Early Life

Simone Richards grew up in New York City, raised in a fast-moving household where ambition was expected, and independence was learned early. Her parents worked long hours, and Simone and her three siblings quickly became comfortable navigating the city on their own. From a young age, she learned how to read people, how to speak with confidence even when she felt uncertain, and how to hold her own in loud rooms. New York shaped her into someone sharp, expressive, and unapologetically present.

She was never the loudest person in the room, but she was rarely ignored. Simone had a natural charisma that came from awareness rather than force. She understood tone, timing, and humor, and she learned early that charm could be just as powerful as volume. This made her popular in school, though she was selective about who she let close. She valued loyalty deeply, even if she joked constantly about not being sentimental.

Despite her confident exterior, Simone grew up carrying pressure to succeed. New York rewarded the exceptional, and she felt that expectation keenly. Cheerleading became one of the few places where her body, discipline, and personality aligned. It gave her a sense of belonging that was earned rather than assumed.

Cheerleading in High School

Simone discovered cheerleading in middle school, but it was in high school that she truly excelled. She was not the most acrobatic flyer or the strongest base at first, but she was consistent, adaptable, and relentlessly focused. Coaches valued her reliability and her ability to steady a routine when things went wrong. Teammates trusted her because she never panicked and never quit on a count.

Her style of leadership emerged naturally. Simone was encouraging without being soft, blunt without being cruel. She learned how to balance competitiveness with teamwork, and how to call out weaknesses without humiliating anyone. By her junior year, she was a central presence on the squad, someone others looked to when nerves set in before competitions.

Cheerleading also taught Simone how to manage pressure in public spaces. Being watched, judged, and scored became familiar. This helped her develop a thick skin and a sense of humor about criticism. She learned early that confidence did not mean never being afraid, but performing anyway. That lesson would stay with her long after she left high school.

Crestview and Friendship with Jenna

Simone chose Crestview University for its cheer program and its distance from New York. She wanted space to redefine herself outside the expectations she grew up with. The transition was not easy. Crestview was quieter, colder, and more insular than she expected. At first, she missed the noise of the city and the anonymity that came with it.

She met Jenna during early practices in her sophomore year at Crestview, drawn to her intensity and leadership almost immediately. Being new on the squad, Jenna gravitated toward Simone, and a friendship blossomed. Where Simone was quick-witted and observational, Jenna was driven and emotionally direct. Their personalities contrasted, but they balanced each other well. Simone respected Jenna’s work ethic and her willingness to shoulder responsibility, even when it made her unpopular.

Their friendship grew stronger through late nights, shared stress, and moments of humor that cut through the tension. Simone became one of the few people who could tease Jenna without pushing her away, offering levity when things felt overwhelming. She was never afraid to tell Jenna what needed to be said. She was fiercely protective, not just of Jenna but of the team as a whole. Over time, Simone evolved from teammate to confidant, someone Jenna trusted not just on the mat, but in life.