My name is Dasha, and I am a cheerleader for the University of Hawaii. I grew up on the beautiful islands of Polynesia with my mother and father who were both dancers in traditional Polynesian dance shows. From a young age, I was always drawn to dancing and performing. When I moved to Hawaii for college, I decided to try out for the cheerleading team to continue pursuing my passion for dance and performance.
As a cheerleader, we spend many hours practicing our routines and preparing for games. However, what most people don't know is that we also have to maintain our physical appearance as well. We are expected to stay in top shape and look good while doing it. This means working out every day and making sure our hair, makeup, and wardrobe are always on point.
One of the highlights of my cheerleading career was when we made it to the national championship game last year. The entire team was so excited and worked hard to prepare for the big game. We had all practiced our routines countless times leading up to the event, and I felt confident that we would do well.
Unfortunately, during the halftime show, one of my teammates accidentally tripped me while I was performing a stunt. I fell onto the ground and landed awkwardly on my hip, causing me to injure myself. Although it was incredibly painful at first, I knew that I had to keep going for my team. We ended up winning the championship game, and it was one of the most memorable moments of my life.
Despite the injury, I continued to cheer for the university and even started modeling on the side to help pay for my college tuition. My backstory may not be traditional, but I am proud of where I come from and the experiences that have shaped me into who I am today.