What Are the Biggest Misconceptions About Professional Cheerleaders?

Brandi Redmond put her colorful personality on full display during the season premiere of The Real Housewives of Dallas. So it should probably come as no surprise that the bubbly Texas 'Wife spent five years as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. And given how many preconceived notions people have about cheerleaders, Brandi revealed that, for the most part, everyone has it wrong.

"[People think] that they're airheads and ditzy. And what I will always say to that [is that] with the [Dallas] cheerleaders they are full-time mothers; there have been teachers, doctors, you name it across the board. The other thing that people don't know is that you are required to either be a full-time mother or have a full-time job or be a full-time student. So you have to be something full-time in addition to being a cheerleader," she explained to The Daily Dish. "So I'm like, 'Suck it, people. We work so hard.' You get to rehearsal and you practice almost every night of the week during the season. But it becomes such a routine that it's a no-brainer. There's not a lot of drinking or partying when you're a cheerleader because, obviously, you're so busy."

Brandi looks back fondly on her time spent with "America's team," since it gave her the chance to travel the globe. "I loved traveling. I traveled the world. I've been over to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait. I went to Japan, Europe. Literally I've been everywhere just representing the Dallas Cowboys," she said. "And they do a lot for the community, from helping with charitable causes to just going to visit children's hospitals and bringing smiles to their little faces. The same with nursing homes. There's so many amazing things they do."

Brandi in her cheerleader days.

Another photo of Brandi during her time as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

"I think that's what so unique about it is it's anywhere from 36 women, and we all have one common goal that we want to cheer for America's team," she said. "It was kind of like being in a sorority and you would become really close."

In fact, after she ended her career in 2005, Brandi felt like she had ended a very important relatioonship in her life. "We were separated into groups and we had four captains and so you become really, really close with a group of girls," she said. "When I wasn't a cheerleader anymore it felt like a break-up."

Brandi in her uniform as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader

Check out more throwback photos of Brandi from back in the day, below.