{"id":117209,"date":"2025-11-06T00:33:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T00:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=117209"},"modified":"2025-11-06T00:33:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T00:33:45","slug":"the-dallas-cowboys-cheerleader-speaks-out-on-her-hairstyle-controversy-rookie-icon-keeps-that-slick-ponytail-despite-the-viral-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=117209","title":{"rendered":"The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader speaks out on her hairstyle controversy \u2014 rookie icon keeps that slick ponytail despite the viral backlash!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

From flowy hair to stunning dance moves, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are known for turning heads.<\/p>\n

But one cheerleader \u2014 Faith Ward \u2014 has caused a stir by daring to step outside of the box with a new beauty standard of her own.<\/p>\n

In a TikTok video posted July 17, Ward celebrated making history as the first New Zealander to secure a spot on the 2025-2026 DCC squad.<\/p>\n

Fans couldn\u2019t help but notice in the clip that Ward sported her hair in a sleek ponytail \u2014 a total 180 from the traditional voluminous down hairdos that football fans have been used to seeing the team\u2019s cheerleaders wear at games since the 1960s.<\/p>\n

TikTok users left dozens of comments under the video about Ward\u2019s unusual style.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust wondering why do you wear your hair up in a ponytail as a DCC I thought it was a requirement to have it up at practice?\u201d one person questioned.<\/p>\n

Another person asked, \u201cReal question, I don\u2019t normally see other dancers with their hair up, are you the only one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, why the ponytail?\u201d another added.<\/p>\n

In a separate now-viral video posted by DCC member Charly Barby, a ponytail-wearing Ward could be seen standing alongside Barby and other new recruits, who all wore their hair down.<\/p>\n

Ward\u2019s appearance in Barby\u2019s video also sparked discourse among DCC fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pony is iconic but like how is she allowed to have it like that,\u201d one fan commented under the video, while another declared, \u201cNo pony! It\u2019s the DCC way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ward addressed the backlash from fans, telling ABC Perth on Monday that she\u2019s \u201cbroken that stereotype.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks, but I\u2019ve broken that stereotype,\u201d Ward said.<\/p>\n

She then explained that the switch-up wasn\u2019t her idea, but instead, DCC Director Kelli Finglass suggested the hairstyle change.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I\u2019m in rehearsal one of the days with my hair out and I am, you know, sweating after doing \u2018Thunderstruck,\u2019\u201d she recalled. \u201c[Finglass is] looking at me and she\u2019s like, \u2018You know what? I really want to see what your hair would look like tied up.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Ward continued, \u201cI 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\u2019t want to have her hair out, sweaty in her face [while] dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ward shared that Finglass compared her ponytail look to singer Ariana Grande.<\/p>\n

\u201cI go into uniform fittings and keep my hair up in hopes that she would like it still, and I walk in and she goes, \u2019You\u2019re giving Ariana Grande! Like, we need an Ariana Grande moment on the team,\u2019\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

Ward said that Finglass suggested a few tweaks to her hairstyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s like, \u2019Yeah, but I want your ponytail longer, I want it blonder and then I want to see at cameo day whether I prefer you be with your hair out or in a ponytail.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

But according to Ward, whether her ponytail is here to stay is still up in the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the reason why I haven\u2019t addressed it yet is because I want to wait and see what she has to say as to whether or not it\u2019s solidified yet,\u201d she told the outlet. \u201cSo right now, it\u2019s looking very hopeful that I will be a DCC with a ponytail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ward added, \u201cBut, we still have to keep an open mind to the possibility that I could be going back to my hair out. So we can\u2019t get too excited yet!\u201d<\/p>\n

The chatter over Ward\u2019s ponytail comes on the heels of the release of Season 2 of Netflix\u2019s \u201cAmerica\u2019s Sweethearts\u201d last month, which explores the rigid rules that the DCC squad must follow, including makeup and hair guidelines.<\/p>\n

Related…<\/h3>\n