Pom-Poms Up, Spirits High — She's Ready for Her Holiday Close-Up

Arms stretched triumphantly skyward, a pom-pom blazing in each hand, this cheerleader is caught at the peak of her jump — that perfect suspended moment where gravity seems to agree to take a short break. Her bright red and white uniform is rendered with charming detail, right down to the crisp white stripe across her top, and her lush red pom-poms have a wonderfully textured, almost glittery appearance that catches the light like tinsel doing a backflip.

The pom-pom itself has a surprisingly glamorous backstory: the modern cheerleading pom-pom was invented in 1953 by Fred Gastoff and later popularized by the International Cheerleading Foundation in the 1960s. Originally made from paper, they evolved into the iconic vinyl-and-mylar creations that became synonymous with sideline spectacle — and eventually found their way onto everything from keychains to, now, Christmas tree ornaments. These shimmery spheres have been making crowds (and decorators) happy for over seventy years.

Whether she anchors a sports-themed tree or brings a pop of school-spirit color to a more traditional display, this little ornament is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser — and unlike her real-life counterpart, she requires absolutely zero practice time.

• Material: Hand-painted resin
• Dimensions: 2.4 in. x 1.2 in. x 4.5 in. (6.1 cm x 3 cm x 11.4 cm)
• Color & Design: Red and white; cheerleader in mid-jump with both arms raised, red and white striped uniform top with red skirt, white shoes, dark brown hair, holding two large red pom-poms
• Accent Detail: Pom-poms feature textured, dimensional surface suggesting mylar/glitter construction
• Hanger: Silver metal chain loop
• Type: Hanging Christmas ornament