NEED TO KNOW
Faith Ward broke her silence on why she’s allowed to style her hair in a ponytail rather than curly and down, like the rest of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are known for wearingThe DCC rookie addressed her “controversial” hairstyle during an interview with ABC Perth on July 21, explaining how the updo style came about in the first place Ward will make her DCC debut for the 2025-2026 NFL season, making her one of six rookies to join the squad and the first-ever member to hail from New Zealand
While the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ blue-and-white uniforms are the same, there’s one detail to the squad’s iconic looks that’s allowed to be different — hair.
Faith Ward, a DCC rookie who made history as the first New Zealander to make the team, turned heads during training camp for wearing her hair in a slicked-back ponytail rather than the voluptuously down ‘dos that the cheerleaders are known for wearing at games.
Fans of the DCC flooded her comment section on TikTok with questions about why Ward’s allowed to wear a ponytail, breaking the long-standing tradition of sporting big, bouncy curls like the rest. Now, she’s broken her silence on the most-asked-about question on her page.
“It’s crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks. I’ve broken that stereotype,” Ward tells ABC Perth during an interview on Monday, July 21.
Faith Ward.
Faith Ward/Instagram
Ward recalled the origin story of when the DCC head, Kelli Finglass, realized that an updo would be best for her during games.
“So, I’m in rehearsal one of the days with my hair out and I am, you know, sweating after doing ‘Thunderstruck’,” she explains of the iconic number. She’s looking at me and she’s like, ‘You know what? I really want to see what your hair would look like tied up.'”
Naturally, Ward put her hair up after the request. Not only did the cheerleader then nail the choreographer with her locks up — but her hair did, too!
“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,” the rookie said. “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 hopes 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,” she continued.
In shock, Ward responded, “‘Are you serious right now, Kelli? Like this is so exciting!'” She’s like, ‘Yeah, but I want your ponytail longer, I want it blonder and then I want to see a cameo day where I prefer you be with your hair out.”
Faith Ward and Kelli Finglass.
Faith Ward/Instagram; Netflix
“So the reason why I haven’t addressed it yet is because I want to wait and see what she has to say as to whether it’s solidified yet,” she shared. “So right now, it’s looking very hopeful that I will be a DCC with a ponytail.”
Ward added, “But, we still have to keep an open mind to the possibility that I could be going back to be hair out. So we can’t get too excited yet!”
The DCC cheerleaders have topped headlines in recent weeks since the release of Netflix’s hit America’s Sweethearts season 2, a series that gives viewers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the squad from auditions to game day.
From the strict rules and guidelines they must follow to their salary, the Netflix series covers it all. In addition to the show, many of the cheerleaders have opened up on their respective social media platforms to share further insight into their day-to-day lives.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform during the NFC Wild Card game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers on January 14, 2024.
Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire/Getty
On the topic of hair, cheerleader Ava Lahey — who also stars in Netflix’s hit America’s Sweethearts series — addressed why she’s allowed to wear her hair straight as opposed to the iconic curly, like the rest of the DCC members on the team.
“The number one question I get asked as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader is ‘Why do I get to wear my hair straight?'” she said in a voiceover posted on June 28. “Well, here’s the real story,” she began in the clip.
“When I made it to training camp for the first time, I tried curling my hair, but it never really held,” she explained while demonstrating how she styles her hair. “It would just fall flat after 20 minutes and look really stringy.”
“My hair is naturally really soft and fine,” Lahey added. “During rookie makeovers, they told me to try wearing it straight, and I’ll never forget it. When I went back to rehearsal, one of the comments was, ‘It dances better’.”
“I did end up getting cut from training camp that year, but when I made it back to training camp again, I wore it straight right off the bat,” she continued. “Now fast forward to makeovers again, they said they loved it straight, sleek and blonde, and I was so happy!”