Claim: American Cheerleader is the first and largest national teen magazine dedicated to covering sideline and competitive cheerleading founded by publishing executive Michael Weiskopf, with its first issue featuring University of Maryland cheerleader Penny Ramsey, who went on to become a castaway in Thailand on the CBS show Survivor in 2002.
Evidence: American Cheerleader is the first and largest national teen magazine dedicated to covering sideline and competitive cheerleading. Inspired by the popularity and competitive nature of cheerleading in the early 1990s, publishing executive Michael Weiskopf started a magazine to take advantage of its evolving culture. The first issue was published in New York in January 1995. It was published by Lifestyle Ventures, LLC, and the first issue featured University of Maryland cheerleader Penny Ramsey, who went on to become a castaway in Thailand on the CBS show Survivor in 2002.