Hanks wins Cowboy cheerleader fan vote
By ANNETTE WHITE
The Daily Tribune
May 12, 2015
After a whirlwind weekend of panel interviews, kick routines and solo performances, former Mount Pleasant High School Tiger Doll Colby Hanks was named the winner of the 2015 Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders fan vote, granting her an automatic invitation to DCC Training Camp this summer.
“It was pretty surreal to hear my number called out as the fan vote winner,” Hanks said. “It made it even more special that I was able to share the experience with people that I cherish and adore. To know that my fans are a part of what made it happen made it pretty amazing.”
Hanks said she was overwhelmed at the support she received from her hometown, as well as all of her friends and family.
“I love my hometown so much,” she said. “I even wore black and gold during my solo.”
Hanks, who currently works for her family’s Leesburg-based business Eastex Crude, said the hard part of her journey is still to come.
“The hard work begins at training,” she said. “Training camp is widely known as a transformational process for your dancing, as well as character-building. It can be hard because there’s a lot of time and effort that goes into it, and everyone there is juggling careers and cheerleading, trying to get our lives together so we can maintain a good sense of balance in our lives.”
Hanks said practices run every weeknight in June, July and August, until football seasons kicks off.
“We’ve all cleared our summer calendars,” she said. “We’re all very thrilled to be continuing the journey together.”
Hanks was selected with 45 other finalists to attend the training camp. She said 82 candidates participated in the final auditions last weekend, including 23 veterans and 59 rookie candidates.
According to Hanks, 13 of 36 Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders retired after last season, essentially leaving 13 open spots on the squad.
“As a rookie this was an exciting year to come into the organization,” Hanks said. “More girls chose to retire, leaving more spots available. There’s a great sense of excitement among the girls.”
The 46 candidates attending training camp consist of 20 veterans and 26 rookies. However, Hanks said many of the rookie candidates selected are alumni from other professional teams, such as cheerleaders from the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Dallas Stars.
Hanks also confirmed that the audition process, as well as training camp, will air in the 10th season of “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” this August. The show will premiere on CMT.
