Tiffany Monroe, Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader

Periodically, MyJerseyShore.com puts the spotlight on an individual who helps make the Jersey Shore the special place it is.

You’ll see interviews with musicians, casino entertainers, business people, chefs and other Jersey Shore celebrities.

Our latest interview is with Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader Tiffany Monroe of Absecon, NJ.
Tiffany has been an Eagles cheerleader since 2006 and represented the team at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii in February, 2010. She also toured Iraq and Kuwait with five other Eagles cheerleaders on a USO tour in the summer of 2009.

1. What was it like growing up at the Jersey Shore? I couldn’t imagine growing up anywhere else! I am a total beach bum who can’t get her toes out of the sand! Growing up, my parents used to take me to the beach every day, or we would be outside playing in our pool. Being a veteran, my dad sold ice cream on Atlantic City beach. Now, all these years later, he works in Margate in the summer still selling ice cream on the beach! I never had a problem there! I grew up in Absecon and currently reside there with my husband. We are newlyweds! My favorite memories growing up were going to the beach with my family, swimming in the ocean or in the pool in the summer. In the winter, I just enjoyed the snow (when we had some)!

2. Where did you go to the beach? As a young child, I went to Atlantic City beach and then I slowly started moving down the island. As a teenager, I went to the Ventnor beach and now I go to the beach in Margate. My first job was a beach-tag checker in Ventnor!

3. What made you want to be an Eagles cheerleader? I grew up taking dance classes, gymnastics and cheerleading, along with other sports I dabbled in. I was one of those kids who tried everything. I competed in dance, gymnastics and cheerleading competitions up and down the east coast starting at the age of seven.  On Sundays, I used to watch football with my dad. He used to tell me that I would be “one of those girls” one day (pointing to the cheerleaders on the TV). Of course, I never believed him because that seemed to be something that was unattainable at that age. I always kept the idea in the back of my mind though. Throughout my high school and college years, I remained an athlete rather than performing in dance or cheerleading. I went on to be a diver for The College of New Jersey. When my competitive diving career ended, I started looking for something else to do – to be a part of another team. I saw that auditions for the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders were happening in March, so I decided to brush up on my dancing (since it had been a while). I trained, and I tried out at the open call auditions. There were approximately 800 women that came out. Everyone was so beautiful and talented. I ended up making it to semi-finals that year but, unfortunately, did not make the cut following that round. The following year I knew what was to be expected (the look, the hair, make-up, dancing ability, speaking ability, etc.). I took some more dance classes throughout the year and tried out in again in 2006, and that is when I made the team!

4. Were you surprised that you made the squad? SHOCKED! It was surreal. I knew going into it that it’s such a prestigious position and if I at least learned something from the audition process then I would consider myself successful. I’ll never forget calling the “cheerleader hotline” at the NovaCare complex the next morning to find out if I was a member of the 2006-2007 team. I didn’t sleep at all that night – I kept staring at the clock waiting for it to say “9 AM” so I could officially call! I really didn’t think I had a shot after being cut the previous year in the semi-finals, even though I did make the finals that year. When I called, I heard my name and I screamed “OH MY GOSH!!” or something along those lines! I think I called the hotline at least twice to make sure I heard correctly. I was on cloud nine for weeks! I couldn’t grasp the idea! Little did I realize at the time that this job wasn’t all about dance; it was bigger than I thought. The women on this squad are role models and an inspiration to young women around the Philadelphia area and beyond. Public speaking skills, personality and commitment all play a huge part into what it takes to be a Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader, and each year I am humbled and honored to be selected back: It’s like realizing a childhood dream all over again.

5. How many hours do you practice each week? We have rehearsal two nights a week, lasting approximately 3-4 hours a night. Plus, each of us makes several appearances a month on top of rehearsals.

6. What’s the crowd like just before a big game? No matter who the Eagles are playing, the crowd is ALWAYS rowdy! They are so pumped before every single game. We arrive at the stadium four hours prior to kickoff and the fans are already in the parking lots tailgating and ready to go. They are dedicated and passionate – they are not afraid to let others and their team know how they really feel (whether the team is winning or losing). But, make no mistake, THEY BLEED GREEN! By far, they are the best fans in the NFL!

7. What game from the past really stands out in your mind? On Sunday, December 28, 2008 so much had to go right. In order for us to win the wild card and make the playoffs, several things had to happen: The Raiders needed to beat the Buccaneers, and the Texans had to beat the Lions. Somehow, both of those games went our way, and that left the Sunday night game as the deciding game for the NFC Wild Card spot. It was the Eagles vs. the Cowboys, with the winner making the playoffs. Our boys did NOT disappoint and ended up CRUSHING Dallas 44-6 and we made the playoffs! It was an intense game and I just remember the fans being so excited.

8. You went to Iraq and Kuwait on a USO tour in 2009. What was that experience like? It was such an eye-opening experience. It’s hard to understand what the service men and women are going through without seeing it first hand and now that I have, my life has changed. I have learned to appreciate the freedoms we have even more than I did before. Many people can take things for granted and it’s those service men and women we need to thank for our freedom. We visited hundreds of servicemen and women at various military bases.  While it was interesting to stay in the barracks and traveling on Black Hawk helicopters, it was a life-changing experience being able to see the sacrifices that they are making to protect our freedom and safety firsthand. There were a few times that sandstorms grounded us for a few days at the bases. It really gave us time to talk at length with the members of the military stationed there. This was such an amazing experience – I would do it again in a heartbeat.

9. You also went to the Pro Bowl in 2011. Did you enjoy that week? How could I not? I was in Hawaii!! The Pro Bowl was so much fun, even more than I had anticipated. E2K is the company who runs the events, and they did such an amazing job at organizing our trip so that we had the full experience. We had a schedule filled with rehearsals, photo shoots, appearances, cheerleading clinics for kids, shows for people in town and much, much more! The directors from E2K were so inspiring to us every day. Meeting the women from the other teams in the NFL was an incredible experience on its own. We became a close team quickly! Prior to leaving for Hawaii, we had all been emailing each other the weeks leading up. When we arrived, we decided to all have dinner together (something that was not scheduled since we all arrived at different times). It was like we had known each other for decades. We just clicked instantly. One of my favorite events during the week of Pro Bowl was Ohana Day, which happens the day before the Pro Bowl. The community is invited to Aloha stadium where they are able to watch the pre-game rehearsal and watch the players practice. It was just a fun and relaxing event. We also had the opportunity to dance with the Goo Goo Dolls, who played before kick-off while we performed with many other performers on the field.

10. You do a lot of charity appearances along with other Eagles cheerleaders. Which ones mean the most to you? The Philadelphia Eagles always hold many different types of events where we can make a difference in someone’s life, but the Eagles Playground Build, in particular, is my favorite. As a teacher, this one means a lot to me. We are able to take a school and turn it around into a place where students can feel safe and at home. The students are always so appreciative of this event and it brings a smile to my face when I see how happy they are with the finished product!

Photo provided by the Philadelphia Eagles