What makes the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders a special place to you, where you continuously audition for the team?
Aside from the amazing opportunities and endless fun, TTC is my family. We have a sisterhood and a bond that is so special to me. The girls, line 5, our director Stacie and her family, our stylists from The Edge Salon, our make-up artists, our photographer Erick Anderson, and everyone else who contributes so much time and energy into making TTC better and better every year.
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Please take us through a normal daily routine with practice? With game day? Your routine on an TTC off day?
Daily Routine: I hardly ever have a day that is exactly the same.
My mornings begin at 6:30 am. I work as an Executive Assistant from 8-4. I always have an appointment, board meeting, work event or Titans appearance throughout the day. After work, I usually go home and straighten up my room. I'll throw on my workout clothes and hit the gym hard for about 45 minutes. After my workout, I'll come home and cook dinner. I do my daily devotions with Joel Osteen, write in my journal and read until I fall asleep.
Game Day: A crazy, wide-open day!
If our game is at noon, we have to be at the stadium around 7:45 a.m. I wake up at 6:30 a.m., put on my warm-up, double and triple check my bag, make sure my teammates and roommates Mariel and Kristen are ready, and leave for the stadium.
We usually stop at Starbucks for a coffee. We are always the first to arrive and the last to leave the stadium. At 8:00 a.m., we are on the field warming up and reviewing our performances. Next up is hair and make-up. Our captains go over every little detail about game day at this time. I usually eat a protein bar and text my parents to tell them I love them. At 11:30 a.m., we pray as a group and anxiously wait in the tunnel to run out for player introductions.
After the game, Stacie grades us on our performances. We'll go over what we did great and what we can improve on. Our family, friends, boyfriends, husbands or fiancés are waiting on us to walk out. My family drives up from Chattanooga every home game so we go to dinner and call it a day!
Off Day: RELAX!
I like to sit at my house and watch a movie or read a book. This is my 'no make-up/facial/hair treatment day.'
TTC Mariel is my roommate, so we will sit on the couch and just talk about life. We are either having crazy intense devotions, in-depth conversations about life, or we are laughing so hard. Either way, we are extreme. We go so hard on our work days that we do absolutely nothing on our off days.
Why do you love dancing?
I love dance because it challenges me. My background is All-Star cheerleading which is mostly tumbling, stunting, and various tricks. Titans cheerleading is a very different world than that so I had to work harder than most of the girls. Dance is also a great way to stay in shape and works as an awesome stress reliever.
If you had to model yourself after any dancer, who would it be and why?
I have always said Julianne Hough is my spirit animal. She is fearless, sexy, carefree and has an edge about her. She isn't afraid to go after what she wants and never takes herself too seriously. Plus, she's an incredible dancer and seems really close with her family.
What are your strong points when it comes to cheering for the TTCs?
I always give 110%! I may not be the best at dancing, but I make sure I'm on point with everything else. I'm also one of the few tumblers on the team and if you see us throw a basket toss, I'm the back spot!
Choose one:
Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds
Yoga or Pilates? Neither, Zumba is my jam!!!
Cardio or Strength Training? Cardio
Hip Hop or Jazz? Hip Hop
What would fans be surprised to learn about you?
I went to UT-Chattanooga on a full academic and athletic scholarship. I sponsor a precious little girl in Haiti named Germimia. I'm working towards getting my pilot's license.
What do you do in your free time?
I've developed a love for reading, so anytime I can dive into a good book, I do. I love going to the movies more than anything and I love concerts at the Bridgestone Arena. Honestly, I'm always down for whatever, as long as I have my girls with me.
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If you had the opportunity to speak to women auditioning for a professional cheerleading team, what would you emphasize?**
All teams offer VIP workshops and dance classes taught by the coach, so sign up for those. They will tell you everything you need to know. Overall, I would emphasis your physique, dance skills, and career outside of dance. The more you have to offer, the better off you will be!
If you could sit with anyone in the world and have a conversation with them, who would it be and what would you ask?
I would sit down with Oprah and ask her to tell me a little bit about everyone she has ever interviewed. She has lived a fascinating life and I've always been a huge fan of hers.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I'm the biggest dreamer/goal-oriented person you will ever meet. Whatever it is, big or small, I write it down and go for it.
Fast forward to Whitney in five years, and here is what you will see: I will have finally met Germimia in Haiti on a mission trip. I'll have my pilot's license and I will be working for Monster Energy as a Monster Girl.
I will be a legend in the Titans Cheerleader world and girls will look up to me like they do Brooke Bailey.
By this time, I will have reached my dream of being on the cover of a fitness magazine and maybe even featured in Sports Illustrated.
More than anything, I will still be living life to the fullest and helping as many people along the way. My relationship with God will be stronger than ever and hey, you never know ..... maybe I'll have an incredible fiancé who puts a fire in my heart like nobody has before.
