Justine Lindsay’s continued rise was a bright spot in a dreary season
Now a year removed from making history as the first out transgender woman to make the cut as NFL cheerleader, the already-accomplished rookie gilded effortlessly into her second year having become a fan favorite among Panther fans.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.In a first year where trolls attempted to tread, she showed dancer’s grace combined with linebacker grit.“I told myself, “Hey, listen, I’m making a change one way or another,” she stated to Business Insider last June. “I just shut it out.
Anytime you’re doing something great or positive, someone’s always going to come behind and try to steal your joy. So I just have to continue to do what I love to do.”A post shared by JustinE Simone Lindsay (@justinesimone_)The haters were Lindsay’s motivators, but she was powered by a pure love to perform that quickly translated to thousands of fans in the stands.
A boundless energy was evident and carried into a second season. As TopCats coach Chandalae Lanouette stated to Elle about Lindsay’s first, “She had a shaved head and so much confidence.
You could tell that she was happy to be in the space with other dancers, and that’s kind of what you look for.”She also became a inspiring touchstone for a transgender community.
