By Sari Krosinsky
UNM Today

Jacque­line John­son and her daughters

For­mer Dal­las Cow­boys Cheer­leader and Miss New Mex­ico USA Jacque­line John­son grad­u­ated from UNM this semes­ter with a Bach­e­lor of Arts in soci­ol­ogy. She started at UNM in 1992, but delayed fin­ish­ing her edu­ca­tion to com­pete in the Miss USA pageant, cheer, coach and start a fam­ily. In 2009, she decided she needed to com­plete her degree as a role model for her two daugh­ters, ages 5 and 7.John­son said she dreamt of com­pet­ing to be Miss USA since she was a lit­tle girl and entered her first pageant at age 9. She said Miss New Mex­ico USA “is a role model to young women across the state, and she is also a source of hope and encour­age­ment for many.”

“My biggest hope for the year I reigned as Miss New Mex­ico USA was to make a pos­i­tive impact in someone’s life. At the time, I was coach­ing a cheer and dance team at Wil­son Mid­dle School here in Albu­querque. The girls on my team sent me a care pack­age in South Padre Island, where I was com­pet­ing for Miss USA. I still have the enve­lope full of their let­ters. The excite­ment and sweet words in those let­ters for­ever changed me. I knew in that moment that I was an impor­tant role model in their young lives, and that feel­ing will stay with me always.”

After another year at UNM, John­son became a Dal­las Cow­boys Cheer­leader in 1996. Audi­tion­ing for that was even more intim­i­dat­ing than com­pet­ing in the Miss USA pageant, she said. “Being a Dal­las Cow­boys Cheer­leader was one of the hard­est things I have ever done. The audi­tion process alone is enough to scare any­one away… Get­ting through train­ing camp and hav­ing the oppor­tu­nity to wear the pres­ti­gious uni­form and per­form at Texas Sta­dium in front of 64,000 fans is some­thing that still gives me goose bumps.”

In 1998 she returned briefly to UNM and coached the Chap­ar­ral dance team for a year – a team she’d danced with for three years. “It was like com­ing home,” she said. “Hav­ing the oppor­tu­nity to coach the girls and be a part of UNM Lobo ath­let­ics again was so much fun. There is noth­ing like cheer­ing on a Lobo game in The Pit!”

John­son returned to Dal­las for 10 years, where she mar­ried, had her daugh­ters and got divorced before com­ing back to Albuquerque.

She decided to return to UNM in 2009 after train­ing to become a court appointed spe­cial advo­cate for abused and neglected chil­dren. “The expe­ri­ence I had work­ing with the two chil­dren on my first case made me real­ize that I had to fin­ish. Mak­ing a pos­i­tive dif­fer­ence in the life of a child has always been where my heart is. I knew I had to fin­ish my degree in order to have a career in which I can make a dif­fer­ence every day,” she said.

She also wanted to show – and not just tell – her daugh­ters the value of edu­ca­tion. “My daugh­ters were able to wit­ness their mommy grad­u­ate col­lege, and that was worth it all,” she said.

Going back to col­lege full time was a big change. “It was a lit­tle scary to leave my job and return to school full time, but I was fol­low­ing my heart and my intu­ition,” John­son said. She said that with­out the sup­port of fam­ily and friends, “it would have been near impos­si­ble to do as well as I did. My best friend Amanda always had the most encour­ag­ing words for me when I felt like I was in over my head. My par­ents and sib­lings lent a hand when needed with my daugh­ters and were sup­port­ive of the choice I had made to fin­ish school.”

Now that she’s grad­u­ated, John­son plans to do case­work with chil­dren in the non­profit sec­tor and even­tu­ally pur­sue a master’s degree in coun­sel­ing or social work.

Written by U.S. Army Spc. Brian P. Glass
Task Force Patriot Public Affairs
Clarksville Online

Logar Province, Afghanistan – Celebrities traveling throughout Afghanistan on a USO tour stopped at Forward Operating Base Shank to meet and entertain and troops for the holiday season December 21st.

Country music star Buddy Jewell from Nashville, Tennessee, was excited for this opportunity to visit with servicemembers. Jewell, who has asked for years to come out on USO tours to Afghanistan, finally got his shot this year.

“My good buddy Kenny Thomas, who has done a lot of work for the Soldiers, he and I were riding together a while back and I said I really wanted to get on one of these tours for a long time,” said Jewell. “A couple of weeks later the phone rings and he said, ‘There’s a spot available, you want to go?’ I said yes. It’s a thrill to be here.”

