Kat (S14 Rookie)

* 25-years-old from North Carolina. There were ~7 black kids at the school in the small town she grew up in. She remembers that one day when she was practicing tennis, some men pulled up in a truck and disparagingly told her that “n-words” don’t play tennis. It made her feel so small. She didn’t want to stay in that environment. College was the first environment she truly felt comfortable; being around people who don’t care about the color of your skin. She made the Gold Dusters Dance Team her freshman year at UNC Charlotte. She decided she wanted to dance professionally the next year. She tried out for the Charlotte Hornets dance team (the Honey Bees), and made the team. Trying out for the DCC is about more than just dance. It’s for her family, and just to show that you don’t have to succumb to the environment that you grew up in.

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* I am at DCC auditions, and I am so flipping excited. You have no idea.
* Biography
* I cannot wait to put on that uniform and to put on my boots and to say, “Look mom, I told you this dream could become a reality.“ So, I hope I did enough.

**(14.2)**

* This is how I woke up this morning. Done. No curls. Girl, this humidity is...
* Oh my gosh. Being on the field is the coolest thing. It’s massive, getting my little taste. It’s a wrap. I want it.
* I’m so overwhelmed and it’s just a lot to take in. What is going on?
* Learning the routine on the field today, it’s so much to take in and I’m over here like, ”What was the first eight-count again?”
* Getting out in front of those judges, I just want to show my personality and show then that I love to dance and I love to entertain and go out there and be like, “Pick me, me.”
* We just finished dancing for semis, so now we’re just waiting to see what the results are.
* I really, really want to earn those boots. I want to be on this team so bad.
* This is my dream job. I need them to call my name.

**(14.3)**

* [On her "Kat's out of the bag" joke] They laughed, thankfully. But it was such a corny joke.
* Oh, my God. Competing against vets is the craziest thing. They’re all nice, don’t get me wrong, but they’re seasoned. They have way more to lose than I do.
* I just forgot the whole beginning of my solo. [*Commercial break*]
* [*Completion of previous confessional*] I missed my leg on my leg turn.
* The solo went. I’m just so mad in messing up on parts where I knew, where I’m like, “Come on, Kat. Like, get it together.” Okay, it’s fine.
* I was so tired, and I was like, “Do not give up.” Like, this was possibly what I could be doing every Sunday. I feel much better about this than I did solos, I can tell you that.
* I am just hopeful they see the potential in me to mold me into what they want me to be.
* I don’t know what happened. I don’t even know! But I’m going to training camp! I could be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
* Now I have to move and get all my stuff somewhere. Oh!

**(14.4)**

* This first meeting makes it feel so real. Like, this is it. Like, I’m a training camp candidate. And I’m competing for my boots.
* I did come from NBA, so it’s a lot more grounded style. It’s so easy for a technical dancer because it just comes naturally, but for me, it’s like, “Think about it.”
* I was so nervous learning all these dances. Oh, my gosh. It’s a lot.

**(14.5)**

* [Nail spa] For uniform fittings, we need to just look as clean and as polished as possible. This is more overwhelming that learning to dance, and I never get my nails done. I’d rather spend money on hair.
* I just got a text from my host family, and he said that he’s basically deathly allergic to cats. I slept there one night and now I have to find a new place to live. I would rather be homeless with my cat than have to give my cat away. I’m not doing that. Nope, nope, nope.
* Oh, man. Jump splits are going to be interesting.
* [Uniform fitting] This is our time and opportunity to talk with her one-on-one. And the fact that she wants to get to know me a little more than what she just sees on the surface is a blessing.
* [Uniform fitting] You’re going to have to fight me to take this off because it’s awesome.
* I had an offer to move in with this wonderful lady and her daughter, but it just didn’t work out. It’s a lot of added pressure. Ugh, I just want to call something home.
* Travis’ style is not my style. He definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone.
* I’m not a trained dancer. I’m not a trained studio dancer. I’m just kind of picking it up as they go.
* [Before office] It’s definitely nerve-wracking to have Cheryl call us in. You never know when the night is going to be your last night, and I’m just hoping it’s still in my favor.
* [After office] You never know when you’re going to be cut, and you don’t want the outside things to distract you. And it’s just the little technical things. But Kelli and Judy are just really encouraging. It’s going to be good.

