Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Ray.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been involved in cheerleading since I was in second grade. Like many young athletes, I had big dreams of cheering in college and eventually going pro. Unfortunately, a serious back injury during my junior year of high school ended my athletic career much sooner than I expected.
At the time, I was already helping coach a special needs cheer team, and when I realized competing was no longer an option, I poured my energy into coaching instead. Looking back, that injury completely changed the direction of my life. What felt like a setback at the time ultimately led me to discover my passion for teaching and developing athletes.
While I was earning my degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, I coached anywhere I could. I worked with athletes from different gyms across the Houston area and found that I especially loved helping athletes develop strong cheer technique and performance skills. To make coaching work around college and my other jobs, I often traveled directly to athletes’ homes for private lessons in gameday cheerleading and tumbling.
As my family grew, so did my little coaching business. My husband and I converted our two-car garage into a small cheer training space with flooring, mirrors, and air conditioning. For years, I coached from that garage while also working at various cheer programs, choreographing routines, and raising my daughters.
After having my second child, I decided to revisit one of my own unfinished dreams and trained for NFL cheerleading auditions. I didn’t make the team, and while I was disappointed, I was proud of myself for taking the chance and seeing it through.
Around that same time, another unexpected opportunity came my way. I had started taking indoor cycling classes and eventually auditioned to become a spin instructor. What began as a challenge quickly became another passion. Teaching fitness taught me so much about leadership, motivation, and connecting with people. In many ways, coaching adults made me a better coach for young athletes.
For several years, I balanced coaching, choreography projects, fitness instruction, and motherhood. Through all of it, one dream never really went away: opening my own gym. I’d been talking about it since I was twelve years old.
After my third daughter was born, I found myself at a crossroads. I had outgrown my garage space, was turning athletes away because I simply didn’t have room, and knew something had to change. I could either walk away from coaching altogether or finally take the leap I’d been talking about for years.
With the support of my husband, I chose to bet on myself.
On August 13, 2025, we opened Platinum Cheer & Spirit Studio in a small one-unit facility. My vision was to create a space for athletes who want to excel in gameday cheerleading and performance cheer, whether or not the All Star path is right for them. At Platinum, we believe in work ethic, athleticism, confidence, and helping athletes become the best version of themselves. We meet them where they are and help them discover just how capable they can be.
Less than a year later, we’ve already expanded our space and continue to grow. The most rewarding part isn’t the growth itself—it’s watching athletes gain confidence, build friendships, and realize they’re capable of more than they thought possible.
Today, Platinum is one half of my heart, and the other is fitness. We’re currently working toward opening Revolution TX in 2027, a rhythm and strength-based fitness studio. While the businesses are different, the mission is the same: helping people become stronger, more confident versions of themselves.
What started as a little girl with big dreams of cheerleading has evolved into something even more meaningful—creating spaces where others can discover what’s possible for themselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. Like most entrepreneurial journeys, it has been full of pivots, setbacks, and moments where I questioned whether I was making the right decisions.
The first major challenge was losing my athletic career to a back injury in high school. At the time, it felt like the end of a dream I had worked toward for years. Looking back, it forced me to find a new path through coaching, but it wasn’t easy to accept in the moment.
Another challenge was simply balancing everything. For years, I was coaching at multiple gyms, taking college classes, raising a family, teaching fitness, choreographing routines, and running a growing private coaching business. There were seasons where I was constantly trying to figure out how to give my best to everyone without taking away from my role as a wife and mom.
Opening Platinum came with its own set of challenges. Houston has an incredible cheer community with many established and highly respected programs. Starting something new in a market with so many talented coaches and gym owners was definitely intimidating. There were moments when I wondered if there was room for what I wanted to create.
There have also been plenty of personal challenges along the way. I’ve had dreams that didn’t work out exactly as planned, including my attempt at NFL cheerleading. At the time, not making the team was disappointing, but it taught me an important lesson about taking chances. Sometimes success isn’t getting the outcome you want—it’s having the courage to try in the first place.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that growth rarely happens when things are comfortable. Every setback, every difficult season, and every unexpected detour has taught me something valuable. Many of the opportunities that shaped my career came from moments that initially felt like failures.
