Daphne

* 22-years-old from California. She is currently a senior at UCLA, and has been a member of the UCLA dance team for the past two years, and is currently the captain. She started dancing at 3, and was on her high school’s competitive team. She did not audition for the dance team at UCLA her freshman year so she could get accustomed to school. She tried out her sophomore year, but did not make the team. It was a dark time for her, and she considered giving up dance. But the negative attitude wasn’t good for her, so after a few months she realized that she missed dance and decided she was going to come back prepared. The second time, she made the team. Being on that field in front of all of the fans brought her confidence back and let her know her dreams became true. Sisterhood is very important to her, especially in this environment when women are standing up for themselves; it makes her want to stand up for herself. [*Shot of Daphne telling her friends she’ll miss them*] She thinks the DCC embody all that she wants in herself: to be strong and confident in who she is. She hopes she can be a part of that sisterhood as well.

## **Confessionals**

Total: 16

Season 13: 14 (T13th most)

Season 14: 2

### **Season 13**

**(13.1)**

* [First confessional of season] "This is my dream. I love dancing and I think the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are really the best of the best, and to even be considered to be among them today is such an honor."
* (*Biography*)

**(13.2)**

* "Seeing Judy standing in front of me was definitely nerve-wracking. You want to do your best, and you want to look like they look, so it’s now about being a team member."
* "Learning the kickline is definitely tough. They teach it fast and you better know what you’re doing and have stretched and come prepared."
* [One name left to call] "To make this team would mean everything to me. I feel like I have a chance of making this team. I don’t know, but on the dance side of it, I feel like I did my best."

**(13.3)**

* [Invited to training camp] "You know, I’ve been hoping for this moment, but I didn’t expect it and I’m just so excited to get started."

**(13.4)**

* [With Caroline and Gabby] "Caroline and I actually haven’t graduated yet, so we’ll be finishing up our courses here in Texas and we’ll be doing training camp at the same time."

**(13.6)**

* "It has been a little bit tough getting noticed, but it’s finals week at UCLA and it is definitely bittersweet to be missing the graduation ceremony, but once I move on from this week and graduate, I definitely think that I can fully focus on training camp and getting noticed at every rehearsal."
* [Jay's fitness test] "I got 6:25 for my mile [running machine], so pretty happy about that."
* [Graduation ceremony at the Star] "My emotions are all over the place. I mean, just feeling the love and support from everyone here and also getting to see my family at the same time, it means so, so much."

**(13.9)**

* "This is not my first time on the football field, but this is my first time traveling across. Usually, I’m just on the sidelines doing my dances, so I want to go out there and just do my best."

**(13.12)**

* [With Bridget] "We survived the cryo machine. So cold, your body really doesn’t know how to react."

**(13.13)**

* [With Cianna, after making team] "I couldn’t imagine a better way to end this. Because I feel like you’re my sister and we met ten weeks ago, so…"
* "I can’t believe I’m here cheering for the NFL, for the Dallas Cowboys. I thought college football was big, but this is ten times bigger."

### **Season 14**

**(14.2)**

* [Reauditioning] "It is definitely nerve-wracking going back into this process and starting all over again. There’s so much competition and everyone’s so amazing that you have to be up on your game and ready to go."

**(14.9)**

* [With pastor] "These were the girls that made me realize that I am where I’m supposed to be and I am just so thankful for them. I think it was a really great moment for us all to talk about things that aren’t necessarily DCC-related, but still so important."

