Steph Bell · Founder of BadFlyer
They Called Her a Bad Flyer. She Made It a Brand.
I started cheerleading at 31 years old.
No experience. No tumbling. Definitely no flexibility. Just a mom who decided to try something new and went all in.
Was I good? Absolutely not.
Did I quit? Also absolutely not.
I started sharing my journey online. The good, the bad, the falls, the fails, and those little victories that felt like winning Worlds.
And, of course, people had opinions.
As my videos gained attention on TikTok and cheer Twitter, people started calling me a “bad flyer.”
So I did what any slightly stubborn, determined woman would do.
I took the name they used to bring me down and turned it into a brand.
And just like that, BadFlyer was born.
But I never wanted BadFlyer to be just another cheer apparel company.
If grown adults could criticize me for simply learning something new, imagine what young athletes were experiencing every day.
I wanted to create something that reminded athletes they didn’t have to be perfect to be confident. You don’t need the highest-level skills, the prettiest flexibility, or a Worlds title to belong.
You can be a work in progress and still be a badass.
BadFlyer started with enough money for one prototype and one product. No big budget. No fancy business plan. Just some doodles, a dream, and a whole lot of determination.
What started as my personal journey grew into a community of athletes who embraced the message, supported each other, and gave themselves a name.
The Baddies.
And somewhere along the way, that mom with zero cheer experience made it all the way to the Worlds stage.
But here’s the thing. I’m still learning, still falling, and still chasing new skills. Because being a BadFlyer was never about being perfect.
It’s about having the confidence to try, the determination to keep going, and the heart to lift others up along the way.
Whether you’re a flyer, base, back spot, tumbler, beginner, or Worlds champion, there’s a place for you here.
Because BadFlyer isn’t just my story anymore.
It’s ours.
Show Them Your Bad Side.
BadFlyer. Not Just For Flyers.