They might be rich, famous and some of the biggest names in Hollywood, television, and politics, but celebrities were also once just high school students with a dream to conquer the entertainment world and beyond.
Nowadays they sport designer clothing, perfect manes, and have the best makeup artists on speed dial, but back when they were teenagers, some of the world’s most famous stars owned dodgy haircuts, as well as a questionable fashion sense – and there’s photos to prove it.
Thanks to yearbook photos, fans have the chance to see what their favorite stars looked like before they hit the big time.
And they may be shocked to know that many of them were involved in the sports teams – but not necessarily as players – but as cheerleaders instead.
There’s plenty of black and white throwback snaps which show A-listers posing with their pom poms, and one particular Oscar winner is even doing the splits.
While one Hollywood actress admitted that she had ‘no idea’ what she was cheering for as a teen, another movie star was able to still demonstrate her ‘moves’ as an adult.
Here, FEMAIL looks back at the mega famous celebrities who were once cheerleaders supporting their peers at high school games, but can you guess who they are?
Two-time Oscar winner and much-loved Hollywood star who grew up in Katy, Texas
This well-known Hollywood actress is pictured (center) with her fellow cheerleaders at Katy High School in Texas
It’s no secret that this future actress was active in athletics while at school and certainly appeared happy to be taking part
This well-known Hollywood actress was born in Katy Texas in April 1969 to her parents Kjellfrid and Emil.
She attended Katy High School, where she was a cheerleader and active in athletics, which is evident in this sweet group photo.
Dressed in a white sweater adorned with a K, matching pleated skirt and knee high socks, this future star looks delighted to be huddled up with her fellow team mates.
In another shot, she can be seen running along the pitch clutching her huge red and white pom poms, with a huge grin on her face.
It’s been said that as a pupil, she was known for being kind and was popular with both teachers and students – and was even declared Dream Date in her senior year by her male peers.
It’s the one and only Renee Zellweger, who is best known for playing Bridget Jones, a role which she recently resumed for the fourth instalment of the much-loved movie franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Back in 2016, former classmate Edward Ortega told DailyMail.com: ‘She was voted in because she was such a kind and friendly person. She was obviously an attractive young lady.
‘But she didn’t have a bad reputation at all of the stereotypical cheerleader – wasn’t just a bubble head. She was an intellect,’ he added.
Renee Zellweger, pictured here in September, has won two Academy Awards in her time and is also known for the iconic role of Bridget Jones
Legendary singer and mother-of-six who was a straight-A student as well as a cheeky cheerleader
This superstar singer attended Rochester Adams High School and is pictured here in her Freshman year in 1973
The future pop icon (top row on the right) became a straight-A student as well as a member of the cheerleading squad
It’s been said that this superstar was known for her high grade point average (GPA) and achieved notoriety for her unconventional behavior while at school.
Born in Bay City, Michigan in August 1958, she attended St. Frederick’s and St. Andrew’s Catholic Elementary Schools, and West Middle School, before heading to Rochester Adams High School.
Here, she became a straight-A student as well as a member of its cheerleading squad, but she has since said that she was a geek in high school and didn’t feel cool or like she fit in.
In the black and white photos, taken in 1973 and 1974, she appears carefree dressed in a checked school dress and also her cheerleading attire – as she poses with her friends.
It’s none other than Madonna, who is otherwise known as the Queen of Pop, who is also a songwriter, record producer, and an actress.
After graduating from high school in January 1976, Madge received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan and studied over the summer at the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina.
Speaking about her teenage years, Madonna told Rolling Stone magazine: ‘Growing up, I didn’t feel cool, I didn’t fit into any crowd.
‘”Geek” is not a word anyone uses to describe me, though, except perhaps Stuart Price (record producer) who once said, “You know, you’re a nerd at heart, nobody knows it.”
‘I took it as a compliment. I’m silly and geeky and nerdy and not cool,’ the mother-of-six added.
Madonna, who is also known as the Queen of Pop, has claimed she didn’t feel ‘cool’ when she was at school
Oscar winning actress who thrived at school as a cheerleader, prom queen and editor of the newspaper
This sweet cheerleader and future Oscar winner is pictured in eighth grade at high school in 1980
This stunning movie star was born in Cleveland Ohio in August 1966 to parents Judith and Jerome.
The future Oscar winner grew up in Oakwood, Ohio, and graduated from Bedford High School, where she was a cheerleader, honor student, editor of the school newspaper, and even prom queen.
Despite looking happy in her cheerleading snaps, in which she is doing the splits while holding her pom poms in the air, this youngster was bullied at school.
Speaking about her younger years, this actress has said that she was picked on as a child because of her biracial background – being called names such as ‘Oreo’ and finding herself the target of jokes.
She has also said she felt ‘less than’ and tried to prove herself by being the best at everything.
It’s Catwoman and X-Men star Halle Berry, who was the first woman on color to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 2001 film Monster’s Ball.
