Meet Zhenya Kolpakova, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Who Moved From Ukraine to Fulfill Her Ambition (2024)

There is much more to cheerleaders beyond the mesmerizing smiles and glamorous looks. Like athletes on the field, cheerleaders also make notable efforts for the game. Despite this, they do not receive adequate appreciation for their work. However, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have been making waves recently with their upcoming docu-series, “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” with their narrative.

Since the trailer was released on YouTube, cheerleaders navigating the existence of the Cowboys Cheerleaders have become the talk of the town. Zhenya Kolpakova, one of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, will also have her life story featured in the upcoming documentary series premiering on June 20. Her life has indeed been a roller coaster ride.

From Ukraine to Dallas – The start of the Cheerleading Journey

Zhenya Kolpakova, a native of Dnipro, Ukraine, was born on September 16 and performed rhythmic gymnastics at an early age. When she was 12 years old, she moved to the United States with her mother and sister. It was the time when she developed an interest in dancing. She enrolled in high school with the dream of performing on a drill team. However, she had to wait for a year to get a spot on her high school drill team. In an interview with a magazine, she shared how she started her dance journey in the US.“I walked into the locker room, and my drill team director at the time looked at me and said, ‘Can you do the splits?’ I did all three splits, and she said, ‘You’re on the team!’ That is how I started my dance journey in the United States!” she remarked. Since then, her high school teacher, Drill Team Director Mrs. Hazelwood, became her second mom in the US.

According to her published interview in an entertainment magazine, while pursuing her Master of Science in Visualization degree at Texas A&M, one of Zhenya’s old drill team members was auditioning for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and convinced her to try out as well. Since then, securing a spot in the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader’s squad has become her major ambition. She attended many tryouts, facing failure multiple times, but she never gave up. After numerous attempts, she finally became one of the successful cheerleaders of the Dallas Cowboys.

The multifaceted talents of Zhenya Kolpakova

In August 2022, she announced her selection for “America’s Team,” providing insights into her incredible journey. Taking to her Instagram account, Zhenya Kolpakova thrilled her followers with the biggest news by sharing multiple pictures of herself. In the post, she looked extremely happy as she secured her coveted place in the DCC squad. She could be seen holding the iconic Dallas blue blouse and white vest with its trademark stars and fringe.

Her IG post caption read: “I am so honored and ecstatic to officially share…..I am a DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADER!!! 💙🌟.” Besides sharing her elation about becoming a cheerleader for the three-time NFL title-winning team, she also expressed her gratitude to her family and friends: “It was such an incredible journey! Beyond thankful to my friends and family for their support and love through both the happiest and hardest days. Truly, couldn’t have done it without them! 💙.” She went on to express her exhilaration about becoming a member of the prestigious NFL franchise: “I’m so grateful to be a part of an amazing organization and team of remarkable women. Let’s kick off this season!!! GO COWBOYS 💙 @dccheerleaders #dallascowboyscheerleaders #dallascowboys #dallascowboysfootball.”

Apart from serving as a cheerleader for the Cowboys, Zhenya has multiple sources of income. According to her Instagram profile, she is a professional cake decorator and the owner of Zhenya Bakes. She also entertains her followers through visual arts as a member of the Urban Performing Company. Moreover, she works in various fields, including as a consulting producer for a digital experience platform.

From adversity to achievement

In an interview, when Zhenya was asked about her decision to audition for DCC, she shed light on a conversation with her grandmother that became a major turning point in her life journey. At that time, she was not ready for the cheerleader audition and felt disappointed due to the significant impact of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.

“My Grandma told me that if there is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while, I shouldn’t wait for the perfect time because that time might never come. Instead, I should go for it and live without regrets or what-ifs. Life is too short to wonder what could have been. She encouraged me to follow my dreams and grab on to the things that would bring happiness to my life,” she remarked.

At the age of 30, nothing could stop Zhenya from trying out for DCC. However, things were not smooth. A few days before the final auditions, a flying spark from the logs hit Zhenya’s eyes. However, Zhenya received medical clearance just before the final tryouts. She advanced to the second round of auditions on the very same day as her sister graduated from Texas A&M. On the celebratory occasion, Zhenya received the prosperous news of her selection at the DCC.

The upcoming docu-series is focused on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader’s life and will provide unfiltered access to the nuances of the cheerleading squad to the viewers. Spectators are eager to watch the close view of their lives.