Cindy Villarreal
Cindy Villarreal
Cindy Villarreal is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, a former Dallas Mavericks dancer, and a Miss Texas. A NFL Executive who served as Director of Entertainment for the Houston Oilers Entertainment, Inc. where she also served as the Director and Choreographer for the Houston Oilers' Derrick Dolls before joining the NFL Europe and NFL International as a director of game day along with the London Monarchs.
She has been a consultant to many professional organizations including NFL and NBA and is currently pursuing her own network, Cheer Channel Inc. [1]
Career
Cindy began her career as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader in 1988 and was selected as a veteran in 1989. Cindy was the 1st featured cheerleader in the game day program in 1988 against the Cowboys opener against the Chicago Bears and selected as December 1989-90 calendar. In 1989, she was the featured cheerleader centerfold in the Cowboys magazine with then rookie, Troy Aikman on the cover. She was selected for the elite, Show Group, a promotional and touring squad within the organization. As a rookie, she was later cut from the Show Group but remained part of the team and she was picked up again for Show Group as a veteran. While on the Show Group, she also toured to Canada for the Variety Club telethons. After the new ownership of the Dallas Cowboys took place, Cindy was the only cheerleader on the team to leave the squad after then directors departed, Suzanne Mitchell and Debbie Bond. That same year, she was selected as one of the charter members of the Dallas Mavericks Dancers and danced for the NBA Mavericks in 1989-90. That same year, she was selected as Miss Irving USA and participated in the Miss Texas Pageant. She later represented Texas in the Miss Venus USA pageant (formerly Miss World), where she won most congeniality and 1st runner up.
After retiring as a cheerleader, Cindy formed Proformance Consulting where she consulted with sports teams including the Houston Rockets, where she consulted with the comeback of both the Rocket Dancers among other sports properties.
She later consulted with Houston Oilers Entertainment, Inc., from 1992-'94 and then went t work as their Director of Entertainment where she was responsible for game day entertainment and managing the Derrick Dolls cheerleaders.
She served as both director and choreographer of the Derrick Dolls from 1994-'96.
The Derrick Dolls performed in Mexico City after the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and were given a standing ovation by the 110,000 fans after their performance to Mexican music, something never done previously by any NFL team.
Cindy took the team on USO tours to Germany and the UK and produced variety shows for telethons in the US and Canada including the Variety Club and Cystic Fibrosis telethons.
She was later offered an executive position with NFL Europe and the London Monarchs to run marketing and develop the Crown Jewels cheerleaders.
Upon her arrival to the United Kingdom, she was selected as the NFL's poster girl whose face appeared on billboards, magazines and train station murals to promote the sport internationally.
Cindy's role with the NFL Europe in 1996, included her helping to seed the sport of cheerleading abroad.
During her role with NFL International in 1997, she directed entertainment for the NFL All-American Bowl also included athlete and cheerleader media appearances and promotions.
In 1997, Cindy formed the ProWear clothing line, to promote the sports and entertainment industry in Europe.
The agency devoted to sports marketing and entertainment, was instrumental in developing some of the first all star, recreational and collegiate cheerleading teams in Europe.
She is also credited for creating the first professional cheerleading and dance squads in pro sports with major franchises in the United Kingdom.
She has written business plans for sports franchises, represented athletes, restaurants, musicians, and charities around the globe.
Her niche has been in brand development as well as creating interactive ways to capitalize with youth and families in sports and entertainment.
[1] such as "in-game" programming and child camps.
Some of her clients have included the NBA, NFL, British Soccer Team, Super League, Gladiators (TV Show), the Offshore Super Series, the United States All-Star Federation and International All-Star Federation, and individuals as NFL player Chris Houston, Hall of Famer Ted Ginn Sr., The Lord Mayor of London, and Sir Richard Branson, London business giant and owner of Virgin Entertainment. [1] Cindy has directed entertainment bowl games for the NFL and the Offense-Defense All-American Bowls.
