Cheerdancers are a special part of athletic leagues. Proudly clad in their school colors, they stand out with their snappy and awesome acrobatic moves and choreography.
But apart from their skills, their lovely faces and winsome smiles are what crowds love to see and ultimately remember.
Meet these striking beauties that have been recognized as the UAAP Cheerdance Competition Samsung Stunners.
Aya Casim
UP Pep Squad
She’s one of the three nominated Samsung Stunners in this year’s Cheerdance Competition. Cheerleading is among her true loves—she’s absolutely thrilled by it.
A cheerleader at heart, Aya breaks into a smile all the time, on or off the court. “I’m usually the one who cheers people up when they’re down,” she says.
Nicolette Ambulo
UP Pep Squad, 2012 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Samsung Stunner of the Year
It has been a year since she won the first Samsung Stunner title, but she still gets adulation from fans. Nicolette loves the rush that performing before a crowd gives her. She also gets a thrill from boosting the crowd’s energy and team spirit. Cheerleading allows her to use her body as medium to convey a message that only a well-interpreted dance can bring. She says she appreciates cheerdancing “for the chance to wear those sexy yet classy cheerleader uniforms.”
What’s it like to be recognized as a “stunner”?
Nicolette says she’s happy enough to be nominated, and winning the title is even a greater honor. “Plus, I was bald,” she adds, with a laugh. (The UP Pep members shaved their heads for last year’s competition.)
A bald woman is a pretty rare sight, and Nicolette says it gave her a sense of freedom.
Micah Javier
National University Pep Squad
She’s another Samsung stunner nominee from this year’s cheerdance champion. A gymnast, Micah sees cheerleading as the key to unlock many great opportunities for a simple girl like her. Recruited from Palarong Pambansa, Micah was admitted to the National University through her gymnastics and cheerleading skills.
Since gymnastics is a lonesome sport, Micah admits that she prefers cheerleading now because her team is like family to her. Even when things go haywire, she knows she is never alone.
Ana de Leon
De La Salle Pep Squad, 2013 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Samsung Stunner of the Year
What Ana loves most about cheerleading is that she needs to be exactly what it stands for: the leader of the crowd.
Cheering for the team and pumping up the crowd’s adrenalin is not easy. It calls for patience, determination and dedication.
Cheerleading taught Ana to be tough even when quitting seems to be the only option. “When I want to achieve something, I have to work hard for it and never give up,” she says.
What makes her a true cheerleader is the passion she has for the task. To each routine, Ana gives 100 percent effort, as if everything is on the line. After all, months of hard work and preparation all boil down to those precious and crucial five minutes on the mats, which could help win a game.