All-Star Varsity Fashionistas

[quitthedrama]

I'm not going to get in to the diversity conversation but the industry as a whole does a horrible job at promoting an athletic image. Rebel has the most pathetic campaigns out there. All I can think of when I see anything they post is a bunch of bimbos wearing clothes from Justice

 

[Cheerfun2]

I'm not going to get in to the diversity conversation but the industry as a whole does a horrible job at promoting an athletic image. Rebel has the most pathetic campaigns out there. All I can think of when I see anything they post is a bunch of bimbos wearing clothes from Justice

Wow. Those are people’s kids you are talking about. People who may be on here.

 

[catlady]

I can understand why leaving kids with unfamiliar Varsity chaperones would make some parents uncomfortable, but I think Varsity is banking on the fact that they’re like THE cheer company to make parents feel better about it. Plus, remember that this is the same company that does the holiday trips wherein they’re responsible for flying hundreds of kids to Europe and back (my sister and I did it in London and Paris). Also, I think this is where hiring cheer-lebrities is valuable for them: “Well if CSP is letting her kid do it...”

But I get why parents aren’t allowed in the photo shoots. It’s why we have closed tryouts. Some kids are self-conscious around their parents. And some parents are completely unmanageable in an environment like that.

My point wasn't really about having a closed shoot, but since you brought it up, the Corp I used to work for allowed parents in a room with a one way mirror to watch. IMO, tryouts with tens and hundreds of kids around isn't remotely close to the same environment as a photo shoot. Our corp models, many were minors, changed behind screens with adults walking in and out changing out sizes, colors, pinning, taping and helping them get changed quickly. Those models were used to adults reaching in garments and readjusting body parts to get the fit right. Those models were, also, used to the occasional note being tucked in their hand.

As far as Varsity, it's not just them. Many companies, schools, churches, and camps provide opportunities for kids to travel alone with chaperones, I just don't always feel the opportunity outweighs the risks. I'm not passing judgement on these kids or their parents, but I'd want to accompany my kids for something like a photo shoot and I definitely wouldn't be willing to spend thousands for my travel to TX and NY for multiple shoots. Again, I may be the minority and Varsity may get thousands of applicants.

 

[retiredl5cheer]

Wow. Those are people’s kids you are talking about. People who may be on here.

It's not the kids, it's the way they dress them and make them up. We're a sport, yet most catalog images scream "pageant" instead.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

I'm not going to get in to the diversity conversation but the industry as a whole does a horrible job at promoting an athletic image. Rebel has the most pathetic campaigns out there. All I can think of when I see anything they post is a bunch of bimbos wearing clothes from Justice

I think they’ve gotten a touch better over the years. But yeah, the first time I saw their catalog I was appalled. I remember thinking, “It’s like these were designed by people who’ve never cheered before in their lives.” Weird lines, busy designs, and inappropriate fabric choices that looked okay on a standing model, but that would’ve looked awkward as hell through jumps, tumbling, walking... cheering in general.

But they have gotten better in recent years. They’ve come a long way from the handsy panther uni (actually not sure if that’s a Rebel design but it sure feels like one).

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

My point wasn't really about having a closed shoot, but since you brought it up, the Corp I used to work for allowed parents in a room with a one way mirror to watch. IMO, tryouts with tens and hundreds of kids around isn't remotely close to the same environment as a photo shoot. Our corp models, many were minors, changed behind screens with adults walking in and out changing out sizes, colors, pinning, taping and helping them get changed quickly. Those models were used to adults reaching in garments and readjusting body parts to get the fit right. Those models were, also, used to the occasional note being tucked in their hand.

As far as Varsity, it's not just them. Many companies, schools, churches, and camps provide opportunities for kids to travel alone with chaperones, I just don't always feel the opportunity outweighs the risks. I'm not passing judgement on these kids or their parents, but I'd want to accompany my kids for something like a photo shoot and I definitely wouldn't be willing to spend thousands for my travel to TX and NY for multiple shoots. Again, I may be the minority and Varsity may get thousands of applicants.

Yeah I totally get it about the traveling. My whole family went to the London parade and then I went with my sister when she went to Paris because my parents weren’t really comfortable with us going alone.

 

[quitthedrama]

Wow. Those are people’s kids you are talking about. People who may be on here.

As @retiredl5cheer said, I'm not talking about the kids. I'm talking about the industry professionals who allow kids to be portrayed like that. I find the more "guidelines" and "rules" that USASF puts in place the uniform companies go in the exact opposite direction. Take a look at the comments from the general public about any article related to cheer - we can get upset about it but at the end of the day it's completely understandable why the stereotype of cheer is the way it is.

 

[CoachTamara]

There was a story posted yesterday on facebook about a fairly well known gym having a coach arrested. He was scheduling "photo shoots" with the teenage girls and taking provocative and inappropriate photos of them. No matter how big Varsity is, I would not be sending my child to anything like that without me, ever. It's actually crazy to even suggest a minor wouldn't need an adult with them for something like that.