You probably saw her face on Netflix. Or maybe you caught a glimpse of that dramatic hair transformation that made everyone on the internet lose their minds for a second. Kelly Villares has become one of the most talked-about names in the world of professional cheerleading, but her path to the star-spangled uniform wasn't exactly a straight line. It was messy. It was stressful. Honestly, it was a masterclass in what happens when you refuse to take "no" for an answer.
Most people recognize her from America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the documentary that pulled back the curtain on the 2023-2024 season. But if you're looking for the girl who just showed up and "made it," you're looking at the wrong person. Kelly is what the DCC world calls a "comeback queen."
The Moment Kelly Villares Almost Gave Up
Let's talk about that first year. Moving from Weehawken, New Jersey, to Texas is a culture shock on its own, but Kelly did it with one singular goal: making the squad. She had the resume. She was a standout on the Rutgers University Dance Team for four years. She’d even performed as a backup dancer for Blake Shelton at the CMT Awards. On paper? She was a lock.
But the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) audition process is a different beast. It’s not just about how well you can dance; it’s about a very specific "look" and a "spark" that Director Kelli Finglass and Choreographer Judy Trammell spend months hunting for. During that first season on Netflix, we saw Kelly get cut. It was brutal to watch. She was right there, on the precipice, and then she was sent home.
Most people would have packed their bags and headed back to Jersey. Instead, Kelly stayed. She worked. She spent an entire year sharpening her technique and, perhaps most famously, she leaned into the "makeover" the judges suggested.
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The Great Hair Debate
If you follow the DCC forums or Reddit, you know the hair was a whole thing. In her first audition, Kelly had this bright, bleached blonde hair that—to be fair—was a bit fried from the Texas sun and constant styling. The judges weren't feeling it. For season 2, Kelly returned with a much healthier, richer look. She basically told the world she was willing to change her entire aesthetic if it meant earning that spot.
Life as a 2024-2025 Rookie
When the roster for the 2024-2025 season was finally announced, there she was. Kelly Villares officially became a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
The transition from "hopeful" to "rookie" is notoriously exhausting. You’ve got the 7 a.m. starts, the midnight finishes, and the constant pressure of learning "Thunderstruck"—the team’s iconic entrance routine. Kelly has been open about the fact that being a rookie is a time of "exploration and learning." It’s not just about the sidelines; it’s about the community service, the USO tours, and the insane amount of brand work that comes with the territory.
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Speaking of brands, Kelly’s personal stock has skyrocketed. You’ll see her working with big names like:
- Charlotte Tilbury
- Olay
- Tresemmé
- Victoria's Secret
She isn't just a dancer anymore. She’s a full-blown influencer with a "face card" that fans constantly rave about on social media. But don't let the glam fool you. The job pays much better than it used to—reports suggest the top-tier girls are making significantly more than the old $75-per-game rates—but the physical toll is real.
What Most People Get Wrong About Kelly
There’s this misconception that Kelly is "just" a reality TV character. That’s nonsense.
The Netflix show makes for great drama, but the dancing is elite-level athleticism. If you watch her Rutgers pom or jazz routines, you see the foundation. She’s fluent in Spanish (her father is Cuban and her mother is Colombian), and she brings a level of Latina representation to the squad that fans have been vocal about supporting. Along with teammates like Julissa, Kelly is helping shift the "All-American" image into something more modern and reflective of the real world.
She’s also incredibly close with other fan favorites like Charly Barby and Reece Weaver. That "sisterhood" thing they talk about on the show? It’s not just for the cameras. They’re constantly spotted together in the off-season, whether it's at New York Fashion Week or just grabbing coffee in Frisco.
Why Her Story Actually Matters
Kelly Villares represents the "long game." In a world where we want instant gratification, she showed up, failed publicly on a global streaming platform, and then came back and won.
She didn't complain about the judges' critiques regarding her hair or her style; she used them as a roadmap. That kind of resilience is why she’s become a standout member of the 2024-2025 squad. She didn't just want to be on TV. She wanted the boots.
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If you’re following her journey, the best way to stay updated is through her Instagram or the official DCC roster updates. She’s currently in the thick of the NFL season, performing at AT&T Stadium and handling the whirlwind that comes with being an "America’s Sweetheart."
How to Follow Kelly’s Career
If you're looking to keep tabs on her progress or want to see the "behind the scenes" of a DCC rookie year, here is what you should do:
- Watch "America’s Sweethearts" Season 2: This season covers the 2024-2025 auditions where Kelly finally makes her dreams a reality.
- Check the DCC App: For official game-day photos and performance clips, the official Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders app is the most reliable source.
- Follow the "Rookie" Vlogs: Many of the girls, including Kelly, share bits of their "Game Day Glam" and locker room life on TikTok and YouTube, providing a much more candid look than the polished Netflix edit.