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Chapter 1: How did Faith Ward become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
Hi, it's Kate Langbrook here. Hey, if you've just binged the new season of America's Sweethearts on Netflix, and found yourself fascinated by the world of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, you are going to love this episode. We spoke to Australian cheerleader Faith Ward about the reality behind the uniform, the auditions, the pressure, and what it really takes to make the squad.
Here's our conversation.
It was this big thing going around saying it was a 400% pay increase, which don't get me wrong, it's a pay increase. And I'm so incredibly blessed to be joining the team when that happened. Like I would not be able to, you know, I didn't have a visa for a bit, so I couldn't get a job and, you know, have extra money coming in. So I would not be surviving if we didn't have that pay increase.
But it's still not realistically enough for what we do as athletes.
Today on No Filter, and I don't mind telling you this is a great one, we get to go behind the scenes of one of the most recognisable and mythologised institutions in American pop culture, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They are synonymous with glamour, discipline and perfection.
But in recent years, there's been a renewed fascination with what the role actually demands and what it's really like behind the uniform. And my guest today is Faith Ward. an Australian New Zealand dancer who unexpectedly found herself auditioning for and ultimately joining the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders after receiving a very nonchalant DM on Instagram. It's an amazing story.
And in this conversation, we talk about how she ended up on that path, what the audition and selection process is really like, the realities of the job versus the public fantasy, and what it means to step inside such a powerful global institution, especially at a moment when the world is paying closer attention than ever. This is Faith Ward. Faith Ward, welcome to No Filter.
So excited to be here.
Well, I am also so excited to have you because in the realm of what is possible in this world, I did not ever think that an Australian New Zealand girl would ever be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. I just didn't think that it would be possible.
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Chapter 2: What is the audition process like for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?
Yeah, America's Sweetheart. Why do they want a half Aussie, half New Zealand chick on the team? Like, it's pretty incredible, but I'm honestly so honoured to be representing both countries. So I hope I'm doing them proud.
Well, okay, so I, like many, came to appreciate the work of the cheerleaders through the show, America's Sweethearts. And it's such an extraordinary collision of worlds. Do you know what I mean? Like your athletes... Absolutely.
You're also expected to and it's demanded of you that you uphold certain attributes that are seen as, you know, being possessed by America's sweethearts, which is charm and grace and sass and looking hot and a kind of girl next door quality. But the grit underneath is the hard work. and the excellence, how did this come on your radar? Because you were, like you said, at the bottom of the world.
You're exactly right. All of the above as to what you just said. And I completely agree. It has so many different categories that you're filling into one role. But for me, it came about just as any other normal girl. I had a dream from a young age about making it in the dancing industry. And obviously there isn't a lot of opportunity in Australia. So we have to, you know, hunt a little further.
And so you're in Perth at this point.
So I'm in Perth, Western Australia, yes. It's where I reside, but I'm originally from Wellington, New Zealand. So that is why I consider myself half and half.
All right, Faith, you know what you are for our purposes? You're Russell Crowe. You're Russell Crowe to us, a New Zealander, but who is claimed as an Australian.
I love that. I haven't heard that reference. I enjoy that. So let's say that. But no, for me, the journey basically came about from, I actually grew up doing dance competitions, obviously going against multiple different people. And then I won a few dance competitions and got flown out to the States to compete against like the best talent in the States.
And what sort of dance was that at this point? This was all like lyrical, jazz, contemporary, acro. I'd been training like literally since I was two in all those genres.
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Chapter 3: What are the challenges of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
And so this was, so you were 16. So this must've been six,
I'm 22 now six years ago six years ago insane so found out about it through that and then obviously was still in Australia training and then the show came out on Netflix and that's where the game changed but when the show came out on Netflix I was actually working as a professional dancer on a cruise ship with Royal Caribbean so I was in my little bunk bed working a 10-month contract like I enjoyed it and I loved it but in my intuition I knew that there was more out there for me I was
content, but I wasn't fully like, this is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.
It's not entirely nourished as a creative being.
