Some Miami Dolphins cheerleaders call West Kendall home
By Julian Hernandez
West Kendall Today
Miami Herald
8/1/2011
Now that the NFL players are back to work, we turn our attention to — the cheerleaders, of course!
The next time you watch the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, say perhaps for the first preseason game on Aug. 12, you may just be watching six West Kendall residents.
That’s right. The girl next door may just be one of them. Most people would have trouble imagining that some of the 42 women cheerleaders on the team we watch every Sunday during the Dolphins football season could really live that close. But it’s true.
West Kendall Today spoke to all six of them for this story. Their last names are not used, per Dolphins policy. Meet:
Jessica N., 21, is studying meteorology and broadcasting at Miami Dade College. She is a second-year member of the team. She described it as more than just being a dancer; to her its more like being a role model for young girls. All Dolphins cheerleaders have to work or study full time to be on the team. In addition, they practice three times a week for three hours. Jessica started dancing in high school and always wanted to go pro. Now through her hard work and discipline she said she has realized her dream. As to her role as West Kendall resident, she said it’s great to live in West Kendall and she loves it especially because she feels it’s a safe place.
Kellie, 25, is from Anchorage, Alaska and came to Miami to study. She balances a job as a recreation specialist for Marriott hotels, a student earning bachelors degree in English and a cheerleader. She described being a Dolphins cheerleader as the “opportunity of a life time.” She aspires to start her own charitable foundation, and thanks to the many charitable events the Dolphins cheerleaders organize and attend, Kellie has received some unique experience that she said will help her in her quest to start a foundation. She said she has made great connections that probably would not have been available to her otherwise. These benefits have not come without a lot of work, but she said: “When you want to do something you find time to do it, and I want to be a Dolphins cheerleader.” When asked about her opinion on West Kendall, she said that “it’s awesome because it’s a good, quiet, and safe neighborhood and its well worth the hour commute.”
Mariela, 29 , is an alumna of Florida International University, where she received bachelors and masters degrees in educational leadership. She has since returned to her alma mater as an instructor and coordinator of student activities. This is her third year with the cheerleading team. Mariela became a cheerleader at an early age and, like many other cheerleaders, dreamed of going pro. Here in Miami, the only chance she saw to fulfill that dream was to cheer for the Dolphins. Her journey, however, required perseverance. Mariela was rejected the first time she tried out for the Dolphins. Looking back, she said: “I was not embarrassed by failing.” Her third attempt proved to be the charm as she was finally accepted and thus fulfilled her dream of going pro. Mariela now has a new goal, to establish a charitable organization that is run by college students. In the meantime she’ll continue her work with the Dolphins, which she described as inspiring because of the attention they bring to many good causes. When asked what she thought about living in West Kendall she answered: “It’s nurturing and peaceful, very homey, and it never gets old.”
Natalie D., 20, is currently studying Mass Communications at Miami Dade College. She was born and raised here in Miami and, like many of her teammates, had an interest in cheering and dancing. She was a cheerleader all through high school and at the suggestion of her sister tried out for the Dolphins as soon as she was eligible at the age of 18. Her story with the Dolphins has been one of personal growth. She said her experience with the Dolphins helped her transition out of high school: “You grow and learn from it, you learn about yourself and how to help others. It helped me become more outgoing and charismatic.” As for living in West Kendall, she described it as “very homey,” with people her age and lots of things to do.
Samantha, “Sam,” 22, balances a job, studying communications at Florida International University, and being a Dolphins cheerleader. Before joining the team, Samantha said she had no cheerleading experience. For her, becoming a Dolphins cheerleader was an opportunity to combine her two passions, dancing and the Miami Dolphins. Being an avid fan of the football team, the opportunity was too good to pass up when a friend encouraged her to tryout. This will be Samantha’s third year with the team and she is now a captain. She said “game day is still my favorite part of the job since it’s a rare opportunity to cheer on the team I love so much.” She hopes to one day open a dance studio and said the people she has met and the experience she has gained with the cheerleading team has been extremely valuable. Samantha described West Kendall as a “melting pot where everyone is nice and overall it’s a great neighborhood.”
Vanessa, 22, is a full-time college student who was born and raised in West Kendall. She got her start in cheerleading for the West Kendall Dolphins. For Vanessa, being a Dolphins cheerleader is a hobby. She said it’s an opportunity to have a lot of fun and relieve some stress. “It’s an opportunity to have a lot of fun and relieve some stress,” she said. “It is a truly unique experience and it’s something I can look back at and be proud of.” As she studies radiology at Kaiser University and looks forward to a career in the medical field, Vanessa said she is proud to say that she is a Miami Dolphins cheerleader. Having grown up in West Kendall, she describes life in her neighborhood as laid back and said she truly loves it.
Overall, these women confirm the notion that ordinary people can do great things, and that sometimes people you think you’d never meet could be just around the corner.
