The word "CHEERLEADER" is printed on her shirt in case we forget what she's trying out for. Even though her cheer was fairly rote and unimpressive, I felt less compelled to question her cheerleading credentials than I was her height.

Hopeful #3 - Denise

Initially, Denise’s clip made me wince: its start included her performing a coordinated but unimpressive (and therefore better than most of her lot) cheer largely consisting of her saying the word “Hey” about 400 times. This coming from a dwarf: maybe the camera angle might be to blame, but she looks as though all I have to do to devour her is inhale regularly.

Then, it improves dramatically as she confidently, energetically and articulately sells herself to her audience. She says she was a cheerleader of four years for a major college (no wonder she’s a midget - all girl collegiate cheerleaders are under 4’3”) where she caught a great many an eye, she clearly knows what she wants and she has enthusiasm for the product (sports in general). All this is done with with enough focus we know she’s spent some time and effort planning this out.

Denise’s video is notable because she is one of few actual cheerleaders trying out for this Midway Sports Cheerleader position. Granted, many of the girls claimed to be cheerleaders at some point, but the drill team in junior high doesn’t count. Many of the girls will claim to have radiating energy, but Denise is one of few who actually displays some. Many of the girls claim to want this position, but Denise is one of the disturbingly few that looks like it wasn’t done in one take with two minutes of preparation.

This being said, Denise doesn’t quite make the cut of five. Her entry would’ve been cooler if she’d have shown off some of the more athletic aspects, as opposed to the spiritual ones she actually did, of her dancing days. Like some cartwheels or a back layout or something.