Joe Cook, Dallas resident and guitarist for Buddy Jewell, said he enjoys being here and entertaining the Soldiers, even if it means missing Christmas at home with his family.

“Buddy called me up and asked if I wanted to participate,” said Cook. “I always wanted to, because all of my family is military.”

Cook added that both of his grandfathers fought in World War II. He has an uncle who fought in Vietnam and a cousin who recently joined the Marines.

The guitarist said he respects the work of all the servicemembers in Afghanistan and said his job isn’t the same without the work done overseas.

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Brandi Redmond gives a hug to a Soldier from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division’s Task Force Patriot during a USO tour at Forward Operating Base Shank Dec. 21st. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Brian P. Glass, Task Force Patriot Public Affairs) Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Brandi Redmond gives a hug to a Soldier from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division’s Task Force Patriot during a USO tour at Forward Operating Base Shank Dec. 21st. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Brian P. Glass, Task Force Patriot Public Affairs)

“I get to do what I do for a living because of you guys protecting my freedoms,” said Cook. “It’s the least I can do, to be able to come over here. (It) makes me proud to do what I do. I can’t wait to get home and tell everyone I come into contact with what you guys do over here for our nation.”

To the delight of Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division’s Task Force Patriot Soldiers, two Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders came on the trip to entertain the troops. Brandi Redmond and Nicole Hamilton brought smiles and laughter to every person with whom they came in contact.

Redmond said she is especially motivated to do this tour because of her family.

“I came out here because I wanted to give back,” said Redmond. “My brother is serving in the military right now; it means a lot.”

Hamilton said she was excited to see the Soldiers and was amazed at their work ethics and hoped to help them relax a little bit.

“I guess it really makes me appreciate what you guys do over here,” she said. “All the Soldiers do is work, work, work. I got to see the Soldiers’ softer sides today.”

The entertainers left a lasting impression with the Soldiers, and the TF Patriot Soldiers left a lasting impression on them, too.

“To see the smiles on their faces and see how genuinely grateful they are to see us here, it makes us really proud,” said Jewell.

Pretty as a Christmas Card. The Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders in their holiday uniforms last Saturday.

Blast Cheerleader Director Elizabeth “Liz” Guaraldo and four members of her squad.

A couple of Blast Cheerleaders who are on the disabled list.

With the Chick-fil-A cow.

Former Blast Cheerleader Margaret

[Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders Gallery]

On Thursday, Jan. 20, USA Network premieres “Fairly Legal,” starring former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Sarah Shahi as San Francisco mediator Kate Reed. Unlike her dressed-down police-detective character on NBC’s “Life,” Kate is a bit of a fashion plate.

In the “Fairly Legal” pilot, that includes black peep-toe Louboutin pumps with sky-high heels.

Asked how she liked chasing after a cable car in those shoes, Shahi tells Zap2it, “That’s the first question every girl asks. It was very stylish, but it hurt like hell. At one point, I just threw them off, and I yelled at the director, ‘I’m not running around San Francisco looking like this!’

CaRu Entertainment and the Fight Vixens will be hosting a pre-audition workshop at the Suburban Sports Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 15 from 3-6 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 16 at 12-3 p.m. SSTC is located at 1032 Conshohocken Road, Conshohocken, PA, 19428.

Anyone interested in auditioning to be a part of the 2011 Vixens Dance Team or 2011 Junior Vixens are encouraged to attend. Dancers must be 10+ to participate. To register, email workshops@caruentertainment.com.

The workshop will include sessions with top choreographers from NYC, insider tips on what the judges look for during auditions, one-on-one critiques and fitness tips for dancers.

[Vixens Dance Team]

By Shawn Donnelly
Esquire

After Baltimore beat the Super Bowl champs, a gorgeous Ravenette breaks down the game, the end of Brett Favre, the problem with Steelers fans, the miracle at the Meadowlands, and why Tony Romo isn’t her type.

Week Fifteen in the NFL delivered one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks in NFL history, a scare for the Patriots in Foxborough against a backup Packer, and some much-needed confidence for Mark Sanchez and the Jets. Meanwhile, one of the best teams in the league knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions, as the Ravens used 39 rushing attempts — without a turnover — and a late interception of their own to earn a statement win, 30-24, and snap a six-game winning streak for the Saints.

