouldn't leave her with a babysitter. She appeared in her first movie when she was 18 years old.

Before she rose to fame as Serena Van Der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, Lively was a cheerleader, class president, and member of the championship choir at school.

#8. Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler is known for her talents as a comedian and actress, but she happens to have many other hidden talents.

Before she got into comedy, Amy loved performing in school plays and was a part of the cheerleading squad, the student council, and the soccer and softball teams. She later studied media and communications before pursuing a career as a comedian.

#7. Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks is best known for her role of Taystee in Orange Is the New Black. She has also been an advocate for body positivity and a confidence icon for many women.

Sadly, she wasn't so confident in high school. She used to be a cheerleader and had lots of fun doing it, but showing her body in her cheerleading outfit made her feel insecure. In a blog post, she wrote: “Never quit anything again because you’re scared of what others might think of you".

#6. Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd is one of the most beloved actors in the business. He has done it all, from being a teenage heartthrob in Clueless to becoming a Marvel superhero in Ant-man.

Back in high school, Rudd was super busy. He was a cheerleader, a member of the student body, and was known for his talent in gymnastics.

#5. Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon has become one of the highest-paid actresses in the world and has received multiple awards for her numerous movies. She started working as a model when she was just seven years old.

Even though she was doing some modeling jobs here and there, she still found time to be a straight-A student and a cheerleader in school. She was also a bookworm and spent most of her free time reading.

#4. Alicia Silverstone

Those who remember Alicia Silverstone as the iconic Cher in Clueless won't find this very surprising, as she definitely fits the stereotypical cheerleader look, but yes, Silverstone was a cheerleader in high school.

While attending high school, she worked as a model and appeared in several commercials for different brands such as Domino's Pizza. Her first acting role came in 1992 when she was 16.

#3. Brooke Shields

Even though Brooke Shields is still very famous nowadays, she was a huge star during her childhood. She skyrocketed to fame when she was just 12 years old after playing a controversial role in Woody Allen's Pretty Baby.

She had her first modeling job when she was still a baby and stayed busy throughout her whole childhood. Even though she worked hard, she still found time to get good grades at school and be a cheerleader, as well as taking horseback riding and piano lessons.

#2. Jennifer Lawrence

Even though we now know Jennifer Lawrence for being an accomplished actress and model, she once was known as a tomboy by her classmates.

She grew up with two older brothers and was always playing sports with them. She played basketball, hockey, softball, and was also a cheerleader. On top of that, she did horseback riding and was part of the drama club.

#1. Megan Fox

The beautiful Megan Fox started acting at just 15 years old, but it wasn't until she starred in Transformers that she really became a superstar.

She appeared in a number of TV shows and movies while she was still very young, and started training in theater and dance when she was a child. At school, she was a cheerleader, but didn't have many friends and hated going to school.