**(14.6)**

* So, it’s the beginning of week three for training camp and I feel like I have a game plan. My strategy today is just to own my mistakes, y’all.
* I don’t pick up choreography very fast, so I’m gonna be so lost. Oh man.
* Last night, two amazing DCCs (*Bret and Lauren*) went home and it’s just a hard pill to swallow.

**(14.7)**

* I’m okay with anything that happens today, because honestly, these are wigs, so it’s easy.
* I’ve never been to such a glamorous salon before.

**(14.8)**

* The pressure of training camp, oh my gosh. It’s mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually exhausting. You just got to keep pushing.
* I was just so excited because [Evan Miller’s] choreography is so cool, it’s so much fun, and flows really nicely.
* [Before office] Kelli called my name saying that I need to go do an office visit. I pray there are no cuts tonight. You’re never safe on this team. Until Kelli gives you that uniform, you’re never safe. I’m not ready to go. I don’t even want to hear my name called in the office.
* [After office] I want to be in that 36. I’ve had a glimpse and I have a taste, and I don’t want to let that go. I want it so bad, y’all.
* I try to at least treat myself, every three months, but it doesn’t really work out that way because there’s just not enough time.

**(14.9)**

* [In DCC locker room] I would say the icing on top of the cake was coming to the locker room today and just the reminder of why we’re here.
* [In DCC locker room] We’re almost there, like, oh my gosh. We’re almost there. We just have to keep going.
* [Field entrance] Walking and doing the steps is a little bit more difficult. You have to walk, walk, walk, chassé, walk, chassé. It can trip you up a little bit if you’re not thinking about it.
* A lot is at stake at this point. I can’t go home. I can’t.

**(14.10)**

* This could possibly be my spot in the triangle. Like, when I looked up, I saw everybody. And if you can see them, they can see me. It’s so surreal.
* It’s intense. We felt it in the locker room before we even got out on the field today, and just being on the field and being on the turf, it makes it real.
* [Before office] Cheryl called me into the office. Ugh, it’s always nerve-wracking. So, hopefully, it’s a good office visit; I can make them laugh and we can go in there and keep going to practice tomorrow.
* [After office] It’s my third office visit, so third time’s a charm; I’m still here. And we just talked about the things that I need to improve on. I got a little teary-eyed because it just means so much to me, so I want to do so well. I want to do so well and I want to make this team. So, moving forward, I’m just going to show them that I can do that.
* Last night, I went to the office with Kelli and Judy, and they showed me what I needed to work on on the field. So, it’s super exciting tonight that I get to prove to them that I can do it.
* I’m praying the whole time. I’m not even kidding. I’m like, “God, can we do this? We can do this, keep going,” the whole time.

**(14.11)**

* Yeah, I didn’t come here to spend the summer thinking about cuts; I came here to make the team, so that’s what we’re about to do.
* You just go out there and you just give it your all because you never know when’s the last time you’re going to dance, so you just got to dance your heart out each and every time.
* Hello. DCC class, we’re getting it together.

**(14.12)**

* Training camp is winding down and everything is on the line. We just have to fight through and show our personality, show our skills to show that we can make this team.
* We’ve got to roll with the punches. The girls just keep telling me to smile and pretend like you’re on this team, so that’s what I’m going to do until I make this team.

**(14.13)**

* It’s so crazy being out there and it feels real.
* We’ve practiced this a million times without the crowd, and when we have the crowd, it’s going to be electric.
* This is literally the best experience in my entire life. Like, I can die happy now.
* [Retrospective, with flashbacks] Becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader is honestly the biggest blessing in the whole entire world. From the moment I walked in from tryouts I just have this notion like nothing’s going to stop me. And then I get into training camp, wow, this is a lot harder than it looks on TV. I wasn’t the strongest dancer, I wasn’t the most trained dancer, but I have thick skin. I like a little kick in the butt. They knew what I brought to the table, and that was my personality. Chasing your dream, even though it’s the scariest thing in the entire world: it’s completely worth it.
* It was so awesome. Let’s do it again.

