Forrest Health Welcomes Kelli Finglass, director of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, as Spirit of Women Annual Event Speaker October 7
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (July 14, 2025) Forrest Health’s Spirit of Women is giving area women something to cheer about as they host this year’s annual event, The Grit Behind The Glam, complete with luncheon and keynote speaker Kelli Finglass, senior director and former member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The annual event is set from 11:30 am until 1 pm, Tuesday, October 7, at Lake Terrace Convention Center.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kelli Finglass of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders fame to the Hub City for this exciting Spirit of Women event,” said Millie Swan, vice president of Forrest Health. “Kelli will share stories that are sure to entertain and inspire as she highlights the values many of us grew up with – Southern hospitality, charm, tradition, and the ever-changing roles women take on today. As a Southerner, her message is likely to resonate with many of us – just like the Spirit of Women’s mission to champion women’s health in both purpose and practice. And who better to uplift and empower women than Kelli, who’s spent more than 30 years doing just that as director of the DCC?”
Finglass was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader from 1984 to 1989 and made history as the first cheerleader invited back for a fifth season without having to re-audition. After retiring from the squad, she was hired by Hall of Fame Owner, President, and General Manager Jerry Jones as assistant director of the DCC. She later moved into the Cowboys’ sales and promotions department before being named director of the cheerleaders in 1991 at just 27 years old – a role she still holds today, also serving as business manager. Since stepping into leadership, Kelli has guided and mentored more than 900 young women from all backgrounds who dreamed of donning the iconic blue and white uniform.
Recently, you may have seen Finglass and the DCC on “America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” which debuted its second season June 18 on Netflix. This show follows the highly successful CMT series, “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team,” which aired for 16 seasons on CMT.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC), often referred to as America’s Sweethearts, have been an iconic symbol of talent, athleticism, and cultural influence since the 1960s. Known for their high-energy dance routines and polished performances, they’ve set the gold standard in professional cheerleading. Each week they take the field at AT&T Stadium, performing in front of 90,000 fans during Dallas Cowboys home games. Their signature blue and white uniforms have become a recognizable part of American pop culture – even earning a place in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, a milestone Kelli counts among her proudest achievements.
Tickets for the event are available to purchase on August 4 for Spirit of Women subscribers and August 5 to the general public. To learn more, visit forresthealth.org/DCC.
Spirit of Women
Since 2004, Spirit of Women has been a valued resource for women of all ages in the community. Subscribers receive a monthly newsletter with healthy recipes, tips for living a healthier lifestyle, a blog, a calendar listing of upcoming SOW events, classes, donations, interesting stories, and community updates. Each year, programs are customized to meet the needs of today’s women and their families, no matter what stage of life they are in.
