Allie Jones took a look at competitive cheerleading:

• Cheerleading is more than just the dancers we see performing at the sidelines of sporting events. The best cheerleaders compete in feats of gymnastic excellence mixed with high intensity dance routines.
• The most famous are “flyers” – those who are do flips and are thrown in the air.
• The “bases” and “back spots” on the other hand get very little attention since their faces aren’t that visible.
• The best get their own cosmetic and clothing lines.
• It requires money to be one of the top contenders. The uniforms, the training, and the travel to competition locations can cost up to $10,000 a year.
• It’s mostly high school and college aged girls who perform in the competitions and the sport can bring unwanted scrutiny of their personal lives.

Read more about some of the most famous cheerleaders, what the job entails, and more over here.

Source: The Wire