## **Commentary**

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* [Jay] Yup, Yup
* [Judy] Gosh, she is beautiful.
* [Jay, *after Kat motions them over during her freestyle*] Ok, We’ll come with you./ [Judy] I’ll even come over the table.
* [Kelli, *semifinals judging*] ok, oh, Honey Bee girl./ [Melissa] This is mine/ [Judy] Mine too/ [Charm] She’s it. Kat, she’s just a fireball who wants the job, and she’s taking no prisoners. I’m here for it./ [Melissa] Yeah, I’m here for it too.

**(14.2)**

* [Semifinals judging] I think her look is pretty exotic./ Yeah, very./ I would change nothing about her. – Marshall/ Not many people come through here the total package. Great hair, pretty face, but she’s got to learn to kick. – J/ Oh, yeah./ She had one good leg and one bad leg. – Brenda/ Right. – J

**(14.3)**

* That cane needs to go in the trash. – J
* Kat should be a saleswoman because Kat sold us a really strong performance resume, and now that she’s doing her solo… not so much. – K
* Get it up there, Kat./ Her kicks are kind of low. – Charm/ She’s thinking right now, “What did I get myself into?” – Charlotte/ For real.
* [Finals judging] I love her look, but I thought her solo was all show and no go. – Jay/ She’s been great at everything she’s done so far, and this is going to be very eye-opening. If she does make it to training camp, she gonna have a little bit of humble pie… I just wanted to throw away that cane. – J

**(14.4)**

* Next is Kat, which shocks me [how low she was ranked]. – K/ She really wasn’t great on the field. – J/ Looks teachable, but her feet weren’t properly placed. Her turns weren’t proper technique. I think just the demands of the DCC stamina got Kat. – K
* Kat needs to pay very close attention because it’s those details, especially around her knees and her feet, that’s going to eat Kat up. – K
* Kat’s got style, except her feet are pigeon-toed. – K
* You, especially, have to pay close attention to the feet and what’s going on here. Those little details are gonna be make or break. – K
* I was impressed with Kat. She’s got a rally distinct and sexy look. – Jennifer C

**(14.5)**

* Flatter back, Kat and Kelcey. – K
* Leg lift, don’t come down early. – K
* [Personality test results] She has a lot of people skills. She sees herself as a relator, but she’s actually using entertainer just slightly more. – Gina Morgan/ So she’d be fun and sweet. – K
* You made a few arm mistakes and timing. – J
* I wanted to love Kat so much. She’s drop-dead gorgeous. I just think she needs a lot more experience in learning choreography. – Travis Wall/ When you watched her on pom, did you still feel like she was…? – K/ She didn’t grab my attention. – Travis

**(14.6)**

* Oh, Kat, Kat. – Charm La’Donna
* They’re a little messed up, but Kat kept going. – Charm La’Donna
* [Deciding between her, Alexandra, and Shaina for the final sticker] …And I’m like, Kat, you’re beautiful, but I just don’t want that to be the reason why I’m saying yes. – Charm/ Oh, I know. – K/ Dance level-wise, they’re all to me on the same plane, which wasn’t in my top squad. [*Gives sticker to Kat after asking if she has to give it to anyone*] Well, Kat is the one. Tell Kat to pull the F up, period. – Charm
* I’m going to give Kat a vote for my top 36 because I believe in her. – Charm
* I didn’t give a sticker to Kristin, Alexandra, Kat, Madeline, and Lily. It’s painful to do. – Denise Dicharry

**(14.7)**

* I think Kat can blend in a team. – K
* Kat was great. That was the first one that I liked her in. Like really. – Cheryl Burke
* Hmm. That was choppy. – J
* [Show group judging] Love Kat. She needs another year. – Cheryl Burke/ She also is one we’re trying to figure out: can she handle this team? – K/ Yes. Tricks are great and all. She’s a gymnast. It’s just like that foundation that takes years to develop. I don’t think she has that yet. – Cheryl/ Do you see her making the team? – K/ Not this year. – Cheryl
* You kind of seem to just be right behind. So just as long as you can stay right on that tempo; I mean that was fast, obviously. – KaShara

