For many of us, our knowledge of cheerleaders only goes as far as the American movies we watched as a teenager. You know the ones we’re talking about – they spend their days dressed head-to-toe in cheerleading attire and walking around the school like they own the place, throwing judgement-fuelled glares at anyone who dares to look their way. In the world of competitive cheerleading, however, it’s a very different story.

You’ll likely have seen that difference if you’ve managed to catch an episode of Netflix’s new docu-series Cheer, which dropped on the platform back in January.

The six-part series, which focuses on the cheerleading squad at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, follows the team throughout their cheerleading season as they prepare for the national championships. With so much to lose, only one thing’s for certain: this team – and their coach Monica – does not play around when it comes to winning.

Netflix’s Cheer is a celebratory depiction of strong women – and we’re obsessed