Perth's DCC sets record straight on unusual hairstyle

Perth Now

4 days ago

One of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' newest recruits has set the record straight after she was spotted donning a hairstyle not associated with being a DCC.
Perth's very own Faith Ward is one of five new rookies to join the famous cheerleading team in Texas that is known for implementing strict rules on the dancers, including extreme beauty guidelines.
Following the 2025 team announcement last week, eagle-eyed DCC fans noticed that Ward was the only cheerleader with her hair styled in a ponytail, contrary to the hair-down look that has become synonymous with the squad.
On Thursday, Ward confirmed on social media that the ponytail was here to stay after having her official team photos.
'I've been hearing a lot of tales, and I'm here to set the record straight,' she said in a video on Instagram.
'Well, as you can see here, my headshot, that's how it all started, so that's how they found me, that's how they saw me, and I guess they just preferred me with my hair up rather than out there's not that much tea to it.'
The 22-year-old said the controversial hairdo made the team's brutal training camp debut two weeks in.
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'They asked me to tie it up, and then I kind of just left it that way and then uniform fittings really confirmed it,' she said.
The Wellington-born, who is the first New Zealander to make DCC, also revealed the reaction from squad director Kelli Finglass.
'Ariana Grande is all she had to say, which I was like, that's amazing, obviously my hair was a little bit shorter at the time, so we added some longer extensions, went a bit blonder,' she said.
Friends and fans took to the comments section with mixed reactions to the rule-bending.
DCC veteran Charly Barby said: 'Our pony princess.' Faith Ward with her fellow rookies. Credit: Supplied
'This is so iconic. The girl with the ponytail!' a fan said.
Another fan said: 'Normalise ponies cause my hair would be a full frizzy mess covered in sweat if I was doing all this with it down.'
'Is Faith really Faith if she doesn't have her iconic slick back ponytail?' a third fan added.
Another fan said: 'The ponytail looks SO good!! And I love the uniform on her. She honestly looks like she was born to be a DCC.'
However, one fan disagreed with the hair change.
'I think you're gorgeous, but I prefer the down hairstyle of all the DCC! The hair rule STAYS DOWN,' they said.
Meanwhile, others paid attention to a film crew in the background of Ward's video, where they hoped for an announcement of season three of the hit Netflix show America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Faith Ward is representing New Zealand and Australia. Credit: Supplied
'I see a film crew in the background 👀 season 3?!' a fan said.
It comes after Ward herself hinted at another season where fans would get an insight to her DCC journey after explaining how overwhelmed she felt during her first training camp lesson.
'The first lesson when I came in, I'm sure you guys will eventually see, I'm a deer in headlights,' she told PerthNow
'Going into an environment where I'd never done the style before, never held a pair of pom poms, and didn't know any of the routines, while all the veterans around you know what they're doing is extremely intimidating.
'Plus, you're literally fighting for your life in front of Judy and Kellie, so you want to do the best you can.'
'Girl, hopefully Netflix releases season three. I would love to see that too.'