Dallas Cowboys' Cheerleader Victoria Kalina Opens Up About Depression And Eating Disorder Due To The Demanding Job
Being a Dallas Cowboys' cheerleader certainly takes a lot more than spirit.
The rigorous journey to becoming a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader is the focus of the new Netflix documentary series, 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.' This series delves deep into the intense pressures and high expectations that cheerleaders face both on and off the field.
Amongst those who have opened up about their experiences is Victoria Kalina, who provides a raw and candid look at the realities behind the glitz and glamor.
Kalina's journey to becoming a Dallas Cowboys' cheerleader was fraught with immense pressure, which significantly impacted her mental and physical health. She has been transparent about how the demanding environment led her to develop depression and an eating disorder.
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"My depression, like, it turns into this bad cycle. And whenever I get into a bad depression, I turn to bad coping skills, which causes bad eating habits. And as a dancer, the hardest thing you can fight are eating disorders plus depression. And I go through the cycle when that depression zone hits. It's a binge-purge cycle. It's a binge to get that feel-good, that empty feeling filled again," she said. "But then game time comes, so then you gotta get into those baby clothes, get into that baby uniform, and that cycle just keeps going."
The COVID-19 pandemic provided Kalina with a much-needed break from the relentless demands of cheerleading. She took a year off, which allowed her to start therapy and address her mental health struggles.
"After COVID year, after lockdown and everything, I didn't feel like my dancing was up to par, my body wasn't up to par, and I just felt very out of it, and so, I needed a little gap year. Without that year off, I did not feel I could be my best to represent DCC," she said,
She continued: "When I decided to take my year off, I got into therapy... I've learned that I'm a words-of-affirmation person. I've also learned that I do not like to feel my feelings. So I think that's why I cover that up, I cover up any emotions that I have. I think we all kind of have a tendency to put up a front and that's just not okay, because when you're not feeling good, you need to let people know."
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'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' can be streamed now on Netflix.