Exactly. So I was like, there's something else out there for me, but I don't know what it is yet. Anyway, so the show comes out and I'm like, to my roommate, we need to sit down and watch it. Like get the bunk beds. We're getting it out. We're watching it. So we sat down, we watched the first season. I binged it all in one night and was hooked.
I was like, oh my God, this is a bit of me, this show. So yeah. Obviously, growing up with that background of dancing and then also being an all-star cheerleader, I was tumbling, flipping, flying. I was like, this is both those things that I've trained my whole life into one job. Like, it is screaming my name. It's perfect.
But once I watched the show, I was like, oh, they're never... I didn't even look at the show going, oh, yeah, I'm going to be that one day. Right.
You were just watching it in almost the abstract sense of like, oh, I can do that. I understand what they're doing. This is amazing. But never, it wasn't on your vision board.
No, it was past my vision board. Like it didn't even make it to the vision board because I was like, Faith, that's not a reality. Like, let's be realistic right now. The fact that once I saw the show, obviously it was just, you know, like, oh my God, in awe of it. I was still auditioning for a million other things. I was like, I'm not a hundred percent set on this cruise ship life.
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Chapter 4: How does Faith balance her cheerleading career with other jobs?
Yeah.
I speak the same language as you. I love it. But we have to digest this moment so quickly. I didn't know that was a thing either. So they contacted you. How and where had they seen you? Are they across the Moulin Rouge auditions?
It just happened that I was in Paris doing that at the same time. She had found me through social media and just saw me posting all my dance content. And then while the timing was that I was in Paris, I just happened to get this DM at the same time. It was like a sign that it was like, don't take that job. This is your chosen path. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, I've got goosebumps. Same.
Every time I say it, I'm like, what?
That was, like, my sign.
And I was like, okay, wait. Maybe they're looking for international candidates. Like, maybe I should apply. Like, this is it. Screaming, Faith, this is your chance. Take it. Make your dreams a reality. Faith, what did the message say? It was the most nonchalant message I've ever read in my life. I'm pretty sure they'll put this in the show. It's hilarious.
It's that she's just like, hey, you should apply for DCC with, like, a red love heart.
Oh.
Her name's Shelley. She's incredible. I would not be sitting here without Shelley. She has helped me throughout my whole journey, visas, all the stuff that you don't think about that goes into applying, being obviously from the other side of the globe. She has helped me with, so it's been incredible and just, yeah.
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Chapter 5: What changes have been made to the pay structure for cheerleaders?
Faith, like you need to like lock in what?
Yeah.
Through this process, did it feel to you like, well, like without any arrogance, but did it feel like it was going to be something that you were going to end up doing or were you still at this stage thinking, well, I'm going to give it a red hot go?
was a little bit in denial for sure but i do think deep down in my intuition i was like i could i could i could see the dream like it was almost like almost like manifestation you can picture yourself in the uniform you could picture yourself doing it but it's just like how how is that gonna happen like it just it couldn't it never really hit me until i was standing there trying it on i remember she was like fitting me for the uniform during tryouts and i was like
wait a damn minute like this needs to happen like i'm supposed to be here i earned my place to be here i've worked just as hard as everyone else so yeah i knew that it was definitely an option but i still definitely doubted myself a little bit as well but so then you fly to texas yes to do the tryout so this is now where the real deal happens finals how many girls are involved at this point
Okay, so they flew about. They didn't fly. We had to fly ourselves, obviously. So saved up all my money. No, of course. You have to save up all your own money and off you go. I knew there was another Australian girl trying out as well, a girl from Japan.
Yeah, there was a few other international candidates, which was really cool to see and it made you feel like, okay, cool, I'm not just the only one that's crazy going after the stream.
Is this the first year, Faith, that they've opened the doors to internationals? Was it like a conscious thing or this has always happened in the past?
This has always happened. Just obviously when the Netflix show came out, there was no Australians or international candidates on the show that I'm aware of, but they have had previous years and I'm actually really good friends with an Aussie who was on the team back in 2016. Her name's Janelle and she is incredible. So she really helped me.
