Despite her sheer passion for being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Victoria Kalina's journey to making the squad for the fourth time was proven to be no easy feat throughout the America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders docuseries.
On Thursday, the new docuseries landed on Netflix and has captured the attention of sports lovers. The series gives viewers a raw look at what it takes to become one of the lucky few to rock the field in the iconic Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader uniform and white-knee high boots.
Victoria, a veteran, is one of the many cheerleaders given the spotlight throughout the series.
And while this isn't her first rodeo, her journey to becoming a DCC once again comes with a lot of mental and physical struggles. Ahead, get to know DCC legacy Victoria Kalina.
Her mom was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
Victoria and her mom, Tina Kalina, are two peas in a pod in the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: America's Sweethearts docuseries. Not only do they have a super close relationship, they can bond over their experience as a DCC as mama Kalina is was on the team in the '80s.
"I get some comments saying y’all are too close, that’s unhealthy. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s my rock, my person, my biggest supporter ever," Victoria said to Netflix.
On Mother's Day, Victoria posted this sweet picture with her mom on Instagram. The two are standing on the Dallas Cowboy's football field with a blue, silver, and white pompom in hand.
"To the one and only, TINA KALINA🩷 I could write a whole novel on how much you mean to me - so instead I’m going to keep it simple… I love you Mommy😊🩷🤩✨💕 Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there! You are SuperWoman!🩷," the caption read.
She's a fourth year veteran candidate.
Victoria first went through the training camp process to become a DCC when she was just 18 years old.
However, she didn't make the cut. She came back the next year and finally made the squad. Her process of making the team for her fourth season is shown throughout the Netflix docuseries.
The cheer star grew up around DCC and spent every summer in Camp DCC. She even became a junior DCC.
"Watching and learning from the DCC as a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a DCC because I loved the sparkle of the iconic uniform and getting to dance with pom poms," her cheer bio reads. "As I got older, I began to see how they made a difference in the lives of others — USO tours, hospital visits, nursing homes, waving to fans at the games, being a positive role model, etc and I knew I loved the organization even more."
"I wanted to be part of the DCC because I respect the organization and I feel very protective of it. It has been a dream of mine since my very first Camp DCC in 2004."
She's a fitness and dance instructor.
When she's not cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, Victoria is a fitness and dance instructor. On her DCC bio, she states that dance is "my passion!" and that "I never want to take it for granted because it is a gift that I am truly blessed to be able to do. I love performing, creating and training." She adds that she would "do it all day long every day if I could!"
Victoria began dancing at the age of two and spent 18 years training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre and styles at Top Hat Dance Centre, her bio says. Throughout her high school years, she was a member of their professional performing company and became a dance teacher.
The cheerleader shared this video on TikTok, which shows her stepping in during her students recital to help them complete their dance. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for my baby dancers🩷," she wrote in the caption.
Fitness is also very important to Victoria. She often gives followers looks at her workouts like this one she posted in December 2022.
"Fitness is one of my many passions and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I enjoy cycling," she wrote in the caption. Adding that she says even when she's busy, she can get a quick "endorphin burst with a quick spin."
Victoria is taking dance classes at The Joffrey Ballet School in Dallas.
In the Netflix docuseries, Victoria shares that she is currently taking dance classes at The Joffrey Ballet School in Dallas and trains in ballet and jazz.
Victoria keeps her social media pages up to date with recent dances in all styles. She shared this video of her doing a fun tap dance on her IG.
"This week’s Stylized Saturday is in honor of National Tap Day!!🩷 magical tap choreo @fusion_exercise 🤩⭐️Thank you @thdci for all the training🖤🩷," she wrote.
Victoria took a break from cheering in 2021.
In the docuseries, Victoria opens up about deciding to take a step back from cheering in 2021 while she was dealing with mental health issues. She shared the news on her Instagram account.
"Due to some personal issues, I have made a brave, mature and unselfish decision to take a leave from the sidelines this season. THANK YOU for all your love, encouragement and support! Your messages mean THE world to me. I am reading every one of them and I will get back to you when I can," she wrote. "The DCC organization is family and I am so lucky to have their love and support. I can’t wait to watch my sisters SHINE this season and cheer on the new rookies!"
Victoria concluded the caption by saying, "I love y’all and appreciate all your KINDNESS and LOVE! XOXO, Victoria."
Fans flooded the comment section with support for Victoria. "You were my favorite. ❤️ take care of yourself!!!," one person wrote. Another said, "We love you Victoria!! 💗" and someone else wrote, "All good Victoria, when you are ready, you know you got your boots ready to go!!!"
She's been open about her mental health struggles.
After taking a break from the sidelines, Victoria has been very vocal about mental health on TikTok. In this video, she shares how she makes these videos to open up the discussion around mental health.
"Mental health Monday is back and here to stay! You are not alone. You are worthy. You are loved🩷," she wrote in the caption.
Victoria posted this video of herself cheering on the sidelines of a Dallas Cowboys game and shared that she wore a lime green star on her uniform to support mental health awareness.
"It’s Victory Monday! Yesterday was a very special game as we also performed with our My Cause My Stars - I wore lime green for mental health awareness 💚," she wrote. "I would like to bring awareness to Mental Health and break the stigma. I personally waited so long and suffered silently because I thought people would judge me and treat me differently. Its okay to not be OK!"
Victoria added that it's important to celebrate those in need of help.
"There is no shame in seeing a therapist or taking medication to help your mental health. I would not be standing here today if it were not for my therapist."
Sydney Wingfield
Freelance Writer
Sydney is a freelance writer in the beauty, lifestyle, and wellness space. She has written for multiple publications throughout her career, including InStyle, Architectural Digest, Glamour, and Elle, in addition to a copywriting for a handful of beauty and wellness brands.
