The Woman Behind the Cheers

An estimated 160 million viewers in 180 countries are expected to tune-in to watch the Atlanta Falcons take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, and 30-second TV commercials are costing upwards of $5 million.

Cheering from the sidelines will be beautiful blondes, bombshell brunettes and ravishing red-head carefully created by Jamison Shaw Hairdressers, the official salon of the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders.

Celebrity hair-stylist Candy Shaw, owner of Atlanta’s award-winning Jamison Shaw Hairdressers and the founder of Sunlights Balayage, a leading balayage product and education company, has been caring for the cheerleaders’ tresses for nearly two decades, and she has the honor of accompanying the team to the Big Game.

“These women are not only gorgeous,” Shaw says. “They are also world-class athletes in their own right. (When was the last time you tried to do a triple-back-flip?) They are extremely accomplished in their professional lives, and, they are also very involved in community service.”

All of the cheerleaders hold down full-time jobs, or are full-time students. Nearly all have completed their college degrees, and many are pursuing graduate school.

“This year’s squad has been an absolute pleasure to work with, and I couldn't be happier for them or more proud of them," Shaw says. 

“Balayage is BIG in the ATL,” Shaw continues. “And Sunlights is what we use at Jamison Shaw to give the Cheerleaders their extraordinary LIFT! (no pun intended). It is responsible for the cheerleaders’ natural-looking sun-kissed highlights that look as if they spent their summers at the beach, instead of hard at work in rehearsals.”

Each Spring, Shaw is responsible for helping judge the cheerleaders’ final tryouts when hundreds of hopefuls audition for a spot on the squad. “The judges take into account a large number of criteria,” Shaw says. “But it’s my job to keep a watchful eye on the hair. It’s important to build a diverse squad that relates to every woman’s beauty.”

Be sure to tune-in this Sunday, 5 February 2017, at 6:30 PM ET (11:30 PM Greenwich Mean Time) to see the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders cheer on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI including a half-time show featuring Lady Gaga. For more information or for additional images contact info@jamisonshaw.com or info@sunlightsbalayage.com.