**(14.8)**

* I’m not impressed with Kat. – K
* You’ve got to clean up the small things. – K
* [Giving stickers] How about Kat? She’s showing some good style, but she’s struggling still with some of the choreography. – K/ Yeah, I liked watching her dance. That is something that I was drawn to her because she’s strong. – Evan Miller
* [To her, Amanda, Kelcey, and Victoria] All of you together are a force. Seriously. Like a force. – Tyce Diorio
* He called them a force and that’s great for someone like Kat who’s struggling still with some of the choreography. That was a great compliment. – K

**(14.9)**

* I think Kat definitely has an appeal on the field; that’s for sure. – K
* [Giving stickers] Even though she may have less dance training than others in the room, she is hanging in there. – Tess/ And she can perform it too. Even if she doesn’t know, she still uses her eyes. She can fake it ‘till she makes it. – Heather
* Kat’s pretty strong. – K
* [End of episode confessional] I think now, it’s going to get harder because the ones that I thought might not make it through training camp are actually picking up steam and making progress. Lily has taken an uptick. Meredith’s taken an uptick. Kat’s taken an uptick. If they keep getting better, which we want them to, and we keep getting closer to them as people, it’s going to make my job really hard. – K

**(14.10)**

* Did she just say “baby” to a lead evening news anchor? – K
* Your answers could stand more polish and preparation. – K
* I couldn’t understand what her answers were to most of the questions. She’s bright and she’s bubbly in person, but she just talks too long, too much. – K
* [Media training] It really didn’t answer Meredith’s question at all. – K
* For me, I wouldn’t give Kat a passing grade on interview skills. – K
* You were wrong. Figure out which way you would diagonal your body. – J
* Kat’s late. – J
* Oh, Kat. Know what your head is doing. – J
* [After jump split] You know what, you can’t look around. She does this at the same time. – K/ “Hey, anybody want to go get coffee.” – Melissa Rycroft [*jokingly imitating Kat*]/ Kat, you do that all the time. You kind of look around, like, “Oh, hello. What did everybody else do?” You have to keep looking at your hand and your pose. – J
* Kat does entertain me. – K
* You were much stronger on that. I think that you looked more confident. – J

**(14.11)**

* [Cameos] Kat, we’re going to take out coffee break on. She needs no help. – K/ She’s practiced, too. – J/ She’s a star. She’s Vanessa Williams meets Beyoncé. – K/ And her expressions change. – J/ They look great. She’s one of the most photogenic cheerleaders in our history. This was very timely for her. – K

**(14.12)**

* Tonight, I’m going to be looking to see if Meredith is mistake-free, if Kat is dependable in pregame. I’m also going to be looking to see if Julia is top 36. – K
* Kat looks stronger. – K
* Kat’s made a couple of arm mistakes, but is she at risk? I don’t think so. – J/ She definitely has to clean up her mistakes. – K
* Don’t pull up before your leader counts you off. – J
* Kat’s going to be a strong performer. I’d like to see her mistake-free. – K
* I think she has great projection. The board is very friendly to her. – Charlotte
* She didn’t stumble on her double turn at all. – J/ Yeah, she looks a lot better. – K

**(14.13)**

* I thought she had a lot of power. You see her from here when you’re looking on the field. You don’t have to look at the board. And she had great projection. I thought she did really well. I was pleasantly surprised. Again, actually. – Charlotte/ First few weeks. – J/ I mean, remember her solo with the cane? – K/ I do. I didn’t think I would be sitting here watching her at this stage of the game. She looks like she belongs here. – Charlotte/ She does. – J
* Kat’s a little package of dynamite. – K
* Kat looks good. – K

### **Season 15**

**(15.4)**

* Kat’s the worst one in the group. - K

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 14**

**(14.5)**

* [End of episode, second of two] Judy asks why Kat’s out of breath, and she responds that she’s nervous. Kelli tells her that last night with Travis Wall, he said she was beautiful, but didn’t think she was ready as a dancer, yet. Kelli reassures her that great performers can make the squad without technical training, however she isn’t top 36 right now. Kat knows she can be top 36. Kelli says Travis said, and what might be the case, is she may need more time. However, that’s what training camp is for. Kat is excited and says growing up as a gymnast, this is different. Kelli asks if she knows what “releve” means? Kat does, but then pauses when asked what “coupe” means. Kelli tells her that’s her homework. Kelli thinks it’s just education and awareness, and Kat agrees. Kelli asks if she’s looked for other classes, and Kat admits she doesn’t even have a place to live, and gets emotional. She admits her mom doesn’t know she doesn’t have a place to stay. She says it’s tough, and just wants to have that done so she can focus on this. She wasn’t even able to practice today, so was nervous coming in. She doesn’t have a job on purpose, and knows once she dedicates the time, she’ll be able to improve.