In a 2017 interview with People, Halle spoke about the bullying she experienced when her mother moved her and her sister to an all-white school.
‘Because my mother was white and my father was black… we got called Oreos and names, and kids just didn’t understand, so we were different. We were the brunt of a lot of jokes,’ she recalled.
‘So, I think my need to please and my desire to achieve was because I was constantly trying to prove that I was as good as the other white students. I felt very “less than,” and I thought, “If I can beat them at everything, then I can be as good as them.”‘
Halle Berry, pictured here September 2024, was the first woman on color to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002
This cheerleader has starred in huge blockbusters and was once named the world’s highest-paid actress
This future actress is pictured here in her junior year at Washington-Lee High School in Virginia in 1981
This Hollywood star was born in July 1964 in Arlington County, Virginia, but during her childhood she lived in Nuremberg, West Germany, and Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.
When she and her family moved back to the US, she attended Washington-Lee High School, where she was a cheerleader and performed in school theater productions.
During a 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, this actress opened up about her time as a cheerleader and said: ‘I had no idea what I was cheering about, I was not well-versed in basketball terminology.
‘But I had spirit and I was the good bottom, the pyramid, the solid of the solid. I was a good member to be on the bottom,’ she laughed.
‘I took my cues and I obeyed and I was excited about what was happening,’ this brunette actress added.
It’s the one and only Sandra Bullock, star of movies including Speed, Miss Congeniality, Ocean’s 8, and Bird Box.
The 60-year-old has has received several accolades during her career, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
Mother-of-two Sandra was the world’s highest-paid actress in 2010 and 2014, and was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2010.
Sandra Bullock, pictured here in March 2022, said she had ‘no idea’ what she was cheering about when she was a cheerleader in high school
Very well-known politician who was head cheerleader during his senior year at boarding school
This future politician is pictured in his senior year at boarding school Phillips Academy in 1964
The well-known figure (left) played baseball and was the head cheerleader during his senior year
This future politician looks almost unrecognizable in this black and white snap from his days at boarding school Phillips Academy.
Born in July 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut, into a very well-known family, he attended public schools in Midland, Texas, until moving to Houston after he had completed seventh grade.
He then spent two years at The Kinkaid School, a college-preparatory school in Piney Point Village, Texas and later attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
Here, he played baseball and was the head cheerleader during his senior year.
He then went on to attend Yale University from 1964 to 1968, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
During this time, he was also a cheerleader and a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon, serving as the president of the fraternity during his senior year.
It’s former President of the United States, George W. Bush, who was in office from January 20, 2001 until January 20, 2009.
Bush married his wife Laura in 1977 and the couple share twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna Bush Hager, who is best known for hosting Today with Hoda & Jenna alongside Hoda Kotb.
George W. Bush was the 43rd President of the United States and was in office from January 2001 until January 2009
Hollywood icon who has starred in over 90 films came from humble beginnings at a high school in New Jersey
This Oscar-winning actress (center) is seen here in her senior year at Edison Township High School in 1964
This New York City native was born in Queens in October 1946 and has dated the likes of David Bowie and Sean Penn in her time.
Before finding fame as an actress, she attended Edison High School, a public school located in Edison Township in New Jersey.
In 1962, while still in high school, she joined a band and dance group to entertain sick children at a nearby rehabilitation hospital, and as a high school junior, she performed the lead in the play Lady Precious Stream.
She also joined the cheerleading squad and is seen in a black and white photo with her friends in matching dresses and white blouses as they pose with their hands on their hips.
It’s the one and only Susan Sarandon, who has starred in over 90 films throughout her career and recently reflected on being dropped by her agent.
Not much is known about the 78-year-old’s school years, but she graduated from Edison High School in 1964.
She went on to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. from 1964 until 1968, earning a Bachelor of Arts in drama.
Susan is the recipient of an Academy Award and has starred in many popular films, including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Thelma & Louise, and Dead Man Walking.
Not much is known about Susan Sarandon’s school years but she graduated in 1964. She is pictured here in July
Hollywood sex symbol who attended high school with Snoop Dogg and started modeling at the age of 16
This blonde teen is pictured here in her sophomore year in 1988 at Long Beach Polytechnic High School
This blonde actress signed a modeling contract with Elite Model Management at the age 16 while she was still a student.
She was raised in Long Beach and attended Los Cerritos Elementary School, and then Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where she was a schoolmate of Snoop Dogg’s.
In the throwback snap of her posing candidly alongside her peers in her white, yellow and green cheerleading attire, it’s not hard to see why she ended up being a model as well as a Hollywood sex symbol.
However, despite making it onto the squad, this pretty teen didn’t escape being taunted and was even nicknamed ‘Skeletor’ because of her slender frame.
It’s There’s Something About Mary actress Cameron Diaz, who found fame in Hollywood with her very first role in the 1994 Jim Carrey film The Mask.
