Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Star Armani Latimer Dances Without Wig for First Time Since Revealing Her Alopecia on Show
Armani Latimer. Photo: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders/Instagram
Armani Latimer is cheerleading without a wig for a special cause.
The America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders star, 23, danced without a wig for the first time since revealing her alopecia diagnosis on the show at the Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals game on Monday, Dec. 9.
In a joint Instagram reel posted by Latimer and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Latimer appeared emotional as she took to the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to perform in support of Alopecia Awareness and the team's 'My Cause My Boots' platform.
“Confidence takes center stage for Alopecia Awareness 💙#MyCauseMyBoots | #DCCheerleaders,” the caption read to the post.
Latimer was first seen in the clip tearing up as she linked arms with her cheerleading team in the stadium dressing room. “You got this, ‘Mani!” a person said to her behind the camera as she smiled and the group cheered.
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The cheerleader was then filmed walking backstage with her team to the field, smiling while still emotional, as she hugged some of her members and head choreographer Judy Trammell, before greeting the crowd outside. Latimer was in happy spirits towards the end of the clip as she gave an energetic performance on the field with her team, including their iconic "Thunderstruck" routine and kick line.
A voice told Latimer over the clip, “We’re so proud that you’re doing this and you’re representing a lot of little girls out there. And they’re going to be looking at you in awe, at your strength knowing that they are going to feel so beautiful after this because of what you’re doing today. So we’re just so proud of you.”
According to Dallas Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr., this was the first time Latimer danced without a wig at the game.
Armani Latimer Instagram photo in her DCC uniform
Armani Latimer Instagram photo in her DCC uniform
Latimer was diagnosed with alopecia areata at age 12, per Women’s Health.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that attacks your body's hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“I went through high school without telling anyone I even had alopecia. But once I got to college, stress caused more hair loss; loss that took much longer to grow back,” Latimer told Women’s Health.
She shared that having the condition was “hard to navigate” in her early days as a cheerleader and she wore sew-ins to cover up her bald patches. She switched to wigs shortly after joining the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders when her hair completely fell out.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Star Armani Latimer Dances Without Wig for First Time Since Revealing Her Alopecia on Show
Armani Latimer danced without a wig with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Dec. 9. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders/Instagram
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“It was such a tumultuous time that I was only able to give about 50 percent of my effort. Some people picked up on the fact that I was more withdrawn and not my bubbly self, and having teammates that I could sit and cry with about what I was going through was healing,” Latimer told the outlet.
“Overall, my team and my family helped me maintain a positive mindset. I wouldn't be anywhere without my support system,” she added.