Ms. Napier, 26, was a star cheerleader on the national-champion University of Kentucky squad, which has been a springboard for many careers in pharmaceutical sales. She now plies doctors’ offices selling the antacid Prevacid for TAP Pharmaceutical Products.
Ms. Napier says the skills she honed performing for thousands of fans helped land her job. "I would think, essentially, that cheerleaders make good sales people," she said.
Anyone who has seen the parade of sales representatives through a doctor’s waiting room has probably noticed that they are frequently female and invariably good looking. Less recognized is the fact that a good many are recruited from the cheerleading ranks.
Known for their athleticism, postage-stamp skirts and persuasive enthusiasm, cheerleaders have many qualities the drug industry looks for in its sales force. Some keep their pompoms active, like Onya, a sculptured former college cheerleader. On Sundays she works the sidelines for the Washington Redskins. But weekdays find her urging gynecologists to prescribe a treatment for vaginal yeast infection.
Here’s Onya in her part -time gig. Would you buy Viagra from this woman?
What will the drug companies think of next?
No, that won’t be, um… necessary.
I don’t have a comment about the topic, per se, I just wanted to say hey to a brother. I’m a red state guy living in a blue state, too, Illinois in my case, and I just wanted to say hey. Keep blogging. You are an inspiration. Guys like us need to know like other guys like us exist. Cheers, brother. And keep on showing those Hooters girls pictures.
Can I buy some pharmaceuticals? Please? What’s the one on the left selling? I think I need some of that…