LA gets its first NFL cheerleaders in 20 years
Twenty-eight talented ladies beat out 400 to make the Los Angeles Rams cheerleading squad
By Ashley Collman
Dailymail.com
April 18, 2016
[Watch the video (scroll to bottom)]
* Final try-outs for the Los Angeles Rams cheerleading squad took place on Sunday at the Forum arena
* Twenty-eight women made the team from 66 finalists who were called in for an interview, swimsuit contest and dance performance
* The audition process began back on April 2 when around 400 women turned out to try out
* The 2016-2017 season marks the first time the Rams will be back in their original city of Los Angeles
* From 1995 until 2015, St. Louis was the Rams host city
Dozens of primped and polished ladies put their best faces forward on Sunday, to compete in the final round of try-outs for the Los Angeles Rams cheerleading team.
The 66 women who made it to the last round spend the evening wowing the judges in the swimsuit competition, dance performance and final interview at the Forum arena in Inglewood.
In the end, 28 women were selected to join the squad – the first to be back in Los Angeles since the Rams moved to St. Louis for 20 years in 1995.
‘I was so excited. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I started crying and I think I hit myself in the face,’ one of the new cheerleaders told KCAL.
Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders celebrate after receiving their team jackets during final auditions for the cheerleading squad in Los Angeles, California on April 17
Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders celebrate after receiving their team jackets during final auditions for the cheerleading squad in Los Angeles, California on April 17
Former Rams player and pro-Football Hall of Fame member Marshall Faulk was part of the five-man, four-woman panel that selected the final team.
Lisa Estrada, vice president of entertainment and facilities for the Los Angeles Lakers, and John Peters, Rams cheer choreographer, also helped in making the final decision.
Auditions for the team started on April 2, when 400 women turned out to try-out for the team at the Galen center.
For the following two weeks, the scores of women went through preliminary auditions, professional interviews and dance rehearsals.
The Rams NFL football team is returning to Los Angeles for the 2016 season after having left the city along with the Los Angeles Raiders after the 1994 season
The Rams NFL football team is returning to Los Angeles for the 2016 season after having left the city along with the Los Angeles Raiders after the 1994 season
Try-outs started April 2, and included more than 400 women. By the final auditions on Sunday, just 66 women were left
During final tryouts on Sunday, the women showed off their talents in a swimsuit contest, dance performance and interview.
Los Angeles Rams cheerleader hopeful Sativa M. performs during the swimsuit portion of the squad’s final auditions on Sunday (she later made the team).
On the right, Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Samantha O. is greeted by former Rams cheerleaders.
Los Angeles Rams cheerleader hopeful Gaebri A. performs during the swimsuit portion of the squad’s final auditions. Gaebri did not make the team.
Los Angeles Rams cheerleader hopefuls perform during the dance portion of the squad’s final auditions in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Stephanie E. is greeted by former Rams cheerleaders and the team’s mascot after the cheerleading squad’s final auditions on Sunday.
Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Micki J. is greeted by former Rams cheerleaders and the team’s mascot after the final auditions in Los Angeles, California, USA, 17 April 2016
Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Jennifer P. is greeted by former Rams cheerleaders and the team’s mascot after the final auditions for the cheerleading squad in Los Angeles, California, USA, 17 April 2016.
Los Angeles Rams cheerleader hopeful Michelle S. performs during the dance portion of the squad’s final auditions on Sunday. Michelle later made the team.
‘They only cheer one day a week. Those other six days they have to carry around those horns and make sure they are just as respectable off the field as they are on the field,’ Faulk said.
In addition to cheering at games, NFL cheerleaders are also required to carry out 1,500 hours of community service each year, and take part in other team appearances and rehearse. They also pose for the annual Rams Cheerleading Swimsuit Calendar and Rams Cheer Poster.
Recently, several cheerleading squads have lodged lawsuits against their teams for wage theft.
In one lawsuit, filed by the Oakland Raiders cheerleaders, it was claimed that they were being paid less than $5 an hour when all of their time was accounted for.
Cheerleading teams for the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also filed similar lawsuits.
Four of these lawsuits have been settled with teams agreeing to pay out a combined $2.5million in back wages, while admitting no wrong doing.
The Raiders are now paying their cheerleaders minimum wage.
Newly chosen Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders celebrate after receiving their team jackets during the final auditions for the cheerleading squad.
The 28-woman crew will perform at games, as well as take part in 1,500 hours of community service.
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