The film became the highest-rated premiere for a Disney Channel Original Movie at the time and its soundtrack was certified double platinum by the RIAA.Following the success of the film, members Bailon, Williams, and Bryan began recording as a real vocal group while Symoné opted to focus on solo projects.The following year, Symoné returned for the sequel film The Cheetah Girls 2 and its platinum certified soundtrack, which would be her final work with the group.It was based on the best-selling series of young adult books of the same name by Deborah Gregory and was filmed in October and November 2002.[4] The film starred Raven-Symoné as Galleria, Sabrina Byran as Dorinda, Adrienne Bailon as Chanel, and Kiely Williams as Aquanette.[5] Upon release, the film was the number one rated basic cable telecast and premiered to 6.5 million viewers, a record for Disney at the time.ABC was set to put the show into production in early 2004, with discussions also being held to write a role for fellow 3LW member, Jessica Benson.[16] The group's first release as a trio and recording act was a cover of the Hercules soundtrack song "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" which appeared on Disneymania 3 in February 2005.[21] In November, the group contributed a cover of "Shake a Tail Feather" to the soundtrack of the film Chicken Little, which was released as a single in France.The Cheetah Girls had comparatively tame choreography and dressed in innocuous clothing, which helped the group gain popularity with tweens and parents alike.[54] The message in The Cheetah Girls films is that stardom is attainable as long as you remember that your close personal relationships are more important.[56] Celebrities such as Fifth Harmony,[57] The McClain Sisters,[58] Zendaya,[59] Olivia Holt,[60] Coco Jones[61] and Brittany O'Grady[62] have mentioned The Cheetah Girls as idols or an inspiration.
The Cheetah Girls performing during the Cheetah-licious Christmas tour in 2005