Danielle Hilliard: Don’t ask me about ‘Spirit Fingers’ [Ben Li Shoot+Interview]

Late last year Sports Illustrated realized something we’ve all known for years: Western Cheerleaders are awesome. Upon making this realization they began naming UWO Cheer Girls to their “Cheerleader of the Week List” and Danielle Hilliard found herself to be the first one named. Since then we’ve featured her SI shoot, interviewed her with Lauren O’Nizzle about the experience, and updated you on her exploits, but we finally figured it was time to do a shoot of our own. You will also notice that Ellyn D’Uva was present for this shoot and we’ll have that out for next week. Thanks to Sandra Kirilovic for putting this together, and photographer Ben Li of Raw Edge Photography. We had a chance to speak to Danielle briefly about cheerleading and what she’s been up to. Check it out and stay tuned for more from Ellyn!

What’s your background?: French, German and Italian…quite the mix I know

What are you measurements?: I have no clue…

Favorite drink at a bar/club?: Tequila!

Favorite bar/club in London? The Ceeps

What happened on your favorite night there?: Usually the good nights are the ones that are hardest to remember

What’s your favorite drinking game? Kings or ride the bus…but I always have to ride the damn bus. Can you be bad at a drinking game? If it’s possible, then I totally suck.

What was the best relationship advice anybody gave you?: My mom always gives good advice when it comes to relationships…she told me to always do what makes me happy and never to settle for someone who doesn’t treat me right

What was the worst relationship advice anybody gave you?: Stay single until you become ugly…pretty terrible advice

What’s your favorite thing to do in the bedroom?: Take naps?…haha. That’s the only thing I’m willing to divulge

Where do you feel the most comfortable naked?: In the shower! Where else?

If you had to choose one (or two) what female celebrity would you have a one night stand with?: Female celebrity, eh? I’ve never actually had a one night stand in my life…I do have a celebrity crush on Olivia Wilde though. I think she’s gorgeous! Megan Fox is super hot too.

What question do most people ask you about cheerleading and how do you respond? When people find out that I’m a cheerleader I always get the question, “so you do…spirit fingers?” It’s drives me insane

What would you REALLY like to tell them? I would like to tell them to come try and keep up in a summer practice with the Western Mustang Cheer team… See if they are able to walk the next morning…

What’s your favorite cheer moment? I would have to saying winning PCA Nationals for the first time was a great moment. Also competing at Worlds for the first time was a great experience.

Why the brown hair? I like to switch it up from time to time. It’s my natural hair colour so I though it was time to go back to my roots…literally.

What should people to know about you besides the fact that you’re a pretty cheerleader? I am secretly a nerd. I love being a student and learning. I’m not sure that I ever truly want to be done school…
And really neither do we! Well thanks for the awesome shoot Dani, and we’ll be seeing more of you on the “pages” of LDU very soon!