I'm looking for mangas like dramatic love album, yamato nadeshiko shichihenge, and cat street in that they all have hidden potential but don't show it until backed into a corner.

Skip Beat!
Ichigo Channel
Tokyo Crazy Paradise - though it's more about fighting potential, but there are some parts that fit more with the ones you described
Complex (Shoujo)
Kanata Kara
Tenshi ja Nai!!
Beast Master - if taming Leo counts, that is...
Honey Hunt
Shugo Chara! - sort of, though not necessarily in the way you meant...
Papillon ~ Hana to Chou - in a way, that is
Migiko Nipponichi!!

That's all the non-smut shoujo I can think of for now, as it seemed like you wanted shoujo. If you want shonen... well, that's pretty much every shonen fighting series, in a nutshell, so I wouldn't even know where to start.

Oh! I'll also add Beck, though it's not shoujo and the main character's a guy, because a) it's awesome, and b)it's got romance and stuff too.

..."and stuff too." I get more and more eloquent every day... sighs Anyway, hope that helps!

poof "SHOUJOMAN IS HERE!"
Just Lynz, drop the -ajw

Othello. you can't forget that, it's exactly what you're looking for.
La Corda D'Oro kinda.
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3454&hl=makeover
This is sorta similar to what you're searching for.

thank yall very much that was the kind of manga I was looking for and I don't mind reading smut manga.lol.

Quote from cherakeemaiden

thank yall very much that was the kind of manga I was looking for and I don't mind reading smut manga.lol.

Well, Love Monster kinda works then... let's see, what else...
Meroama Lecture
Private Prince, kinda
Barairo My Honey, though not beauty
Black Bird, same
You could also make an argument for Love Lesson.com...

Psh, I'm too lazy to get any more. I'll add some later if I can think of them, though.

poof "SHOUJOMAN IS HERE!"
Just Lynz, drop the -ajw

thank you this really helps!