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Which Dolphins Cheerleader uniforms were the best? Let’s take a look...

The Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders are holding auditions to welcome new members to its team on Saturday at Nova Southeastern University in Davie.

Applicants must be fit, have dancing skills, bright smiles and be 18 years old. They also probably should have great morale because, well, they’re cheering on the Dolphins. The last thing a successful Miami Dolphins cheerleader must have? Poor eyesight, just in case she ends up in a really ugly uniform.

In honor of the upcoming tryouts, Miami.com is taking you down memory lane with a look at the squad’s attire over the years.

1999

To Broward 11/13/99 Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Pola CQ Castellon, Melissa Wise, and Melissa Chiz CQ, pose for pictures at an autograph booth at the first ever Youth Sports Fest held Saturday at Flamingo Park in Pembroke Pines. The afternoon of sports activities, entertainment and a silent auction was held by Pemrboke Pines based Team Effort to benefit city youth sports programs and Special Olympics.
To Broward 11/13/99 Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Pola CQ Castellon, Melissa Wise, and Melissa Chiz CQ, pose for pictures at an autograph booth at the first ever Youth Sports Fest held Saturday at Flamingo Park in Pembroke Pines. The afternoon of sports activities, entertainment and a silent auction was held by Pemrboke Pines based Team Effort to benefit city youth sports programs and Special Olympics. Eileen Soler For the Herald

How do you prepare for Y2K, also known as the end of the world when computers and their two-digit year format would take us back to 1900, crash and we’d all die? You put on your best smile and push through… at least that’s what I imagine these ladies were thinking.

OK, so the world definitely didn’t end. But is it just me, or are these uniforms a little Power Ranger-esque?





Oh, the 90s. It should be noted, that the aqua green is the main color in these cheerleader outfits. We won’t see that again.

(Also, we’re going to see a theme of mesh sleeves. But this photo was taken in November, when it might have been a little cold, so we’re going to give these 1999 cheerleaders a break).

2000

BROWARD 9/6/00 photo by Lisa Allen/for the Herald. Dolphin Cheerleaders Barbie Alonso, Lindsay Strukland, Kathleen Torregrossa, and Sach Edwards.
BROWARD 9/6/00 photo by Lisa Allen/for the Herald. Dolphin Cheerleaders Barbie Alonso, Lindsay Strukland, Kathleen Torregrossa, and Sach Edwards. Lisa Allen/For the Herald

It’s like every Britney Spears look alike made the Dolphins Cheerleaders team this year. Yep, the tan skin, blond hair and “innocent” looks make total sense — Spears’ “Opps!… I did it Again” album dropped in May 2000, just a couple months before this photo was snapped.

What doesn’t make sense, though, are these terrible mesh 3/4 sleeves… in September.





I will say, that the uniform bottoms must have been a welcomed adjustment from the previous year.

nuri vallbona 1/20/99 Ben Stein, star of Win Ben Stein's Money , teams up with NY Giants' Danny Kannel to answer trivia questions while surrounded by Dolphin cheerleaders Saturday at a taping of his show in the NFL Experience.
nuri vallbona 1/20/99 Ben Stein, star of Win Ben Stein's Money , teams up with NY Giants' Danny Kannel to answer trivia questions while surrounded by Dolphin cheerleaders Saturday at a taping of his show in the NFL Experience. nuri vallbona

Yikes.

2003

BROWARD-9/4/03 Lilly Echeverria/Herald Staff The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders perform on Thursday night at Las Olas Riverfront in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where members of the team were unveiling the new orange jersey, which will be worn by the Dolphins at one home game during the 2003 season. The Kickoff Celebration is part of the Dolphins "Countdown to Kickoff" festivities leading up to the team's season opening contest against the Houston Texans on September 7.
BROWARD-9/4/03 Lilly Echeverria/Herald Staff The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders perform on Thursday night at Las Olas Riverfront in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where members of the team were unveiling the new orange jersey, which will be worn by the Dolphins at one home game during the 2003 season. The Kickoff Celebration is part of the Dolphins "Countdown to Kickoff" festivities leading up to the team's season opening contest against the Houston Texans on September 7. Lilly Echeverria Herald Staff

Same bottoms, new top? (And the same horrid mesh sleeves). 2003 must have been a tough year financially for the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders. That was the year the football team introduced new orange jerseys — not to be confused with the hot mess “Color Rush” ensembles from last season.

There is a difference. We'll take the 2003 version, please.
There is a difference. We'll take the 2003 version, please.

2006

Miami Dolphins cheerleaders at the Chiefs game Sunday Nov 12, 2006.(Photo/Jeffrey Boan)
Miami Dolphins cheerleaders at the Chiefs game Sunday Nov 12, 2006.(Photo/Jeffrey Boan) Jeffrey Boan

We seriously cannot get rid of these mesh sleeves? The Miami Dolphins Cheerleader uniform designer must’ve said something like: “Three-quarter sleeves? Pshh so 2003!”