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Chapter 6: How does Faith handle the pressure of public scrutiny?
Because you're in it together, you're also against each other.
That's a really good question. I feel like at this rate, I didn't know anyone. So I'm like chatting, making friends to everyone. And when I get nervous, I'm like, just talk to me, please. Calm me down. Obviously, then I kind of realized the cultural differences. I was like, oh, okay. So I'm a yapper, you know, Aussie gal trying to make banter.
And they're all just like looking at me like, this girl is not funny. Like, what is she on about? And that's when I realized, okay, Faith, you've got to like adapt a little bit here. But no, the girls are all the sweetest things ever. And they make... that's a little bit terrifying, less terrifying.
Well, their experience, I imagine, is very different because they've grown up knowing this experience intimately and having it as the pinnacle of, if you're a dancer, what you want to achieve. Whereas you had come fairly recently to it.
So they had had this idea from college here, because obviously in Australia we don't have college. So they all grew up with this image of being a DCC, which so did I, I just didn't know it yet.
Yeah.
And they'd been doing the whole cheer spiriting, all of that stuff their whole life. So they're probably sitting there going, yep, we know what to expect. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just like a deer in headlights going, all right, here we go. Like, I'm just going to give it my best shot.
And like, I knew that I'd worked just as hard to be there, but it was also super intimidating not really knowing what to expect. So yeah, definitely. And then when did you get the sense? So basically after you do your solo, you then go out into the field and you start doing the field choreography. And they'd pre-taught this to us off a video.
So I felt pretty confident that I'd picked it up and retained the informational good. So I just sold it. I was like, you know what, Faith, if you haven't got the style down pack just yet, you're going to sell it here, girl. That's what you're going to do. So I'm just performing for my dear life. I am kicking, like doing everything.
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Chapter 7: What unique experiences does Faith share about training camp?
every last bit of me and I did exactly that. So then I got that feeling of like, okay, cool. Like I knew I gave it my all today and even if I don't make this team, I can walk away knowing that I put my best foot forward and that was a nice feeling.
How much time are you getting in between? Obviously this is a very intense process. part of the process. I mean, it's all intense, isn't it?
Oh, absolutely.
But who are you talking to back home? Who are you going, your mum?
Mum's like, Faith, updates.
Right. And what are you saying? Like, how's that first conversation when you're like, I've made it, you know, through the finals, I've made it onto the field.
It was insane. We don't know yet. She's just like, Faith, tell me. I need updates. What's going on? Imagine your daughter being on the other side of the world auditioning for this team and then not really knowing what's going on. Because obviously we didn't have our phones on us. We're like on the field auditioning, fighting for our lives.
And then we come back to the locker room and they make us wait for another hour before they bring us back out onto the field to announce who's then going to training camp. So you hadn't even made the team yet. This is just finals day in itself. The audition process is like no other.
And I think every dancer, athlete needs to experience a finals day on its own because it is a different breed of sport. Like you are literally still fighting to then make the audition round of six weeks of training camp. Like it's insane. So mum obviously was just like asking for updates the whole time. And then once I came back out, I was like, we've got to wait another 45 minutes.
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Chapter 8: How does Faith maintain her mental health as a cheerleader?
Hi. Welcome to No Filter. It's nice to be here. Today we're diving into the world of G Flip.
And your voice has always been such a calming, warm energy. So that's why I tear up because you're like always growing up with you around. So thank you.
Sally Hepworth, what an absolute jewel you are in the crown of artists. Oh, thank you. This has been lovely. Today, we're talking to Rosie O'Donnell.
I just want to tell you, this is one of the best interviews I've ever had.
If you love conversations that go deep and stories that stay with you, listen to No Filter. New episodes of No Filter drop every Monday, wherever you get your podcasts. We haven't seen your series yet. And I gather your series, I think, is coming out in the middle of 2026.
It sure is. Very soon. So June, you can watch me in season three of America's Sweethearts. Yes.
And apparently you are quite the focus of this series.
Where did you hear this from?
I don't know where I hear stuff from.
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