Perth's Faith Ward achieves ‘life-long dream' after becoming the newest Dallas Cowboys cheerleader
The 22-year-old, known as Flexi Faith, was announced today as one of six rookies that will join the team of 36 after being presented her iconic blue crop top.
She is the latest member of the team that dates back to 1961 that have donned the recognisable crop top, white hot pants, cowboy boots and pom poms who will live on the sidelines at AT&T stadium this NFL season.
Ms Ward, who has more than 200,000 followers on TikTok, competed against thousands of aspiring cheerleaders that were vying for just six spots on the 36-woman squad, after she successfully made it through a rigorous application process.
It began with the wide-eyed dancer sending through dance photos and videos, with each applicant required to learn specific choreography in their auditions before being invited to Texas.
After making it through the first trials in June, Ms Ward said, 'no matter the outcome, it'll be amazing to be part of the experience, and making it this far is already just incredible.'
Now the hard work has paid off for the New Zealand export who moved to Australia when she was 10, with aspirations of becoming a dancer, and now she has fulfilled a 'long-term dream' after reaching the pinnacle of the cheerleading world.
Born with double-jointed hips, Ms Ward began working as a professional dancer at 18, performing on cruise ships - but now she will be on the big stage, in front of more than 90,000 people every game.
The cheerleaders that are affectionately called 'America's Sweethearts', support the American Football team the Dallas Cowboys, undoubtedly the biggest sports franchise in the world.
The squad has long been adored across the United States, but they recently gained global popularity thanks to the Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which went behind the scenes of the squad for an entire NFL season.
Despite the national pride the group carry for America, Ms Ward isn't the first from Down Under to don the Lone Star - with the past DCC alumni including Aussies Angela Nicotera Brown and Jinelle Esther.
The hard work for Ms Ward has only just begun, as members of the squad are required to put in hours equivalent to that of a full time job - but she comes in at a golden time after the squad received a significant pay rise this off season.
Following heavy public scrutiny, the Cowboys franchise - which is worth more than $15b - has given the cheerleaders a 400 per cent pay rise, meaning Ms Ward will pocket a salary of around $77,000. Which many argue still feels like under's considering the time and effort they put in to keep up with the physical requirements.
As the football team enters training camp, the cheerleaders will be entering their own with the first home preseason game for the Cowboys scheduled for August 17, before their season officially kicks off at their home turf in Arlington, Texas on September 15.
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7NEWS
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