Leslie’s first book "What I Learned Half Naked: Tales of a Pro Cheerleader" is available for purchase on Amazon.com

“Whenever people would inquire about my cheerleading experience, I wouldn’t hesitate to respond in an extremely positive way, no matter what the question, as if my mind wasn’t my own. While replying, with a smile on my face, a part of my brain would continuously give me a completely different response.  I supported the belief that cheerleading was a glamorous and rewarding career path, in every way, and constantly told myself to thank my lucky stars that I was chosen to be allowed to have this amazing experience.  I loyally contributed to the illusion that I was completely validated as a beautiful and powerful woman with my membership to this exclusive society.  Instead of saying what I knew to be my true experience, and before I could find the courage to say what I really believed, the voice I recognized to be my own lied as it had been trained to do.

Always looking to find the good, I forgot how small and unimportant I felt as a cheerleader.  At a time when I should have been filled with confidence, I was struggling to be less of who I was and more of who they wanted me to be: the shell of a person aiming to be less of everything I am.  I learned how to be less black, less fat, less smart, less human, less compassionate, and less real in order to be more appealing.  My self-esteem was compromised while I was buying into the belief that making myself look and act like a doll would be rewarding.  I deeply believed that someone else’s version of perfect hair, nails, make-up and helping me say just the right words would bring me success and happiness.”