## **Commentary**

### **Season 13**

**(13.1)**

* [Preliminaries judging] "Yes, yes, yes, yes. Great style. Great figure." – Charlotte Jones Anderson
* "Daphne was one of the contestants that really caught my eye today. She was the all-around total package." – Judy

**(13.2)**

* [Kickline] "Daphne needs to learn how to point her toes." – Kelli/"Sometimes it’s those tennis shoes." – Judy/"I’ll teach her how to point her toes." – Kelli
* [Semifinals judging] "She’s a strong dancer." – Nick Florez/"She was a strong dancer."/"Daphne’s very impressive on paper. She was strong in our dance combination. The only note I had was that Daphne could work on her foot closure in our kicklines." – Kelli/"But that we can teach." – Charlotte

**(13.6)**

* We have a big surprise for Daphne tonight. We’re going to have the very first ever UCLA graduation ceremony at the Star. – K
* Missing your college graduation ceremony is a big sacrifice, so we just want to Daphne tonight and help her celebrate. – J
* Obviously, we value education, so we just want to make sure that she knew that we were proud of her, and how much we all really care about her. This is about family. This is why we do it, and this is why these girls are so passionate about what they do. – Charlotte

**(13.7)**

* I can’t take my eyes off Daphne. – K

**(13.8)**

* I like Daphne. I think she’s got some skills. – Kitty Carter

**(13.9)**

* Daphne’s rushing. – K
* Daphne looks great. – K

**(13.10)**

* [Triangle] Bridget, Daphne, and Jalyn are some of the training camp candidates dancing in front of some veterans, but they’ve been great in rehearsal so far, and I’ll think they’ll do a good job. – J

**(13.12)**

* Daphne’s game ready.

### **Season 14**

**(14.6)**

* Cianna, Amy, Daphne. I will keep you all. – Charm La’Donna

**(14.7)**

* [Show group judging] Who did get your attention? – K/ Daphne and Amanda. – Cheryl Burke

**(14.11)**

* [Cameos] Sassy. – J

**(14.12)**

* [About her testing as a “commander” on CORE] What are you not showing us yet that screams “commander?” – K/ I think with this team as a second year, it’s kind of tough to be a commander, but because of the way that the team is set up and the seniority and whatnot, I try to be respectful of the upper vets. – Daphne

## **End of journey**

### **Season 16**

**(16.3)**

* Forced to retire due to an injury. She was to have been a fourth-year veteran.

## **Other**

### **Season 13**

**(13.1)**

* Nick Florez asks her what style freestyle she’ll be doing for prelims (Daphne says sassy jazz)
* She’s shown introducing herself to the judges at preliminaries: she spent the past two years on the UCLA Dance Team, and is currently captain.
* She’s shown dancing while Nick Florez gives a confessional saying certain girls blew him away

**(13.2)**

* Shown dancing when Kelli mentions “fun to watch” as she’s listing off qualities that can impress the judges
* Last one shown being invited to finals

**(13.3)**

* Shown performing her solo for Kitty Carter
* Shown performing her solo at finals while Kelli talks about having the ability to entertain
* Fifth-to-last shown being invited to training camp

**(13.4)**

* Shown introducing herself at the opening meeting: she has two younger brothers that used to compete professionally in Pokémon. Her personal hashtag would be #thetimeisnow.

**(13.5)**

* Makeover glamour shot (after only)

**(13.6)**

* Has the best time shown of anyone for the mile-run
* She wins a Power Squad t-shirt from Jay Johnson
* Kelli, Judy, and Charlotte hold a mock college graduation for Daphne before rehearsal

**(13.7)**

* Shown being announced as a member of show group

**(13.9)**

* When Melissa Rycroft asks the rookies for their weaknesses, Daphne says she can start to rush sometimes

**(13.10)**

* Shown being placed in the fifth row of the triangle

**(13.11)**

* On the board, it can be seen that she’s received stickers from all six evaluators

### **Season 14**

**(14.2)**

* In Katy’s biography, she mentions Daphne used to be captain of the UCLA Dance Team, and that Katy wants to follow in Daphne’s footsteps. She adds that Daphne is like a big sister for her.

**(14.3)**

* Highlighted (by name) performing her solo at finals

**(14.4)**

* She’s revealed to be tied for 18th (with four others) based on how the TCC’s were scored at finals

**(14.7)**

* She’s the first one announced as a member of show group

**(14.9)**

* With the pastor, Daphne brings up that her grandfather passed away over the off-season, and thanks her teammates for being so supportive of her through the tough time

**(14.12)**

* The show highlights that she was a “commander” on the CORE test

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