When the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders take the football field this season, two former LSU Tiger Girls will join the line.

Ariel Brumfield, 23, of White Castle, and Darah Haidet, 22, of Hammond, are not only newcomers to the prestigious dance team, they are also best friends. The women shared the award-winning LSU dance team for two years and captured the D1A Hip Hop National Championship title in 2022.

Before their home appearance during the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Raiders on Aug. 24, Brumfield and Haidet looked back on their beginnings as dancers, their years at LSU and how they secured coveted spots on the Texas dancers. Their interviews have been edited for clarity and length.

Tell us something about yourself – hometown, school, etc.

Brumfield: I attended Math, Science, and Arts Academy West (Plaquemine) and graduated in the spring of 2018. I attended LSU from 2018-2022. My degree is Sports Administration-Commerce with a minor in Business Administration.

Haidet: I graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2020. I was a member of the Starlettes Dance Team and was captain my penultimate and senior year.

I was a Manship student and recently graduated from LSU with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Sports Science with a minor in Kinesiology. Last year I also interned on campus in the LSU Sports Marketing and Promotions Department.

What were the highlights of being LSU’s Golden Girl?

Brumfield: Being an LSU Tiger Girl has been one of the most rewarding and honorable moments of my life. I had the privilege of being part of the team all four years of college and was one of the captains my senior year.

During my senior year, the LSU Tiger Girls won the 2022 D1A Hip Hop National Championship for the first time in 12 years. The “Like A Boy” dance quickly went viral on social media and the team received a lot of attention as a result. It was the perfect ending to the program I had admired since I was a child.

From many articles on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” to football games, special occasions, sorority, and just a second home, I am beyond grateful for the opportunities the LSU Tiger Girls have given me.

Haidet: Much like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, it was my lifelong dream to dance and cheer for the purple and gold with the Tiger Girls. I am incredibly proud to have won two national championships during my time there.

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

Despite the great success at nationals, I am most proud of the boundaries we have pushed and broken outside of dance. Our team has been committed to being treated equally and fairly to other athletes for years and it has been inspiring to see the respect grow and opportunities arise over the years. I was the first team dancer to receive a (name, image, likeness) contract with Gordon McKernan.

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

What made you decide to try out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?

Brumfield: God put the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on my heart from a young age. The CMT show (“Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team”) was my personal favorite. I was able to follow the journey of some LSU Tiger Girls who transferred from LSU to DCC. I remember longing and wishing that my own dreams would one day come true just like theirs. Like Tiger Girls, I always wanted to join the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but I never thought I could do it.

Haidet: I’ve wanted to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders since eighth grade. A girl from my dance studio auditioned and even though she didn’t 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 the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She always told me that I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it. I started getting more serious about my dream during my sophomore year of college when I started taking prep classes.

Traveling to Dallas wasn’t easy with my Tiger Girl schedule, but all I wanted for my 21st birthday was a trip to Dallas with my mom. We spent Thanksgiving week, which I had Tiger Girls off, driving them to Dallas for prep classes and training. I trained my entire senior year over Zoom with a former DCC and her Pro Dance Prep Program. I was determined to make my dream a reality and knew the sacrifices it would take to get there.

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

Brumfield: I have always admired the Dallas Cowboys and wanted to be their cheerleader. In my opinion, it’s the total package. They are one of the most iconic and prestigious franchises in the world.

When the Cowboys face the Saints, I’ll be living my wildest dream. I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that. I grew up in Louisiana and am a Saints fan, but it’s an incredible feeling to be cheering on the Cowboys from the sidelines this season. They both have a special place in my heart.

Haidet: I have always loved football, especially 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 have now for the Cowboys and this organization. It will always be a “Geaux Cowboys” from me!

Have you moved to Dallas yet? And IIs this a full-time position or have you/will you be given a day job?

Brumfield: I moved to Dallas and it was the quickest and most incredible transition. Honestly, it was exciting to switch states in a matter of days and start this new chapter of my life.

I’ve been here all summer training, but it’s been great having my own place. Plus, it’s my first time leaving Louisiana, so I’m excited to see what this new chapter in my life brings.

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

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

It’s a big commitment, but I’ll also be getting a full-time job. I love teaching, so I may look into some studios in the area. I’m still looking and excited for the opportunities that come my way.