Justine Lindsay facts for kids

Justine Simone Lindsay (born September 19, 1992) is an American dancer, professional cheerleader, and podcaster. In 2022, she joined the Carolina TopCats, the cheerleading team for the Carolina Panthers football team. Lindsay made history by becoming the first openly transgender cheerleader in the National Football League (NFL). A transgender person is someone whose gender identity is different from the gender they were assigned at birth.

Education and Early Life

Lindsay grew up with a passion for dance. She attended Johnson C. Smith University, where she was part of the Golden Bullettes dance team. She later graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in communications. Lindsay also earned a degree from The Art Institute of Charlotte.

During her time as a college student in 2012, she had the chance to perform in a halftime show with the marching band from St. Augustine's University.

Career Highlights

Besides her work as a cheerleader, Lindsay hosts a podcast on Spotify called Keeping It Sweet with Justine.

Joining the NFL

In March 2022, Lindsay earned a spot on the Carolina TopCats cheerleading squad. This was a major moment because she was the first openly transgender person to join an NFL cheerleading team. While it's possible other transgender women may have been on teams before without sharing their identity, Lindsay was the first to be open about it.

After making the team, Lindsay shared that she was transgender in a post on her Instagram account. In June 2022, the news became widely known after the website BuzzFeed wrote an article about her. BuzzFeed had seen her Instagram post about making the team and decided to share her story.

Lindsay also stood out because she was selected for the team with a bald hairstyle. She said she wanted to be an inspiration for young people who might feel different. She hoped to break down old ideas about how people should look. She said:

I'm happy because I was able to break down that door and tell people, "Hey, we are not just one thing ... We are actual human beings who want to better ourselves." I felt like, Why not tell the world: "Hey, listen, this is a great accomplishment."

After Lindsay joined the team, the Carolina Panthers organization showed its support. They gave a statement to National Public Radio saying: "Members of the TopCats are hired based on their qualifications and abilities... We wish all the TopCats, including Justine Lindsay, an incredible season."