A cheerleading champion is looking to boost her medal haul next year after securing a place at one of the world’s biggest competitions.
Léshay Bravo, known as Shay, was born in Nottingham and on leaving secondary school attended Redhill Academy Sixth Form in 2021 where she studied for her A levels.
In April 2022, whilst still studying, she became an internationally recognised gold medal athlete when her squad came first for England at the Cheerleading World Championships in Florida as part of Team England Cheer.
In her most recent competition, Shay competed with her team ‘Ammunition’ at this year’s Legacy Cheer and Dance Live Your Legacy International Championships 2023 where Shay and her team became Cheerleading Worlds bid winners as they won a ‘bid’, which is the Teams invitation to compete again at Worlds in Florida in 2024.
Redhill Academy Head of DT Faculty Rebecca Davies was full of praise for Shay and her achievements.
She said: “I am so pleased Le’Shay has been honoured with a bid to Worlds. Le’Shay has shown a vast amount of dedication to being among the best student-athletes.
“The level of performance required to maintain excellent grades at A Level, alongside regular and intense cheer training, cannot be underestimated.
“She has always taken success in her stride and deserves to reap the rewards of her efforts. Well done Le’Shay – you have earned this.”

Shay’s mother Lorraine Mcpherson-Bravo said Shay has been cheerleading since the age of 9, almost 10 years. She is a member of the Coventry Dynamite Cheerleading Club and has competed both nationally and internationally with her teams.
She said: “Shay is actually in two Coventry Dynamite Teams, Lady Grenades and Ammunition and as Team Captain for Lady Grenades, they competed at the biggest cheerleading competition in the world, NCA, in Dallas Texas in both February 2022 and 2023. This year they came 2nd.
“She has also represented Team England in Orlando Florida in April 2022 and 2023 and both years she has been the joint Team Captain.
“They came first – gold medalists in 2022, resulting in them having to move up cheer levels when they competed again in 2023.
“Prior to leaving to compete she was interviewed at her last training session by BBC Newsround, which was aired earlier this year (2023). They came 3rd, Bronze medalists this year.
“Shay is also a powered athlete for Powernation, Represented Rebel but had to withdraw due to the organisation’s rules surrounding competitors.
“Shay is a representative for BCD and featured in an article in ‘Cheer From Head to Toe’.”
Legacy Cheer and Dance is an official bid provider for the 2024 Cheerleading Worlds and 2024 Dance Worlds. Their goal in providing bids is to support teams who are truly ready to go in terms of skills and financial preparedness so that families and athletes from the sport are not lost when they can’t afford to continue.