Perhaps this team is slowly becoming as well-rounded and determined as its second-year cheerleader Serena. The half-Italian, half-Chinese dance instructor speaks no fewer than five languages, and when she’s not studying to become a dental hygienist (“I figure there will always be a need for dental hygienists”), she’s helping out at her father’s restaurant. She’s also completely fluent in football.

ESQUIRE: On the Ravens Web site, you list Ray Rice as your favorite player. The guy finished with 233 total yards and two TDs yesterday. You must be a happy camper.

SERENA: Ray Rice was a fireball. I was literally jumping up and down every time he did something. Which was often.

ESQ: Your QB seemed pretty fired up, too, yelling at the refs as he threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Is this a new Joe Flacco?

SER: He’s expressing more emotion this year and being more vocal. Even at the end of the game yesterday, he was trying to convince the coaches to go for it on fourth down. He’s really stepping out of his shell. We kind of hear him more on the sidelines. Which I think is good.

ESQ: Your Ravens are now 10-4 with their final two regular season games against the lowly Browns and Bengals. You booking your tickets to Dallas yet?

SER: We’re making the playoffs, for sure. And I honestly think they could go all the way. All the games that they’ve lost, they could have easily won. A lot of games this season, we’ve looked like a totally different team in the second half. In a bad way. But hopefully we’ve corrected that.

ESQ: Excluding the Ravens for a second, who do you see in the Super Bowl?

SER: I’m thinking the Patriots. I also kind of like the Saints and Drew Brees. As long as the Steelers aren’t there, I think I’ll be happy.

ESQ: Why not the Steelers?

SER: I just find that their fans are so rude. It’s like, you have to be respectful of other teams. You don’t have to talk trash all the time.

ESQ: What was your reaction to seeing the Eagles score four touchdowns in the last seven minutes to beat the Giants?

SER: I was shocked. That must feel pretty bad if you’re the Giants. It just goes to show, you have to keep playing — you can’t let up.

ESQ: What did you think of the way DeSean Jackson teasingly ran along the goal line before heading into the end zone on his game-winning punt return? Style points, or inappropriate?

SER: I’m a big fan of touchdown dances. I find them entertaining. But to do something on your way in, before you score, and be like, “Oh, oh, do you see what I’m doing? I’m totally going in your end zone right now…” I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think that you should rub it in the face of the other team like that.

ESQ: Best bird team — Ravens, Eagles, or Falcons?

SER: Ravens. Ravens, Ravens, Ravens. Hundred percent.

ESQ: This week’s Monday-nighter game pits the Bears against the Vikings in Minneapolis — outdoors. And Brett Favre won’t be playing for the Vikings. Do you think we’ve seen the last of the silver fox?

SER: I don’t think he’s ready to finish quite yet. He’s not a quitter. As long as he can physically go, I think he’ll play at least one more game. He hasn’t quit his whole career, so I don’t see why he would start now.

ESQ: So who do you got in tonight’s game?

SER: I’m going to say Vikings. I know they’re starting their third-string quarterback, but — who knows? — maybe he’s their secret weapon.

ESQ: Okay, now to the biggest news of the week. Were you saddened to hear that Tony Romo is now off the market?

SER: Romo is a great football player, but he’s not really my type. I’m not jealous by any means. I’m happy for him.

ESQ: So if leading the Cowboys doesn’t impress you, what does?

SER: Confidence is important, but not overconfidence. He needs to be modest. And I think in the long run, someone that’s funny is the best.

[Serena at Ravens.com]

By Daphne Taylor
South Florida Times

If you think the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders are just a bunch of pretty faces with curvaceous bods, you had better think again. A glimpse into the lives of the 40 women reveals there is a whole lot more than meets the eye.

While some people find it hard to get beyond their good looks and perky demeanor, dig a little deeper and you’ll find there is depth beneath the surface.

Some of them have bachelor’s degrees, some have master’s degrees, they are ambitious and goal-oriented and some have overcome great odds to make it to the elite ranks of professional sports cheerleading.

In fact, the requirements for becoming a ’Fins cheerleader include being enrolled in school or having a job, according to Emily Newton, the Miami Dolphins cheerleading coordinator and director.

Kristena Wright, 23, is one of six African Americans on the squad and you could say she is the complete package, possessing both brains and beauty.

