Kristan Ann, a former professional cheerleader turned advocate, artist and soon to be author. Her story is not just about the courage to stand alone, but the humility to kneel first... Trusting in the Sovereignty of the Lord through trials of many kinds and choosing reverence to one over the recognition of many. In 2018, she became the first woman to publicly refuse hush money and a non-disclosure agreement, offered by one of the most prominent professional football leagues, to cover up decades of systematic mistreatment of its cheerleaders, including wage theft, religious discrimination, poor working conditions, emotional abuse and gender-based double standards. In doing so, she was met with backlash… blacklisted, falsely accused, misrepresented and met with deafening silence that revealed just how unready society was willing to understand her.
Even still, with a trembling voice and a surrendered heart, Kristan stood firm in her faith during a time when it was safer to stay silent. She knew that remaining silent might protect her reputation and dance career, but speaking up could protect others. Her decision to walk away from fame and the professional sport she had spent her life working to achieve rather than compromise her convictions, became a catalyst for a national conversation. A conversation about what’s really happening behind the uniform and the unseen darkness hiding beneath the polished smiles and perfect performances.
Kristan’s story began long before her professional cheerleading career, and her mission stretches far beyond it. Raised in a military family rooted in faith and shaped by discipline, Kristan has been an athlete since the age of three… Where she first began learning the quiet strength of sacrifice, the beauty of structure and the resilience required to pursue something greater than herself. Through her journey in elite athletics, she has carried the weight of expectation with grace and grit, but also felt the sting of injustice, betrayal and heartbreak. Out of that fire, God began refining her pain into something new. Today, Kristan is committed to defending the value of female athletes, empowering the next generation and pointing people back to the unwavering love and truth of Jesus Christ. She doesn’t claim to be a hero, only a servant, a vessel… A borrowed voice until the next woman uncovers her own.
Her mission is to spark unity and reform not just in professional sports, but across universities, high schools and youth programs. Title IX was designed to ensure equity in athletics, but too often, dance and cheer are treated as exceptions rather than athletes. Safety, funding and basic dignity must be non-negotiables. She believes real change starts from the grassroots. Driven by purpose, Kristan is committed to reshaping the culture, so that future generations of girls no longer grow up in systems that diminish their worth nor overlook their value in athletics.
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