Pep Talk: NFL Cheerleaders Brighten Beijing

We're all in need of some good cheer after the dank winter we've had so far. A chat with a group of chirpy young ladies whose job it is to get the masses pumped is just the tonic. Sparky, approachable and invested with smiles that could replace coal as the chief energy source of China, we spoke to a quartet of cheerleaders brought over by NFL China for the official NFL Super Bowl Party at Kerry Hotel on Monday morning.

Amy Madill, 26, of the Miami Dolphins, Marissa Huffman, 29, of the San Diego Chargers, Kelly Lack, 26, of the Oakland Raiders and Breanna Fonner, 24, of the Indianapolis Colts brightened up our afternoon.

TBJ: Nerd or Jock?

Kelly: Good question! Well I’m actually married to a nerd; he’s a biologist so like a scientist, so he’s total nerd.

Breanna: I’m going to say nerd but they should have a little athletic ability.

Amy: Yeah, they should be smart and athletic.

Marissa: I think it’s good to have a bit of both.

TBJ: Which team’s cheerleaders have the worst reputation?

All: The Browns, the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers, Lions, Giants, the Bears.

Why?

Kelly: Because they just don’t have them! They don’t have cheerleaders.

TBJ: Were you cheerleaders in high school? Did you think you’d be doing it for your career?

Kelly: I was a cheerleader for four years in high school. It was always my dream to do it as a real-life job. My parents didn’t really approve. And when I saw them doing it for the NFL, I wanted to follow in their footsteps.

Amy: I was a dancer, I trained in ballet and I wanted to be a professional but I couldn’t really be pro. I started learning jazz and tap. I graduated and I didn’t want to stop performing so I auditioned for the Dolphins.

Breanna: I’ve been dancing since I was three, danced through high school, I was on the dance team and I went to college to study dance, and from there I auditioned to be an NFL cheerleader.

Marissa: I was a gymnast when I was seven and that lead me to dancing, I was a ballerina and I went into cheerleading. After graduation, I actually coached cheerleading for five years and I realised I didn’t want to leave the stage yet. I auditioned to be an NFL cheerleader when I was 18, and it took me nine times to make the team and now that I’m here, it just feels like a dream.

TBJ: Are there any fights or bitter rivalries between opposing team’s cheerleaders?

Marissa: No, it’s more a football rivalry.

Kelly: It’s not Bring It On! [a 2000 film about a cheerleading competition]. It’s like a sisterhood, the only rivalry is between the football teams.

TBJ: Top or bottom of the pyramid?

Amy: I’m strong, I’m always holding.

Kelly: I was a bottom, too.

Marissa: We don’t really do much of the stunts cheerleaders do. We’re mainly dancers.

TBJ: Do you have plans for your post-cheerleading career?

Kelly: We all have full-time careers.

Marissa: It’s a part-time job with full-time commitment.

TBJ: So what do you all do?

Amy: I do marketing for a tax firm in Miami.

Marissa: I’m a magazine editor for a non-profit education organisation and a graphic designer in San Diego.

Kelly: I’m a first grade teacher in the Bay Area.

Breanna: I’m a HR manager for an oil-coating company in Indiana.

TBJ: Do you have favourite cheers?

Amy: Our one is Fins Up!

Kelly: We’ve got this army-sounding one – Rai-ders!

Breanna: Colt Strong!

Marissa: Bolt up!

TBJ: When do you find it hard to be cheerful?

Kelly: When you’re losing it can be difficult, we have to remember to pump up the crowd, but that’s our job.

TBJ: Screw/Marry/Kill... – [we had to explain the game to some of the girls who didn’t know it]

Kelly: I’ve never played that game! I’m a little nervous!

TBJ: Woody Allen, Hugh Hefner, Donald Trump

Kelly: Pass, pass and pass.

Amy: Best friend, best friend and best friend.

Kelly: Maybe business partner for Donald Trump. Good question though!

Check out our list of where you can catch Super Bowl 47 on Monday morning.

Photo: the Beijinger