Under Proformance Sports Marketing and Entertainment, Cindy represented brands, properties, actors and athletes.
[1] She also signed the first, All-Star cheerleader Maddie Gardner, “considered to be the first cheerleader in the spirit industry to gain celebrity notoriety…has signed a multi-year management deal with Proformance Sports Marketing and Entertainment” June 2012. [2] Maddie is a two time world cheerleading champion (the USASF Worlds) and the first cheer athlete to sign a management agreement. [2] She also has represented all star cheerleader, Cami Branson, whose popularity soared after appearing in Cheer Channel's Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader as one of the Superstars of All Stars. With the representation of professional athletes, Cindy has handled all marketing and brand development including personal appearances, endorsements, commercial modeling, acting assignments, and television and related opportunities related to the “brands.” [2] She is a partner in numerous businesses including book marketing and publishing.
The Cheerleader's Guide to Life
Cindy's book, "The Cheerleader's Guide to Life," was published by HarperCollins in April 1992, a deal struck by her agent, Jeff Herman Agency. Her book hit the bookshelves in February 1994 and included a ten city book tour. The work was named one of the best books for teenagers by the New York Public Library in 1995. [1] This work is also honored in the College Football Hall of Fame for Cindy's "dedication and success as a role model for the youth of America," as said by Bernie Kish, President. [1]
Awards and Accomplishments
First Runner-Up and Miss Congeniality in the Miss Venus USA Pageant, formerly known as the Miss USA-World Pageant.
[1] In 1996, the British-America Chamber of Commerce honored her as VIP, along with dignitaries such as the American Ambassador to England, the Chairman of British Airlines, the Chairman of the Bank of England, and the Chairman of British Rail.
Cindy has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines including Vista Magazine, Cosmopolitan in the UK, the Daily Mail and the Houston Chronicle.
In 1990, “Hispanic Business Magazine” named her as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Persons in America.”
[1] Other winners of this award were the Secretary of Education of the United States, the Surgeon General, and the Chairman of the Banking Committee.
[1] She was also honored by the Austin Business Journal's list of 10 Most Powerful Women in 1994.
Cindy also was credited for the "Best Professional Cheerleading Team in Europe" and award presented in 1997 while director and manager of Entertainment for the NFL Europe's London Monarchs Crown Jewels.
Cindy was inducted into the Lanier High School Hall of Fame in 1994.
Her works and achievements in the spirit industry are also recognized in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Cheer Channel Inc
Villarreal founded the first digital media TV network for the spirit industry, Cheer Channel Inc. in 2009 after perceiving a gap in the niche markets for cheerleaders.
Cheer Channel is the #1 independent online television network for the spirit industry and specializes in original content and branded promotions.
Lance Robbins, former president of Saban Entertainment briefly served as president of the network from 2010-2013.
The network produced the first industry web series, Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader, a hit among cheerleaders of which there are 6 episodes. The series was broadcast starting in May 2012 and syndicated to both online and television. The show is recognized for the bringing for the first time, power champion cheerleaders together for cameo guest appearances. Such names as Maddie Gardner, Kiara Nowlin, Whitney Love, Erica Englebert and Cami Branson to name a few. The first week of release, Episode 1 gained over 20,000 views on YouTube. [5] [6]
Personal Life
Cindy grew up in Austin, Texas and is the middle of three children.
and started her first cheerleading team with two friends at Cook elementary school.
She later became a Pop Warner cheerleader for the North Austin Eagles and served as the captain for two seasons while in middle school.
When she went off to high school she went a different route.
She decided to get into dance and ultimately became an officer on the award winning, national championship drill team, Lanier Vikettes.
It was then that she first became interested in the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders having seen a picture of a cheerleader on the cover of the sports section.
While in high school she auditioned and made cast of the off broadway company, Phoenix Dance.
Once in college Cindy began guest choreography for cheer, dance, drill and college pom teams including North Texas Pop, Baylor Pom, University of Texas.