Together again: 2 LSU grads will dance with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders this season (2024)

When the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders march onto the football field this season, two former LSU Tiger Girls will be joining the line.

Ariel Brumfield, 23, of White Castle, and Darah Haidet, 22, of Hammond, aren't just newbies on the prestigious dance team, they're also besties. The women shared two years on the award-winning LSU dance squad, taking home the D1A Hip Hop National Championship title in 2022.

Before Aug. 24's preseason home performance during the Cowboys-Los Angeles Raiders game, Brumfield and Haidet reflected on their early dancing lives, years at LSU and securing coveted spots with the Texas dancers. Their interviews have been edited for clarity and length.

Tell us about yourself— hometown, high school, etc.

Brumfield: I attended the Math, Science, and Arts Academy West (Plaquemine) and graduated in the spring of 2018. I attended LSU from 2018 to 2022. My degree is in sports administration-commerce with a minor in business.

Haidet:I graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2020. I was on the Starlettes Dance Team there and was captain for my junior and senior year.

I was a Manship student and recently graduated from LSU with a degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in kinesiology sports studies. I had an on-campus internship with the LSU Athletics Marketing and Promotions department last year as well.

What were some of the highlights of being an LSU Tiger Girl?

Brumfield: Being an LSU Tiger Girl was one of the most rewarding, honorable moments of my life. I was privileged to be a part of the team all four years of college and served as one of the captains my senior year.

My senior year, the LSU Tiger Girls won the 2022 D1A Hip Hop National Championship, the first time in 12 years. The "Like A Boy" dance quickly became viral on social media, and the team received a lot of exposure from it. This was the perfect way to leave the program I had admired since I was a child.

From many articles, to "The Kelly Clarkson Show," to football games, special opportunities, the sisterhood, and just having a home away from home, I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that LSU Tiger Girls gave me.

Haidet: Much like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Tiger Girls was a lifelong dream of mine to dance and cheer for the purple and gold. Winning two national championships while I was there is something I am beyond proud of.

The Tiger Girls won the 2022 D1A Hip Hop National Championship with our iconic "Like A Boy" dance and then most recently during my senior year, we won the 2024 D1A Hip Hop National Championship with our viral "Smooth Criminal" routine.

Despite the great achievements at nationals, I am most proud of the boundaries we pushed and ceilings broken outside of dance. Our team has really advocated for equal and fair treatment as other athletes for years and to see the respect grow through the years and opportunities come to fruition was inspiring. I was the first team dancer to receive an (name, image, likeness) deal with Gordon McKernan.

The girls I danced with on the team are truly family and my sisters. Dancing in the best college stadium in the country with them by my side was a dream come true. I love LSU with everything in me and truly feel like I am a Tiger for life.

What prompted you to try out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?

Brumfield: God placed the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on my heart from an early age. The CMT show ("Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team") was my personal favorite. I was able to watch the journey of a couple of LSU Tiger Girls transitioning from LSU to DCC. I remember longing and wishing that one day my own dreams would come true, just like theirs. Like Tiger Girls, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was something I had always wanted to do but never thought I was capable of achieving.

Haidet:I have wanted to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders since eighth grade. There was a girl from my dance studio who auditioned and although she did not make it, she was one of my biggest inspirations growing up and I wanted to do everything she did. She was also a Tiger Girl!

My dance teacher also always loved the Cowboys and was obsessed with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She has always told me I was capable if I put my mind to it. I started getting more serious about turning my dream into reality my sophom*ore year of college when I started going to prep classes.

Trips to Dallas were not easy with my Tiger Girl schedule, but all I asked for my 21st birthday was a trip to Dallas with my mom. We spent the week of Thanksgiving that I had Tiger Girls off to go to Dallas for prep classes and for me to train. I trained all of my senior year via Zoom with a former DCC and her Pro Dance Prep Program. I was committed to making my dream a reality and knew the sacrifices it would take to get there.

Were you a Cowboys fan before this? How will you handle the Cowboys’ game against your home state Saints?

Brumfield: I've always admired the Dallas Cowboys and aspired to be a cheerleader for them. It's a package deal in my opinion. They are one of the most iconic and prestigious franchises in the world.

I'll be living my wildest dream when the Cowboys face the Saints. I mean, it does not get any better. Growing up in Louisiana, I was raised as a Saints fan, but it feels incredible to be rooting for the Cowboys from the sidelines this season. They both hold a special place in my heart.

Haidet:I have always liked football, particularly college football, coming from LSU. I am definitely a Cowboys fan now and so is my family. I like the Saints but nothing will ever top the love I feel for the Cowboys and this organization now. It will always be a "Geaux Cowboys" from me!

Have you moved to Dallas yet? And, is this a full-time commitment or will you be getting/have gotten a day job?

Brumfield: I have moved to Dallas, and it has been the quickest, most incredible transition. To be honest, it's been a thrill to move states in a matter of a couple days and embark on this new chapter of my life.

I've been here all summer for training camp, but having my own place has been amazing. This is also my first time moving away from Louisiana, so I'm looking forward to seeing what this new chapter in my life will bring.

Being a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is a part-time commitment. I do work for College Dance Prep as a regional director and prep master. I also teach at a local dance studio in Dallas. I am also a full-time online graduate student at LSU Shreveport, pursuing a marketing degree. So I'm definitely juggling a lot, but I'm so grateful and honored to be in this position.

Haidet: I moved to Dallas two days ago. I love it here and am so excited for this chapter of my life.

This is a huge commitment, but I will be getting a full-time job as well. I love to teach so may be looking into some studios in the area. I am still looking and excited for the opportunities to come.