Not much is known about Cameron’s days as a cheerleader, but she has admitted that she once purchased marijuana from Snoop when they were at school together.
Known for her work in both comedy and drama, her films have grossed over $3 billion in the US box office.
Cameron, 52, has proved to be one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, and in 2013 she was named the highest-paid actress over 40.
Following a lengthy hiatus from movies, Cameron will star in the upcoming Back In Action alongside Jamie Foxx, and has also reprised her role as Princess Fiona for Shrek 5 – which is currently in production and slated for a 2026 release.
Cameron Diaz, pictured here in October 2024, achieved Hollywood sex symbol status after starring in 1994 movie The Mask
This actress was the top of her cheerleading squad’s pyramid at Nashville’s all-girls’ Harpeth Hall School
This actress was the top of her cheerleading squad’s pyramid at Nashville’s all-girls’ Harpeth Hall School in 1988
Another well known movie and television star who tried her hand at cheerleading has been described as a ‘multi-achiever’ when she was at school.
Born in New Orleans in March 1976, she attended middle school at Harding Academy – which is where she found herself at the top of the cheerleading squad’s pyramid.
In the sweet black and white photo, the star in question is all smiles as she stands tall with her classmates.
She went on to graduate from the all-girls’ Harpeth Hall School in Nashville and later attended Stanford University as an English literature major, but left prior to completing her studies to pursue an acting career.
It’s the one and only Reese Witherspoon, who is best known for starring in films such as Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde, and more recently TV shows Big Little Lies and The Morning Show.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Reese once did an impression of her cheerleading days.
‘You sit at the edge of the mat in your costume and then you do mat cheers and you cheer on the guys doing the wrestling moves!’ she explained as Jimmy asked: ‘What you just yell at them?’
‘No, you do cheers like this,’ Reese replied, before slapping her hands on he thighs and shouting the word ‘switch’ several times.
Reese Witherspoon, pictured here in November, once did an impression of her cheerleading days on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
New Jersey born star who was chosen to be homecoming queen in her senior year
This famous actress is pictured here in 1967 in her junior year at Bernards High School
This well-known actress, who is now 75-years-old, was described in her yearbook as a ‘pretty, blonde, vivacious cheerleader.’
Born in Summit, New Jersey, in June 1949, she attended Bernards High School after her family moved to Bernardsville.
This particular star appeared in numerous school plays during her high school years, and was also named homecoming queen in her senior.
It’s the one and only Meryl Streep, who has been in over 66 movies including The Devil Wears Prada, The Iron Lady, and the Mamma Mia! films.
Following her cheerleading days, Meryl went to Vassar College, and after sleeping through her L.S.A.T., decided to ditch law school for Yale Drama School.
She made her film debut with a brief role alongside Jane Fonda in the 1977 film Julia, and has gone on to win various accolades throughout her career, including two Oscars and two BAFTAs.
More recently, she has starred in popular television series Big Little Lies and Only Murders in the Building.
Meryl Streep, pictured here in November, has won several accolades throughout her career and starred in over 60 movies
Marvel movie star who used to be a male cheerleader at his Kansas high school in the eighties
This Marvel movie star (top left) is pictured here in 1987 during his time at Shawnee Mission West High School in Kansas
This Marvel movie star is seen sitting on a fellow male cheerleader’s shoulders as they pose for a pic in 1987.
This actor was born in New Jersey in April 1969, but he was ten when his family moved to Kansas, which meant he attended Shawnee Mission West High School.
He went on to attend the University of Kansas, where he majored in theater and belonged to the Sigma Nu fraternity’s Nu Chapter.
He his acting debut in 1991 when he starred in a Super Nintendo commercial, and in 1992, he starred in the television drama Sisters as Kirby Quimby Philby.
It’s none other than Paul Rudd, the star of huge blockbuster movies such as Clueless, Anchorman, and Ant-Man.
Not much is known about Paul’s cheerleading days, but he did open up about his high school many years ago while promoting Clueless in the nineties.
When asked where he went to school, Paul replied: ‘It’s a suburb above Kansas City and it was definitely different than Beverly Hills.’
He went on to say that his high school had ‘a lot of hicks’ but added: ‘It was fun, I liked being there actually.’
Paul Rudd, pictured here in November, previously said there were ‘a lot of hicks’ at his high school
Paul starred in the popular 1995 film Clueless alongside Alicia Silverstone
Asked about whether or not there was an ‘ethnic mix at his school, Paul said: ‘I’m Jewish and I always felt like I was little bit out of the picture because it wasn’t heavily populated with Jews.’
After his time at university, Paul studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with fellow actor Matthew Lillard.
He also spent three months studying Jacobean drama at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford.
While at acting school, he worked as a DJ at bar mitzvahs and after graduation, he had a variety of odd jobs, including glazing hams at the Holiday Ham Company in Overland Park, Kansas.
