Well when you think of the Dallas Cowboys (Or whoever football team) they have their specific look. They have their blue and silver colors, they have their Dallas cowboy star and stripes on their sleeves, their stripe down the center of their helmet that ties it all in. They have special jerseys for different occasions. Every team could easily pick 1 color and they can all go out with solid color jerseys and a plain helmet and the purpose of the jersey and helmet wouldn't change. I'm sure if that was the way things where in football, cowboys wouldn't suck any less than they already do (oops). Our hair, makeup and uniforms are apart of each teams identity, it makes us all identify better as one whole team, It gives us confidence and a signature look, its part of the branding and image of a gym. I'm sure if Top Gun Large Coed went out with the same exact skills and routine but with the look I described, they STILL would have won worlds! Its an honor to so many athletes to wear their silver and blue star, or their yellow and black claw.
But that's not the point I'm trying to make. I know that sparkles and curls do nothing for our skills and score sheet, but cheer isn't just about skills and the score sheet, it is so much more. So why are we, people who are in the cheer world who know its that much more, putting so much emphasis on our looks when that not what we want other to think about? The point is right now where the cheer world is, the big glam look IS what people identify us as because that is what we wear regardless of the legitimate purpose. Why is that a bad thing? Why do we put so much focus on it?