The Australian cheerleader also tells EW about experiencing “cultural shock” in the Lone Star State.

America’s Sweethearts star Faith gives an update on her relationship with Kelli and future on DCC

The Australian cheerleader also tells EW about experiencing "cultural shock" in the Lone Star State.

By Sarah Hearon

June 27, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

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Faith Ward and Kelli Finglass on 'America's Sweethearts'. Credit:

- Known for her standout ponytail, Faith Ward joined season 3 of *America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders* as a international recruit.

- She tells EW about the differences between Texas and Australia, from the food to the culture.

- Ward also reveals where she stands with DCC director Kelli Finglass after some ups and downs.

For *America's Sweethearts* season 3 newcomer Faith Ward, her journey to becoming a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader wasn't exactly smooth sailing.

"It can be hard. I'm not going to lie. I definitely came into this experience being like, 'Okay, Faith, you need to try and fit into this box and try and be this America's sweetheart,' but I'm also not going to lose myself throughout this process," the 23-year-old Netflix personality tells **.

While auditioning in Europe for *Moulin Rouge*, Ward, who was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, was approached by a DCC recruiter looking for international candidates.

"The first thing [DCC director] Kelli [Finglass] said on the final day when I was trying out was to stay true to yourself and be authentically you. I took that advice quite literally and thought, 'You know what? I'm going to be an Australian sweetheart. I'm going to try and bring my energy and what I have to offer to this team to make my dream a reality,'" she continues. "That was something that I definitely wanted to showcase to also let other young girls know that you don't have to change yourself to fill a certain role. You can bring that into the role that you're trying to fill."

Relocating to Dallas was "an adjustment" for Ward, who went through "a few cultural shocks."

Faith Ward on 'America's Sweethearts'.

"Everyone drives so fast and just the roads are terrifying in Dallas," she tells EW. "We're driving on the other side of the car, the other side of the road. Plus, there's just food everywhere. The portion sizes — it's delicious though. I do love me a good little In-N-Out burger or Crumbl cookie."

The expected Southern etiquette was another hurdle: "The 'Yes, ma'ams' got me. But as you can see throughout the show, I definitely am learning and adapting."

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Ward was confronted by Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell throughout the season, first when "unflattering" photos from her past were posted on social media. The controversy didn't stop her from making the team, but the DCC heads weren't happy with her postseason when she did overseas press without their permission.

"One of the biggest [questions I got back home] was, 'Is it as brutal or cutthroat as most people say in real life as it is in the documentary?' And I'm not going to lie, it is very similar to the atmosphere and the environment," she says. "But I see the good in it rather than watching it as an audience member and being like, 'Oh gosh, that was so mean.' When you're actually in a situation, you're like, 'This is so different. There's so much more that goes on and you only see so little compared to the big picture.'"

Ward acknowledges that there's "truth" in the feedback she got from Finglass and Trammell.

"I am still young, navigating my 20s, trying to figure out this whole adventure. I didn't know I was going to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader," she tells EW. "I learned a valuable lesson from those small mistakes. I take accountability. I look up to Kelli and Judy a lot. I get a lot of constructive criticism throughout the show, but I don't take that as they're having a dig at me. I take it more as they see potential in me and they see me on this team. So they're going to give me the feedback because if they didn't, then it would just be like, 'Oh, we don't even give her the help or advice.'"

While it's "hard to watch back," she says Finglass and Trammell "see and want" the best for her. She also says they are currently on good terms.

"Cameras only see 2 percent of what really goes on. There's so much more behind the scenes. I actually was fortunate enough to get booked on the Texas Live Tour with DCC not long after that. I was one of the two only rookies that got to go and I performed a solo," she explains. "I do definitely think I've earned Kelli's trust back, and she understands misunderstandings."

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Even before the season aired, Ward made waves when Cowboys fans spotted her sporting a ponytail during games, a nontraditional hairstyle for a DCC.

"I was not expecting a hairstyle to cause so much controversy… It's not that deep," she says, noting that it was Finglass' call. "I was just as shocked as everyone else. So then to see the craziness online, it was hard to see a lot of negativity over a hairstyle… [I hope] people watched the show and realized that it did also let me bring out my personality. I feel like I'm someone who's very bubbly and bright and diverse as it is."

Despite the ups and downs, Ward is currently trying out for her second season.

Faith Ward on 'America's Sweethearts'.

"I knew I owed it to myself to not just have a rookie season," she says. "I always wanted to come into this experience, if I was lucky enough to even get the uniform in the first place and be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, I knew I wanted to give myself the time to be a veteran on the team and try out to make it for a second season. Rookie season, you're learning all this material at a hundred miles an hour. Now I know what I'm doing."

But has she made the squad? "We're back in training camp, currently," she says. "No team announcements yet, no juice for you. Unfortunately, we're still fighting. Hopefully soon — we'll see!"

All three seasons of *America's Sweethearts* are available to stream on Netflix.

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Source: “EW Documentary”