Monique – First Lady of Football

Redskins fans love Monique, and so do we!

Surrender to Monique – First Lady of Football

Animal lover, firm believer in a judgment-free friend-zone, dancer, lover of all things military, culture and football, Monique is a prime example of an NFL cheerleader. And not just any NFL cheerleader, but an esteemed and gorgeous member of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, lovingly known to most of the football world as the First Ladies of Football.

Oh, and did we mention she works in federal law enforcement and can take a selfie better than Kim Kardashian? Or that she was crowned Miss District of Columbia? Yeah, she’s kind of a big deal and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree.

Now check out our interview with our favorite first lady on the turf…

Man Cave Daily: Where are you originally from?

Monique: Washington, D.C

MCD: What school did you go to?

M: The University of the Arts.

MCD: Occupation?

M: Investigative Analyst.

MCD: Years on team?

M: Five years.

MCD: We hear making a team is hard, did you try out multiple times before making it?

M: I was fortunate enough to make it on my first try.

MCD: Are you in the calendar?

M: Yes, I am November 2014.

MCD: Greatest memory so far?

M: Greatest memory so far has to be our trip to Hong Kong for the Chinese New Year. It was exciting seeing how many fans we had in another country as well as experiencing a new culture and performing for one of their most celebrated holidays.

MCD: Favorite player?

M: Darrell Green. He was the first player my family told me about as a child and I became a huge fan of his immediately. As I got older and understood the game more I was able to truly appreciate how great of a corner he was for our team.

MCD: For those who have never been to your stadium, describe the atmosphere.

M: I call game days at our stadium a mini carnival. If you get there early and don’t have a tailgate to attend we have plenty of things you can take part in before the game. You can find music and a bar-b-q on one end of the stadium, a chance to meet our cheerleader ambassadors on another and even catch a quick performance by us on three different occasions before the game. Even after the game we have a mini party we call “Fifth Quarter” for those who just don’t want to go home right after the game. It is a great way to avoid sitting in the post-game traffic!

2014-2015 NFL Cheer Series Presented by Shock Top because these ladies are SHOCKING

MCD: Oh yes, the fifth quarter – always a fun time. Which Spice Girl would you be?

M: I would most likely be Scary Spice! As a child I always picked her to imitate out of the group and she has a great mix of sweet and sassy that I can definitely relate to!

MCD: Who’s your bestie on the squad?

M: My bestie on the squad is Chantelle. We have really grown close over these past two years which isn’t easy because I am so to myself a lot of the time! She is definitely the one person I can count on for any and all life issues from relationship talks to hair conversations. Always a phone call away and we have a strict no-judgment zone!

MCD: No judging is key in any relationship! Biggest misconception about cheerleaders?

M: There are so many misconceptions about pro cheerleaders, but the biggest one must be that this is our full-time job. Per our contract, we actually have to have a full-time job, be a full-time student or be a full-time mom to be on the team. Cheering for us is more of a part-time job on top of our other responsibilities in life. I had the privilege to cheer next to some of the brightest women I have ever met, from lawyers to scientists. Right now I cheer with a woman who has a full-time job, a side job and three kids on top of cheering, and my coach has two kids and is in school getting her master’s! So greatest is a requirement! And it starts from the top for our squad.

MCD: What charity is nearest and dearest to your heart?

M: The ASPCA is very dear to me. I have always been an animal lover from a very young age. I would scream for my family to pull over the car whenever I saw a stray animal, wanting to help it. That’s how I came across my second dog Stella, that I legally adopted after saving her from an intersection. She is now the sister to my pomeranian Scrappy. My friends joke a lot because whenever watching a movie with an animal costar, I am always the one rooting for the animal. Saddens me how much harm comes to animals by those they depend on and I truly appreciate the ASPCA for fighting so hard for them!

MCD: If you could only dance/perform to one artist for the entire season, who would it be?

M: So as much as I don’t want to sound cliché, I will sound cliché and say Beyonce. Her dancers DANCE! And one thing I admire most after seeing her dancers perform is that she allows them to perform so many different styles of dance. One minute they can be doing hardcore hip-hop, then they are doing African dance, then tapping, then en pointe then they’re doing modern dance! I really respect that about her. She allows them to truly showcase their talents and not be what my college jazz teacher likes to call “one trick ponies,”

MCD: What’s the most embarrassing/random thing we’d find in your recent Google history?

M: Fortunately for me, I can answer this honestly and say nothing! I am usually only on the computer when I am at work and since I work for the government there isn’t much embarrassing things I can Google.

MCD: Since you’re so busy getting ready for the games, (sadly) you miss one of my favorite parts – tailgating! If you were asked to bring one thing, what would it be?

M: I would bring crab mac and cheese. Oh my goodness, it will change your life! Mac and cheese is appropriate anywhere you go but add some crab meat to it and now you are eating heaven with every bite.

So you’re telling us somewhere there’s a guy who gets to date Monique, play with dogs, and eat crab mac ‘n’ cheese? How do we overthrow and usurp him?

MCD: Thanks Monique–it’s only 9am and I’m craving tailgate food!I know a huge part of being an NFL Cheerleader is visiting/spending time with the military–if you could give a message to those who serve our country and fight for our freedom, what would you say?

M: Thank you so much for your continued service, dedication, and bravery for our country. There is never enough appreciation shown or expressed for what you all do and the sacrifices you make!

Monique – first lady of football, November 2015 swimsuit calendar girl

MCD: Look in your purse/bag right now – what’s the most random thing in there?

M: Haha I have one random sock in there. It’s CLEAN! But very random… I wonder where the other one is…

MCD: Favorite book/magazine/website?

M: My favorite website is Houzz.com… I love all things relating to home décor!

MCD: Cheerleaders are known for taking the perfect selfies – probably more so than Kim Kardashian – what’s your secret to a perfect selfie?

M: I would check out our Selfie parody video! I think we kind of nailed it there.

MCD: You’ve obviously got a full schedule. Any time for hobbies or interests?

M: I am a hardcore movie buff so I LOVE going to the movies or staying in to rent the latest releases. I also enjoy bowling but I can’t say I make a lot of time for it, unfortunately.

MCD: What’s the team’s character like? What have you learned in your five years on the team?

M: We are like a sisterhood. Being on the team for five years you watch many come and go, but one thing I can say is that our sisterhood never goes anywhere. We are always one call away. There is a bond there that can’t be imitated.

MCD: Homebody or adventurer?

M: I am a little bit of both. I am a serious homebody but I will definitely head out for an adventure. It usually has to be something exciting and adventurous to get me out. I recently swam with dolphins, which have been on my bucket list for quite some time. Glad I can check that one off!

MCD: Tell me something about you people would find completely out of character?

M: Every time I tell people I work in federal laweEnforcement that seems to completely shock people. So I guess my career is completely out of character. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

And of course of you can follow Monique and all the beautiful First Ladies of Football on social media…

• Facebook.com/WashingtonRedskinsCheerleaders
• Twitter: @1stladiesoffb
• Instagram: @1stladiesofFB

This article originally ran in the sport’s section of CBS Man Cave Daily. Click here to see the original article with a lot more pictures of gorgeous Monique. Thank you to Shock Top for sponsoring this fun and unique series on the ladies of the NFL.