Today, when I look at Platinum and the athletes we serve, I’m grateful for all of those challenges because they helped shape both the coach and the business owner I’ve become. The road definitely hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t change it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Platinum Cheer & Spirit Studio . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Platinum Cheer & Spirit Studio was created to give athletes a place to train, grow, and excel in gameday cheerleading and performance cheer, regardless of whether the traditional All Star path is right for them. As someone who grew up in the All Star world, I have tremendous respect for every area of cheerleading, but I saw a need for athletes who wanted high-level training, strong fundamentals, and a supportive community focused on gameday excellence.
What sets Platinum apart is our approach to athlete development. We believe great athletes are built through hard work, consistency, confidence, and strong fundamentals. We meet athletes where they are and help them discover just how capable they can be. Whether an athlete is stepping onto the mat for the first time or preparing for school tryouts and leadership roles, our goal is to help them become the best version of themselves.
We specialize in gameday cheerleading, jumps, motions, tumbling, performance skills, technique training, choreography, clinics, camps, and private instruction. While we absolutely focus on skill development, we’re equally focused on helping athletes build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that carry over into every area of their lives.
One thing people quickly notice about Platinum is our culture. We love big hair, big performances, and big personalities… and the color PINK. We encourage athletes to work hard, support one another, and show up as their authentic selves. There’s a lot of energy, a little bit of sass, and a whole lot of girl power inside our walls.
What I’m most proud of isn’t our growth or even our expansion—it’s the environment we’ve created. I want every athlete who walks through our doors to feel seen, valued, and capable. I want them to leave stronger than they arrived, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
We opened our doors in August 2025 with a simple vision and a small one-unit space. Less than a year later, we’ve expanded and continue to grow because families believe in what we’re building. That trust means everything to me.
At the end of the day, Platinum isn’t just about cheerleading. It’s about helping young athletes develop confidence, work ethic, and self-belief so they can shine both on and off the sidelines.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There is absolutely no way I could answer this question by naming just one person.
First and foremost, my husband deserves a tremendous amount of credit. Honestly, he has been the GOAT. People see the business owner, coach, and entrepreneur, but they don’t always see the person behind the scenes making it possible. He believed in Platinum before it was anything more than a dream and a garage full of athletes. He’s supported every crazy idea, every risk, every long day, and every challenge along the way. There is absolutely no way I could have built this without him. Platinum exists because we built it together.
My oldest sister and brother-in-law have also been incredible supporters over the years. They have always encouraged me to dream big, believed in my abilities, and reminded me to keep going even when things felt challenging. My sister has been one of the first people I call when I have a new idea—whether it’s a great idea or a slightly crazy one—and she’s never stopped encouraging me to chase what’s on my heart. Having family members who genuinely support your goals and want to see you succeed is a gift, and I’m so grateful for both of them.
My daughters deserve credit too. They are a huge part of my “why.” I want them to grow up seeing that it’s okay to dream big, work hard, take risks, and build something you’re passionate about. They’ve spent more time around cheer gyms, spin studios, and business conversations than most kids ever will.
I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to learn from coaches, gym owners, athletes, and mentors throughout my career. Every gym I’ve worked at, every coach I’ve learned from, and every athlete I’ve trained has taught me something valuable. I don’t think any coach is ever finished learning, and I’m grateful for the many people who helped shape my approach over the years.
The indoor cycling community played a surprisingly important role as well. Teaching fitness taught me how to connect with people differently, how to lead a room, how to motivate individuals with different personalities, and how to create an experience that people want to come back to. Those lessons have directly influenced how I coach and how I run Platinum today.
Most importantly, I have to credit the athletes and families who trusted me long before Platinum existed. For years, I coached out of my garage, traveled to athletes’ homes, and worked with families who believed in what I was doing. Many of them took a chance on me when I was just a young coach trying to build something. Their trust, support, and loyalty are ultimately what gave me the confidence to open Platinum in the first place.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that businesses may have one owner, but they’re built by communities. Platinum wouldn’t be where it is today without the incredible athletes, families, friends, mentors, and supporters who have been part of the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.platinumcheerhtx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platinumcheerhtx/
