Meet Our Founder - Angela King

 THE STORY

A influencer in the world of professional cheerleading, Angela has made her mark on the industry.  In 2022 she was honored as a charter inductee to the NFL Professional Cheerleader Hall of Fame, honoring her years as a pro cheerleader, NFL cheerleader director/coach, and the continuation giving back to the world of cheer.  Known as the Queen of Sports Fashion, Angela is a two-time awardee of the "Sports Fashion Innovator" award by Lux Magazine. 

Sharing her journey through dance, cheer, NFL and the sports industry is a highlight for Angela.  You can hear her story by clicking these links for recent podcasts.

Business Under Fire
Sideline Rewind
Life After The Crown
Uncle Goof

https://justangelaking.com

Angela founded AKD with the goal to create uniforms that make performers feel confident, comfortable, and polished. Today, AKD continues to design, develop, and manufacture its collections in-house, combining contemporary fashion with innovative construction, premium fabrics, and distinctive embellishments. This commitment to craftsmanship has established the company as one of the industry's most respected names in professional performance apparel.

Angela's passion for dance began at the age of three. Describing herself as a "studio rat," she spent countless hours training, teaching, and refining her craft. During her summers, she studied under some of the industry's most respected instructors in Hollywood and Las Vegas. While attending high school, she performed on her school's dance squad before later instructing dance and songleading camps for the United Spirit Association.At just 17 years old, Angela became an original member of the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders. She cheered with the team for seven seasons, appearing at two Super Bowls before transitioning into a leadership role.

As Coach and Director of the Gold Rush Cheerleaders for the next five years, she helped guide the team through two additional Super Bowl championship seasons. Her leadership later extended beyond the 49ers when she became a Founding Co-Director of the NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders, further cementing her influence within professional cheerleading.

Her years as both a professional performer and director gave Angela a unique perspective on the needs of dancers and cheerleaders. Reflecting on what inspired her to establish the company, she explains:"I felt there was a need for better uniforms. As a dancer and cheerleader, my uniforms were often created by people who had never experienced what it was like to perform at that level. I believed dancers deserved uniforms designed by someone who truly understood their needs. A uniform isn't just something you wear, it's a tool that helps you perform with confidence."

That philosophy continues to guide Angela's work today. As Creative Director, she personally oversees the development of every new design and pattern, ensuring each project reflects both the client's brand identity and the practical demands of performance. Under her leadership, Angela King Designs has created some of the most recognizable uniforms in professional sports.Today, AKD serves professional and collegiate organizations across the NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL and other major sports leagues, as well as entertainment productions and performance teams around the world.

The company has collaborated with numerous high-profile organizations, including the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, Los Angeles Laker Girls, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders Jr. Force, and many others.

Beyond its custom design work, House of AKD offers two signature collections. AKD Go Wild Wear provides performance apparel inspired by the company's most popular designs, making the AKD aesthetic accessible to a broader audience. AKD Black Label, meanwhile, focuses on exclusive couture-inspired uniforms created specifically for individual organizations, with each design tailored to reflect the unique identity of the team it represents.

Angela's contributions to the industry extend well beyond her work as a designer. In recognition of her impact on professional cheerleading as a full-circle leader in the industry, she was inducted as a Charter Member of the NFL Pro Cheerleader Hall of Fame, an honor celebrating individuals whose careers have made a lasting mark on the sport.

Beyond being the Co-Founder of the NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders, she coordinated dancers for three west coast NBA teams and one other California NFL team. Also, Angela coordinated the cheerleaders for the NFL American Bowls in Germany, London, Spain, Mexico, and Japan. "Being a dancer and working with dancers comes naturally to me. It is something I love and believe in strongly." As a professional dancer, Angela appeared in TV commercials, toured the world with USO Celebrity Tours, and danced with some of the best... Paula Abdul, Patrick Swayze, and was a Kenny Ortega Dancer.  

Angela published the first book of it's kind for the professional cheerleading community. "There wasn't a resource available for aspiring directors; those who want to move from cheerleader or dancer into management. Now there is - I hope this book fills a void and helps dancers prepare for their transition into administration." says Angela of the reason she wrote the book. 

Throughout her career, Angela King has helped redefine the role of the professional sports uniform, transforming it from functional apparel into an extension of a team's brand, identity, and performance. Her work continues to shape the evolution of sports fashion for organizations around the world, elevating the standards of professional performance on the field, court and stage. For more than 35 years, Angela King Designs/House of AKD has remained at the forefront of professional performance apparel, combining innovation, craftsmanship, and an unparalleled understanding of the performers they serve.