'Bald' Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Use 'MNF' Platform to Spread Awareness for Alopecia
FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys contest against the Cincinnati Bengals had plenty of storylines between the sidelines heading into the game and following the visitors' 27-20 victory. But for this Cowboys' home matchup a few items of note outside the game itself took center stage.
Those revolved around the Dallas Cowboys' Cheerleaders. Of the 32 teams in the league, 24 still have cheer squads with "America's Team" boasting the most famous group.
Perhaps that is in part of the Cowboys' massive brand, but also due to the release of the Netflix special "America's Sweethearts." The program showcased a behind-the-scenes look at the Cowboys' cheerleaders along with some of the women's individual stories.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
One story that came to light during Monday's game was that of veteran cheerleader Armani Latimer who has alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. She revealed her condition in the Netflix special earlier this year.
Latimer usually wears a wig during Cowboys home games but performed bald for the Week 14 matchup. Amid the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative, she sported boots to spread awareness for the condition.
She has dealt with alopecia since her adolescence and had to navigate internal conflicts with the condition through her college days. But, as Latimer told Women's Health Magazine, she is learning to embrace her platform to make a difference.
"People see cheerleaders and assume they're flawless. While that's obviously not true, I still found myself having to unlearn the idea that I needed to be perfect to be on the team," Latimer said. "Now that I’m more vocal about my condition, I know that alopecia doesn’t define me—it just adds character to who I am."
For all the controversy of a show like "America's Sweethearts," one benefit on showcase here is the ability for women like Latimer to have a voice on a larger platform for a wider audience than she otherwise would have.
What's Trending
