Melissa (S9 Rookie)

* 21-years-old from Nevada. She’s going into her senior year at SMU, and majoring in mechanical engineering with a pre-medical specialty and a minor in dance. It’s very hectic, because DCC and SMU finals are the exact same time. If she makes training camp, taking summer school at the same time will be a challenge, but one she’s willing to take on. It’ll be mornings for school, and nights for dance.

## **Confessionals**

Total: 16

Season 9: 14 (T11th most)

Season 10: 1

Season 11: 1

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* [Biography]
* [Finals] “The 90-second solo was just a blur, so it definitely all comes down to that moment and you hope you can kill it.“
* [Invited to training camp]“I will see you at training camp!“

**(9.3)**

* [Training camp] “I think everyone’s feeling a little anxious about what’s going on and what to expect and what’s expected of us, so it’s going to be really good to go in there and kind of get a better idea of what we need to do.“
* “They’re only taking 36 out of the 43. It’s just extremely nerve-wracking and it is true, any night could be your last night, and you just don’t want it to be.“

**(9.4)**

* [Uniform fitting] “They just keep going up and you’re like, “Whoa! I thought they were short before“.”
* “Drinking and tweeting, definitely, they definitely produce very funny tweets, but probably not ones you want the public to see.“

**(9.5)**

* [Makeovers] “Of course, I’m a little nervous. I just don’t know what they’re gonna do.“

**(9.6)**

* [Cameos] “Right in the middle of doing makeup, and then we’ll do some hair, and then we’re going to shoot some pictures. Hopefully, some really good ones.“

**(9.8)**

* [Makes team] “We’re finally here. We’re finally Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.“
* [Meet the Team event] “Dancing on a stage with the veteran DCCs, it really feeds your energy. When I’m behind one of the girls, I can see them. You know what, they’re going for it. And it makes me want to go for it more and more.“
* “Today is our first pre-season home game. We’ve been through so much; it’s been a long journey.“
* [Before first game] “My biggest fear is definitely just blanking. I mean, that’s like a dancer’s worst nightmare.“
* [Sideline confession at game] "Everything hits you at once 'cause you see everything - the stadium and the people and there's yelling - there's a lot to take in."
* [Final cheerleader confessional of season - talking about first game] “Has it been three hours? Wow, okay.“

### **Season 10**

**(10.8)**

* [Oxnard] “People are yelling and screaming. The energy’s incredible.“

### **Season 11**

**(11.8)**

* [Opening ceremony for the Star] “So, the next time we’re in the tent, it’s for real. We’re going to be performing for everyone.”

## **Commentary**

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* [Preliminaries judging] “Blonde really cute but… she was probably the strongest dancer of the day. She pulled her leg up.“ – Judy/“Most talented one we’ve seen today.“ – Charlotte Jones
* “Melissa was incredible. She excites me.“ – Kelli

**(9.2)**

* “Yes! You’re amazing, amazing.“ – Kitty Carter
* “One of the best solos I’ve ever seen in our auditions. She just nailed it.“ – Kelli
* “Can we say “damn?” – Kelli/“I know!“ – Charlotte Jones
* “Love, love, love Melissa. If I can say anything, I think she’s the one girl that has the entire full package. I have such a girl crush.“ – Melissa Rycroft

**(9.3)**

* “Melissa just dances right with [the veterans].“ – Judy
* “Melissa is great. She is an amazing technical dancer.“ – Kelli

### **Season 10**

**(10.2)**

* “Some of my favorite veteran solos this year included… Melissa. She was like what Emmitt Smith was to our football game: it just didn’t stop. She’s strong.“ – Kelli

**(10.6)**

* “She’s so severe. Good lord.“ – Kitty Carter

## **Other**

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* She’s shown dancing at preliminaries right after Judy mentions the best ones being the ones they can see automatically in a uniform.

**(9.2)**

* Highlighted (by name) practicing her solo for Kitty Carter.
* She’s introduced by Kelli for her solo, which is then shown, leading in to her biography.
* She’s shown being invited to training camp.

**(9.3)**

* Introduces herself at the opening meeting: she’s studying mechanical engineering with a pre-med specialty. She considers herself a huge nerd, and has had nightmares of her calculator dying during a test.

**(9.5)**

* Makeover glamour shot before and after: Styled slightly differently and minimally shorter, but otherwise very similar.
* Briefly shown walking the runway at the Belk fashion show.

### **Season 10**

**(10.2)**

* She’s shown performing her solo.
* She’s shown being invited to training camp.

**(10.3)**

* Melissa is present for parts of Megan C.’s biography, and Megan reveals that she’s known Melissa for a while, and that Melissa won Junior Dancer of the Year in 2005 at a national competition.

**(10.4)**

* If you pause, you can see a list of the scores she received at auditions: she was ranked #12 and received 15 yeses and 1 maybe.

**(10.6)**

* She’s shown doing a solo performance at show group auditions.
* Though not shown being announced on the show, she can be seen standing in the group of those who were selected for show group.

### **Season 11**

**(11.5)**

* Highlighted (by name) dancing for Kacey Musgraves at start of practice.

**(11.6)**

* Announced as a Show Group member.

### **Season 12**

**(12.2)**

* Mentioned as a retiree by Kelli.

## End of Journey

### **Season 7**

**(7.1)**

* Shown not being invited to training camp