Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders

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The Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders are the official NFL cheer squad for the Miami Dolphins. Founded in 1978, the team currently has 28 members and is led by director KaShara Garrett. They perform at every home game at Hard Rock Stadium, entertaining about 65,000 fans. The squad holds auditions each May, runs a youth cheer program to mentor local girls, makes USO trips, and each year they send a cheerleader to the Pro Bowl.

The squad’s roots go back to the team’s early days. Before 1978, a group called the Dolphins Dolls entertained fans, with about 125 girls aged 8–18, at the Miami Orange Bowl until 1977. The professional group started in 1978 with 30 women and was first called the Starbrites, named after a sponsorship with Starbrite Car Polish until 1983. After that sponsorship ended, Burger King helped name the team Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders.

Leadership changes over the years include 1990 when founder June Taylor retired and Kathy Morton Shashaty, a former Dolphins cheerleader, took over. When coach Jimmy Johnson arrived, he brought Dorie Braddy, formerly with the Dallas Cowboys, as cheer manager, who led from 1996 to 2004. Heather Phillips then became manager and moved into game entertainment until 2007, after which Emily Newton took over. Trisia Brown, a former Dolphins Cheerleader, later joined as choreographer.