Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 2012 Swimsuit Calendar Release Party
By JAY BETSILL
DFW.com
Nov. 19, 2011
America’s Sweethearts — aka the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders –officially released their 2012 swimsuit calendar at an exclusive gathering inside the Glass Cactus nightclub at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. The calendar was shot on location in Nayarit, Mexico amid some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
“We could not be more proud of this opportunity to ‘show off’ the final product of the annual DCC Swimsuit calendar and the associated television show to all of the partners who made it possible,” said Kelli Finglass, Director, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. “The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offered critical guidance and daily assistance in finding and accessing amazing areas from jungles to beaches to ocean view mansions.”
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Calendar Release Party was a scene unto itself as the calendar photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, television crew members and the cheerleaders joined VIPs and sponsors on the upper level inside the massive Glass Cactus featuring beautiful vistas overlooking Lake Grapevine. Upon arrival, we were ushered past the velvet rope and greeted at the top of the staircase by the 17 DCC rookies with their welcoming smiles and pom poms. The calendar’s featured cheerleaders were lined up and posed with their “month,” with large photos on display behind the cheerleaders.
As luck would have it, I was literally the first person to enter party by virtue of the perfect proximity to the entry when they began to allow people inside. I’m not gonna lie, it was certainly one of those amazing moments when you have to pause and ask yourself if this is really happening!
Within minutes of the doors opening, people were lined up to get autographs and pictures while chatting with the cheerleaders. Since this was my inaugural DCC party, I quickly found my old friend, Kelsi Reich, to get the scoop on what this night was all about. After all, Reich is a four-year veteran of the squad.
“This is such a great night,” Reich said. “It is similar to a reunion as it brings together everybody behind the scenes who put the calendar together.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were 17 rookies who were experiencing this amazing evening for the first time, including Holly Arielle. Arielle was among the rookies who mingled with the crowd and posed for pictures.
“This entire year has been so amazing,” Arielle said. “It has been a great experience and I have made so many new friends.”
A cool aspect of the evening occurred at 9 p.m., when I glanced up and realized that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team was currently airing on CMT. This was the perfect occasion to enjoy the buffet and catch a glimpse of the show.
After a quick break, we chatted with rookie Mackenzie Lee. “It’s great to see the veterans who are featured in the calendar,” Lee said. “I feel so happy for the veterans who are getting to experience this for the first time.”
As we worked our way around the room, we stopped by for a visit with third-year veteran Ashton Torres. She said her favorite part of this annual event is “that it is so much fun to meet new people and see her friends (from the calendar shoot) again.”