But then that same person thought it would be perfectly fine to put a triangle insert in the 1/2 sleeves made of white mesh.





And is that a collar? An orange one?! Oh boy, but let us pay homage to the stripes on those bottoms. Just kidding; they’re pretty terrible, too.

2007

For SPORTS 8/11/07 Photo by Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald Staff...The Miami Dolphins host  the Jacksonville Jaguars at Dolphin Stadium in Miami..The new Dolphin cheerleaders have their hair flying during a 3rd quarter routine.Photo by Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald Staff..The new Dolphin cheerleaders have their hair flying during a 3rd quarter routine.
For SPORTS 8/11/07 Photo by Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald Staff...The Miami Dolphins host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Dolphin Stadium in Miami..The new Dolphin cheerleaders have their hair flying during a 3rd quarter routine.Photo by Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald Staff..The new Dolphin cheerleaders have their hair flying during a 3rd quarter routine. Joe Rimkus Jr. MIAMI HERALD

They got rid of the mesh sleeves once and for all! Then replaced them with what has got to be the worst cheerleading uniform ever created.

In other news, the first iPhone came out in 2007. Don’t you wish someone could have warned us? (Yea, the same way someone could have spoken up about these atrocious outfits).





But that’s not all. Check out the back.

09/08/07 Miami Herald photo by Peter Andrew Bosch. Miami. Dessie Buschel (left in black) and Beatrice Ross (right with hands on her face)  look's on as the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders visited the Palace Suites retirment coummunity to celebrate the opening of the Dolphins football season.
09/08/07 Miami Herald photo by Peter Andrew Bosch. Miami. Dessie Buschel (left in black) and Beatrice Ross (right with hands on her face) look's on as the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders visited the Palace Suites retirment coummunity to celebrate the opening of the Dolphins football season.

That’s right, Grandma. We’re judging them, too.

2008

Miami only saw minor improvements to the look of the Dolphins Cheerleader uniforms in 2008. Someone approved these pleated skirts and puff-sleeved blouses with the glitter lining. Just think about that for a second.

2009

Related content

Notice, the athletic socks are being worn over cheerleading boots. I have lost the words. But the jerseys are cute.

2010

The Miami Dolphins' cheerleaders are ecstatic as Fabiola Romero (center) is chosen to represent them at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii in the second quarter in the game with the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.December 19,2010.
The Miami Dolphins' cheerleaders are ecstatic as Fabiola Romero (center) is chosen to represent them at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii in the second quarter in the game with the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.December 19,2010. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald Staff

Surprise! We’ve given up on sleeves altogether.

2011

A Miami Dolphins cheerleader dances in Santa outfit before the game with the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on December 11,2011.
A Miami Dolphins cheerleader dances in Santa outfit before the game with the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on December 11,2011. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald Staff

The Dolphins Cheerleaders got really Mrs. Claus with these 2011 Christmas-themed uniforms… a little too much for my liking. No one in the stands is wearing long-sleeves, so I can only imagine how steamy these ladies got.

2012

Dolphins cheerleaders entertain the fans after the third quarter of the game with the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on August 10,2012.
Dolphins cheerleaders entertain the fans after the third quarter of the game with the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on August 10,2012.

I have to say, these 2012 uniforms are a little conservative for our beloved home team cheerleaders. No ridiculous buttons, no logos on the buttocks, no frills or pleats and no outrageous socks. Oh, you thought I meant modest? No. I just meant basic.

2013

Miami Dolphins cheerleaders enter end zone to entertain at the end of the first quarter of the game with the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on December 2,2012.
Miami Dolphins cheerleaders enter end zone to entertain at the end of the first quarter of the game with the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on December 2,2012. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald Staff

Hmmm… This looks like a mixture of gymnastic leotard and a raglan tee all in a cropped top. I can’t decide if it actually works.

2014 – 2016

Yea, we lumped these all together. That’s because for the past three years, the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders appear to have abandoned their uniform designer.

2014

Dolphin Cheerleaders perform as the Miami Dolphins play host to the San Diego Chargers at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday, November 2, 2014.
Dolphin Cheerleaders perform as the Miami Dolphins play host to the San Diego Chargers at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday, November 2, 2014. Al Diaz MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Notice anything familiar? (Refer to 2010, which must have been a great year, I don’t know).





2015

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 27: A Miami Dolphins cheerleader performs during the second half of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sun Life Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida.  (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 27: A Miami Dolphins cheerleader performs during the second half of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sun Life Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) Rob Foldy Getty Images

News flash: There is nothing different.

2016

Dolphin cheerleaders perform as the Miami Dolphins host the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, October 9, 2016.
Dolphin cheerleaders perform as the Miami Dolphins host the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, October 9, 2016. AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com

Nothing to see here. Here’s to hoping the newest additions to the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders get some new uniforms!

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 6:06 AM with the headline "Which Dolphins Cheerleader uniforms were the best? Let’s take a look...."

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