Wright obtained a bachelor of science in Family Science from the University of Maryland at College Park. She knows the perception out there is that she and the other cheerleaders are simply there to serve as eye candy for the team and for the fans.

But, Wright said in an interview, many of her cheerleading colleagues, who range in age from 18 to 29, have college degrees and some are studying to become doctors and lawyers. And, she added, fortitude and ambition are common traits among this group of gorgeous ladies.

She knows about fortitude and ambition. A college cheerleading injury left her partly paralyzed for two months. “I had to learn to walk all over again,” she recalled. The injury left her unable to do traditional cheerleading, so she concentrated on dance. She landed a spot with the NBA and spent two years as a Washington Wizards cheerleader before joining the Dolphins, where she is in her rookie year.

Aja Stevens, 22, is also in her first year with the hometown football team. “Everyone doubted me because I’m a mom,” she said, in an interview at the recent Miami Dolphins Toy Drive at the team’s training facility in Davie. She is the only mother on the current squad, although in past years there have been others, Newton said.

Raised by a single mother and her grandmother, Stevens said, she was taught to shoot for the stars. “I’ve always had dreams of becoming a professional dancer or performer,” said the Opa-locka native. “I was so determined. I let nothing stop me, ever.”

Stevens has obtained an associate’s degree and is studying at Florida International University for a bachelor’s in Business Management and Marketing. “I feel that I’m motivation for a lot of girls,” she said. “I’m letting them know that nothing should stop them from their dreams.”

Mariela Campuzano, 28, who was born in Bolivia but raised by a single mother in Miami, is another example of a pretty face coupled with ambition and goals. She has received a bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and a master’s in Educational Leadership, but her life-long goal had always been to become a professional sports dancer. One of five Latinas on the Dolphins squad, she credits her mother with teaching her to strive for her dreams.

Newton, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, said although the girls are attractive, the team looks for other attributes, as well, such as a good personality, being physically fit and well-spoken. They must be able to represent the Dolphins organization at various appearances and at home games and charity events.

Most of the women said although nothing compares to the excitement of Game Day, it is the charity work they find most rewarding, particularly helping needy kids.

“My goal is to make them smile for today – even if I may never see them again,” said Wright.

[Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Official Website]

A couple of photos from courtesy of reader Jackson of 2011 Bucs Pro Bowl Cheerleader Tiffany:

In the Bucs Xmas Uniform

And wearing the traditional Pro Bowl Lei.

And here are a few bonus photos of Tiffany from the P-R-O Convention:

As a Timberwolves Dancer in the The Line Up fashion shoq.

[Tiffany at Buccaneers.com]

Congratulations to four-year veteran Fabiola on her selection as the MDC Pro Bowl Cheerleader.

[Fabiola at MiamiDolphinsCheerleaders.net]

Kimberly Vaughn, an eight-year veteran of the Washington Redskins cheerleading squad, has been named the Virginia Destroyers first dance team director.

The Destroyers, the United Football League’s second-ever expansion team, will begin play in August 2011 at the Virginia Beach SportsPlex.

“I am really excited to be starting with the Virginia Destroyers for their very first season,” said Vaughn. “It allows me to be really creative and be a part of something really special.”

Vaughn was a member of the Redskins cheerleading squad in 1998 and from 2000 to 2007. She was a four-year captain, a choreographer and was a 2007 Pro Bowl representative.

“I am very familiar with choreography and the game day experience,” Vaughn said. “Because I’ve actually been a part of a professional squad before, I have a different viewpoint, not only as an onlooker, but having been one of the cheerleaders, I know what they need to know to be game day-ready.”

Vaughn also was a swimsuit cover girl and annual calendar model, won the Director’s Choice Award every year from 2003 to 2006, won the Outstanding Leadership and Choreography Award in 2003 and 2006 and earned the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

While with the Redskins, Vaughn also was a Variety Show Traveling Team Member. From 2001 to 2007, she took 12 tours traveling overseas to more than 35 countries to various military bases in support of the Department of Defense, MWR and USO, performing for United States troops.

She also was a member of, and calendar model for, Sweethearts for Soldiers in 2007 and 2008, and a Royal Challengers Bangalore Professional Cheerleader (professional cricket) in 2008.

Vaughn is ready to begin assembling the Destroyers dance team / cheerleading squad. Tryouts will begin in February.

“I’ve moved here from the West Coast,” she added. “I’m happy to be back in Virginia and thrilled to take part in this exciting new venture.”