A NEW member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders has had to respond to unusual controversy surrounding her HAIRSTYLE.

Faith Ward, 22, caused a stir when she uploaded an Instagram post celebrating sealing her spot on the DCC team for the upcoming season.

Ward, who has made history as the first ever New Zealander to make the grade, had Dallas fans and Cheerleading traditionalists shocked when she shared a snap holding up her uniform.

However it wasn’t for something that most people would find controversial, but rather simply because she has tied her hair back into a ponytail.

The Kiwi dancer was flooded with messages and comments asking how she was able to go against the grain by tying back her hair, with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders known for their flowing locks.

The team’s so-called ‘Hairography’ has become a huge part of their cheer routines in years gone by and almost every dancer has long bouncy hair for practice and gameday.

While the Cowboys even offer the girls free hair styling to ensure they are able to keep on top of their impressive hairdos.

Now Ward has had to explain why she has become the new anomaly with her tied-up style.

Responding to a question about her hairstyle, she told ABC Perth: “It’s crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks. But I’ve broken that stereotype.”

Adding: “So, I’m in rehearsal one of the days with my hair out and I am, you know, sweating after doing ‘Thunderstruck’.

“She’s [Kelli Finglass, DCC Director] looking at me and she’s like, ‘You know what? I really want to see what your hair would look like tied up.’

“I put it up for her and she really liked the way it danced which was really cool because I was super excited about that. Your girl doesn’t want to have her hair out, sweaty in her face [while] dancing.

“I go into uniform fittings and keep my hair up in the hope that she would like it still, and I walk in and she goes, ‘You’re giving Ariana Grande! Like, we need an Ariana Grande moment on the team’.”

Ward isn’t the first Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader to make a splash with her hair.

Long-time DCC veteran Armani Latimer took to the decision to perform without her wig on last year, having struggled with alopecia.

The 24-year-old bravely stepped out on to the field without any hair, empowering herself and others dealing with hair loss.

Speaking to NBC DFW last year, she said: “Going out on a football field without a wig, cheering in front of 80,000 people, just looking back at the young lady who was sitting in front of her mirror crying because she didn’t have any hair left on her head.

“I tend to get emotional thinking about that journey, but I honestly sitting here today looking back at it, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”