**(14.8)**

* [Mid episode, first of two] Kelli is concerned whether she can handle their choreography, and asks if she feels like she’s getting the routines. Kat feels more comfortable with them, but it usually takes her several days before she gets the material. Kelli alerts her that they are still four over roster, and she’s not a top dancer. However, this conversation isn’t to threaten, but rather to encourage her because they see progress. Kelli asks for a life update, and Kat says things are much better. She now lives with Kelcey, which has changed her life. Living in a hotel was hard for her. Kelli tells her she has people in her corner. [Kat leaves] Kelli rhetorically asks Judy if Kat would ever have an issue making conversation with others, and Judy laughs and says no. Kelli says she makes them smile, and hopes she can hang in there.

**(14.10)**

* [Mid episode, during rehearsal, first of two] Kelli says she has the potential to be bright, bubbly, and memorable. But they need to be confident in her as a dancer and media ambassador. Kelli doesn’t think she’s ready for interviews, because a lot of her answers didn’t make much sense – she was just talking. Judy says her dancing’s improved, but last night, she lost her face when she was performing. Kelli says she knows this isn’t easy and praises Kat’s commitment. Kat says she’ll work hard and wants to be on the team. Kelli says they have work to do, and dismisses her from the office. [*Kat leaves, and Kelli and Judy hear the cheers of the others that Kat’s safe*] Kelli asks Judy if she heard that, and says if her teammates didn’t feel so strongly about her, they’d be in a different place with her.

## **Other**

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* She’s shown introducing herself to the judges at preliminaries, telling them she danced for the Charlotte Hornets for four years. She adds that she’s double-jointed in her shoulders.

**(14.2)**

* Fifth-to-last shown being invited to finals

**(14.3)**

* At panel interviews, she’s asked to tell a joke, and does so, garnering laughs
* She tells Charm La’Donna her solo is “sexy jazz,” and Charm agrees that it’s sexy upon seeing it
* Introduced (by Kelli) and then shown performing her solo at finals
* Third-to-last shown being invited to training camp

**(14.4)**

* She’s revealed to be tied for 41st (with three others) based on how the TCC’s were scored at finals

**(14.5)**

* She has a scene at a nail spa, where she learns she has to move due to her host family having a cat allergy. However, one of the other customers offers to let her live with her. Later in the episode, Kat reveals that this did not work out.
* She is revealed to be an “entertainer” based on her personality test results
* At the uniform fitting, she tells Kelli she has Nigerian, French, and four percent Asian heritage

**(14.7)**

* She brings in and discusses her wigs on rookie makeover day
* Makeover glamour shot (after only)
* She has a brief chat with Cheryl Burke before show group auditions, mentioning doing gymnastics for 15 years, and only starting to dance in college

**(14.8)**

* Has a scene going to a salon with Kelcey and Victoria

**(14.9)**

* She is one of the six rookie TCC’s to go on the AT&T Stadium tour

**(14.10)**

* At media training, she’s asked a trick question about Jason Witten being a broadcaster, and correctly responds that he’s coming out of retirement to play again. However, Kelli notes that she says “baby” in her response.
* Later at media training, she’s implied to be asked about the role of the DCC when some other teams have cut their dance squads, and gives a response.
* She's shown being placed in the triangle

## **Post Season 16**

* The 2022 season was her last season as a DCC.
* For the 2022 season, she is a fourth-year veteran. She is also named the second group leader for Group 2.

Season 14 Stickers
 Total

## **Misc.**

* While her 63 confessionals would have been by far the most in any other season, Meredith beats her out by one confessional this season.
* Former Charlotte Hornets Honey Bee