From Small Town Coach to Household Name
When the Netflix docuseries ‘Cheer‘ first aired in January 2020, it catapulted the Navarro College cheer team and their coach Monica Aldama into the national spotlight virtually overnight.
The show, which followed the small junior college squad on their quest for a national title, captivated audiences with its raw portrayal of the blood, sweat and tears behind competitive cheerleading.
At the center of it all was Aldama, the tough-as-nails coach who demanded perfection from her athletes. With her no-nonsense leadership style and commitment to excellence, Aldama quickly became the breakout star.
Suddenly, the woman who had quietly built a cheerleading dynasty in the small town of Corsicana, Texas over 24 years was a household name, appearing on talk shows and amassing over a million Instagram followers.
Scandal Rocks Navarro Cheer
But with the fame also came intense scrutiny, and trouble soon followed. In September 2020, one of the show’s fan favorites, Jerry Harris, was arrested on child pornography charges. The news sent shockwaves through the cheer community and beyond.
As season two of ‘Cheer‘ documented, the allegations took a heavy toll on Aldama and her team. “This was the hardest season I’ve ever had,” an emotional Aldama said on the show. “I can’t even process it right now.“
Retirement Amid Controversy
Aldama soldiered on, even competing on ‘Dancing with the Stars‘ in late 2020. But more controversy was on the horizon.
In 2022, she faced criticism for her handling of a sexual misconduct allegation at Navarro. Though she denied any wrongdoing, the scandal marked the beginning of the end of her reign at Navarro.
In December 2023, after 28 years and 14 national titles, Aldama announced her retirement from Navarro Cheer.
The news was met with mixed reactions – some praised her legacy as the most successful coach in the history of her sport, while others felt it was an unceremonious end shrouded in controversy.
Son’s Arrest Deals Another Blow
Just a month after her retirement, Aldama was rocked by another scandal, this time even closer to home. In January 2024, her 27-year-old son Austin was arrested on multiple counts of possession of child pornography.
The news made national headlines, due in no small part to the family’s fame from ‘Cheer.’
In a statement, Austin’s attorneys called the charges a “witch hunt” and blamed “the celebrity status of his mother“.
Aldama has not publicly commented on her son’s case.
Grappling with the Spotlight
For Aldama, who was never seeking fame, the constant spotlight and scrutiny has been a lot to handle.
I assumed maybe cheerleaders would watch [‘Cheer‘]. None of us had any idea that the whole world would watch it and that we would be thrust into the spotlight like that, she reflected in a recent interview.
While she’s grateful for the platform ‘Cheer‘ provided to showcase her sport and athletes, Aldama also acknowledges the double-edged sword of viral fame.
It’s definitely changed my world, in good ways and bad, she said.
I’m a very private person, so to live under a microscope is not something I ever wanted. But I hope at the end of the day, there’s more positive that comes out of it than negative.
As Aldama adjusts to her new normal in retirement, she remains focused on using her influence for good, whether it’s through her foundation supporting underprivileged youth or being an advocate for the cheer community.
Despite the ups and downs, her love for the sport and the kids whose lives she’s touched remains unwavering. “Cheer will always be my baby,” Aldama said.
The titles, the fame, all of that is just extra. What really matters is the difference we made in these young people’s lives.
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