Honestly, if you watched Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team back in the day, you definitely remember the "Danielle Marie" era. It’s kinda wild how some cheerleaders just fade into the background while others, like Danielle Barhold (her full name, by the way), become the benchmark for what a DCC should actually be. She wasn’t just a dancer; she was the embodiment of that specific, polished Texas aesthetic that Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell are obsessed with.
But it wasn't always a smooth ride.
There’s a lot of talk about the "perfect" journey to the blue and silver star, but Danielle Marie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader history is actually a lesson in grit. Most fans remember her for that nail-biting Season 8 audition. She was a veteran. She should have been a "shoo-in." Then, she put her foot through a plastic chair while practicing a solo. Total fluke accident. She showed up to the finals with fresh stitches and a gnarly injury, and for a hot second, it looked like the judges were going to cut her. They actually left her off the initial finalist list.
Can you imagine? Being a vet and seeing your name missing?
Eventually, the judges realized they were about to make a massive mistake. They called her back, she pushed through the pain, and she ended up serving five full seasons. That kind of resilience is why people still google her name a decade later. She wasn't just a face; she was a fighter who understood that the uniform is earned every single year, regardless of your past "status."
The Long Island to Texas Pipeline
Danielle Marie didn’t start in Texas. She’s actually a Long Island native who came up through the NY Jets "Flight Crew." It’s a bit of a culture shock, moving from the Meadowlands to the AT&T Stadium empire. She actually moved to Dallas with her friend Jasmine, another former Flight Crew member.
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Basically, she had to unlearn everything.
The Jets had a kick line, sure, but it wasn't the "immaculate" DCC version. Danielle once mentioned in an interview that the sheer volume of routines and the dreaded jump split were huge hurdles. She hadn't done a jump split since high school! It’s easy to think these women just wake up and do high kicks, but for Danielle, it was a massive technical pivot. She credited her Jets director, Denise Garvey (a former DCC herself), for giving her the guts to make the move.
Balancing the Pom-Poms and a Real Job
Here is something most people get wrong about the DCC life: it’s not a full-time salary. You’ve got to have a "real" job.
While Danielle was becoming a group leader and a face of the franchise, she was also clocking in at Burnett’s Staffing. She started there in 2013 as a recruiter with zero experience. Think about that schedule for a second. Working 8 to 5 in an office, then rushing to the stadium to practice until midnight, then doing it all over again.
She wasn't just "balancing" it; she was crushing it. By the time she hit her 10-year anniversary at the agency, she had become a Team Manager. She’s often held up as the gold standard for how to transition from the field to a corporate career. She even appeared in later seasons of the show to give pep talks to rookies about how to handle the "double life" of a professional cheerleader.
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What Really Happened After Retirement?
In May 2017, Danielle Marie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader fans got the news they’d been dreading. She officially hung up the boots. She wrote a pretty emotional retirement letter quoting Dr. Seuss—"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Classic, right?
But unlike some alumni who stay in the spotlight or try to pivot into Hollywood, Danielle leaned into her professional life in Dallas. She didn't disappear, but she definitely prioritizes her career and her French Bulldog, Lulu. She’s been a mentor for other DCCs looking for work, even helping her teammate Christina Ostovich land a job at her firm.
If you’re looking for a scandal or a "downfall," you won't find it here. Danielle Marie is basically the "success story" that the organization points to when people ask what happens after the cheering stops. She took the discipline she learned from Judy and Kelli—the punctuality, the "game day ready" mindset—and applied it to the staffing industry.
The Beauty Secrets People Still Ask About
It’s hilarious, but even years later, people are still obsessed with her hair. Texas-sized volume is a science. Danielle’s secret? Velcro rollers.
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- She’d curl her hair normally.
- Immediately pin it into Velcro rollers while the hair was still hot.
- Let it sit.
- Tease the roots like crazy once the rollers came out.
She also swore by a simple DIY makeup brush cleaner (distilled water, lemon witch hazel, grapefruit essential oil, and a bit of hair conditioner). Honestly, that’s more practical advice than most of the "beauty influencers" give out today.
Why We Still Talk About Her
The reality is that the DCC world has changed. With the new Netflix series America's Sweethearts, there’s a new generation of stars like Kelcey and Reece. But Danielle Marie represents the peak of the CMT era. She was the veteran who survived an injury, the New Yorker who conquered Texas, and the "big sister" of the locker room.
She reminds us that being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader is a job, a hard one, and that the best ones use it as a springboard rather than a peak.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Performers:
- Resilience is key: If you’re injured or have a bad day, don't just quit. Danielle’s Season 8 "re-call" only happened because she showed her heart despite the pain.
- Plan the exit: Don't wait until you retire to build a career. Danielle was a Recruiter of the Year while she was still on the sidelines.
- Find your tribe: Moving across the country is easier with a friend. Her move with Jasmine was pivotal for her mental health and success in a new city.
Danielle Barhold (Marie) remains a legendary figure in the DCC mythos because she was relatable. She wasn't a robot; she was a girl who worked a desk job and had to fight for her spot every single summer. That’s the kind of story that actually sticks.