Why are the main female characters framed as 'popular'?

Quick thought, but I why do we call the main cast of the friendly characters in the series 'popular'? I'm trying to see this from a realistic perspective, literally, if you look at it from every angle they’re never seen with any large group or anyone else other than the same three girls. They're just a small group, and some of them aren’t even popular. The only 'popular' ones, in quotes, are Maddy and Cassie and even they aren’t seen with anyone else. The only popularity status they have is their relationships with multiple guys, that they're attractive and the fact that they're part of the cheerleading squad. Other than that, it doesn’t make sense why. On prom, they sat alone on the same table without speaking to anyone else but themselves, on the hallway they don't speak to anyone else besides themselves, on the phone or outside they're not seen or talk or go out w anyone else but themselves.

Quick thought, but I why do we call the main cast of the friendly characters in the series 'popular'? I'm trying to see this from a realistic perspective, literally, if you look at it from every angle they’re never seen with any large group or anyone else other than the same three girls. They're just a small group, and some of them aren’t even popular. The only 'popular' ones, in quotes, are Maddy and Cassie and even they aren’t seen with anyone else. The only popularity status they have is their relationships with multiple guys, that they're attractive and the fact that they're part of the cheerleading squad. Other than that, it doesn’t make sense why. On prom, they sat alone on the same table without speaking to anyone else but themselves, on the hallway they don't speak to anyone else besides themselves, on the phone or outside they're not seen or talk or go out w anyone else but themselves.