Former Emerald Belles captain Kinsy Smith may have hung up her drill team hat after graduating from Carroll Senior High School, but she’s still strutting her stuff. But this time, it’s for the Texas Christian University Showgirls.
The 2020 Carroll grad always hoped to attend TCU, eager to follow in her father’s footsteps.
“My dad went there for a little bit, so ever since I was little, he had always influenced me by taking me to the games and walking me around campus,” Kinsy says. “I like that it’s close to home.”
Its picturesque campus and prestigious education program only solidified TCU as her first choice. After she received her acceptance letter, Kinsy decided to audition for the TCU Showgirls. She had seen them perform at football games and liked how their style was reminiscent of her favorite professional cheerleading team.
“They are so cute, and their style reminds me a lot of DCC,” Kinsy says.
Kinsy says the TCU Showgirl auditioning process — a video where she performed a solo, kicks, the fight song routine and another dance choreographed by the Showgirls’ captain — tested her endurance. After all, each of those aspects had to be shot in a single take. But the Emerald Belles program gave her the tools to make the team.
“I had the stamina, so that process was easier,” Kinsy says. “But the Belles also prepared me to be ready to put in the work and be dedicated.”
Her first season with the team was not traditional due to COVID-19. Instead of dancing on the field at half time, the Showgirls would play a pre-recorded version of a half-time routine on the big screen during games. Kinsy says the team never saw the videos prior to the game, so it was always fun seeing how they turned out each week. Kinsy also says she was able to bond with her fellow newbies and hopes to continue dancing for the squad all four years.
“I’ve created such a good bond with my rookie class,” Kinsy says. “They are friendships I know that will last for forever.”
After graduating from TCU, Kinsy plans to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, following in the footsteps of other former Belle captains like Lacey Munoz and Jessica Bowman. Kinsy credits Emerald Belles director Melissa Page for inspiring her girls to pursue dancing after graduating high school. But until then, you can catch Kinsy repping the Horned Frogs from the stands, showcasing the skills she developed back in Southlake.