DCC Alumni Spotlight – Leah Goodwin

Leah Goodwin cheered with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from 1997-1998. She always dreamed of being a DCC but never thought her dream would actually come true.

Leah was born and raised in a small town in East Texas. She grew up admiring the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and viewed them as beautiful celebrities! She had the DCC posters on her wall and loved watching the DCC in shows and movies on TV. She explained it as “every little girl’s dream to be a DCC.” Leah wanted to tryout but never thought her dream was actually attainable. She struggled with her self-confidence from a young age. She always thought she was ‘too this’ or ‘too that’ and never good enough. Believing in herself didn’t come naturally.

At age 25, a death in her family was an eye-opening experience for Leah. She knew she needed to audition to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader or she would regret it forever. Leah made the team and was ecstatic; however, she still had her inner battles of not feeling good enough. She thought making the team would have been enough validation but it wasn’t. Between juggling her full-time job and her complex of not being good enough, she wasn’t able to put her best foot forward. Her insecurities carried throughout her season and even into the following year at auditions. She did not make it back for her second season. Although this was devastating to her, Leah knew God must have a different plan. She needed to go through this experience to learn how to accept who she really was.

Leah’s biggest piece of advice for me: “Just be you! And be the authentic you that God created you to be! God made you perfect, just the way you are. All you have to do is shine on!” If we embrace who we are, believing in ourselves will be easy! When we are completely ourselves, that is when we can shine. If we try to be someone we are not, that’s when the insecurities take over. During Leah’s time as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, she was trying to be something she wasn’t. This affected the way she felt about herself and her performance on the team. She needed to be herself in order to shine! Leah has truly shined in her professional career.

After DCC, she moved to Los Angeles where she founded her own financial firm- Goodwin Financial. Her career and travel schedule exceeded anything she ever expected. Not only does she have Goodwin Financial, she’s given lectures on finances nationwide and founded her own organization- The Love & Cheers Foundation. Over time, the more she traveled and the more she stepped out of her comfort zone, Leah was able to gradually gain confidence and started to enjoy just being herself.

My talk with Leah could not have come at a more perfect time. I always want to be my best, most authentic self. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to connect with Leah and learn this valuable lesson I will never forget.

DCC Meredith