TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bucs Crash Magazine's Annual Bikini Bash

Tribune photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

Tampa's Milly Figuereo is the first Bucs cheerleader to pose for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

ADVERTISEMENT

By CLOE CABRERA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

Updated: 02/18/2008 05:22 pm

TAMPA - Millions of men are hitting on Milly Figuereo this week. And her fiance doesn't mind a bit.

The second-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader graces the pages of the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which hit newsstands a week ago. Even more photos of her are posted on the magazine's Web site, www.si.com/swimsuit.

A new feature in the magazine is a section devoted to NFL cheerleaders among the traditional photos of fashion models that typically fill the issue's quickly worn pages.

Figuereo joins cheerleaders from 11 other NFL teams in the pictorial. They were chosen from photographs submitted by 26 teams.

Swimsuit issue stardom is a first for the Bucs, said Sandy Charboneau, the team's cheerleader manager.

Figuereo, 28, a native of Santa Domingo who speaks fluent Spanish, is an assistant commodities broker in Tampa. She was a cheerleader at Jefferson High School and a dancer at the University of Tampa. She always wanted to shake her pompoms for the local team.

"I grew up watching the Bucs and loving the Bucs," said Figuereo, a South Tampa resident. "It was the best decision I ever made to show up for the auditions and try out. I'm blessed they saw something in me and chose me to be a part of the team."

What was your reaction when you found out you were going to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue?

My initial reaction was disbelief. I couldn't believe she Sandy called out my name. I was completely shocked and overwhelmed.

You try out for cheerleading because you love to dance; you love the team and the community events. Never did I think I would get into the pages of this magazine.

Is shooting for the issue as glamorous as it looks?

Yes, it really was glamorous. The photos were taken in New York in June of 2007. We had makeup artists, there were lights, and they have the fans blowing. You see this on television and you never think you are going to be the person in front of the camera.

Even though we weren't at one of those exotic locations, it was extremely glamorous.

How do you stay in shape?

I really like yoga - hot yoga. And I love to go on walks in the morning on Bayshore Boulevard at 5 a.m. with my best friend. I love going to the gym. I'm one of those people that enjoys working out at least three to five days a week.

You know I have to ask this one for the guys. Do you have a boyfriend?

No, I don't have a boyfriend; I have a fiance. We're getting married in two weeks.

What was his reaction when you told him you were going to be in the SI issue?

I know he's not going to want me to say this, but when I first told him the news, he started crying. It really touched me. It was so sweet. He was so happy for me.

What advice would you give women who want to become a Buccaneers cheerleader?

The best would be to take care of themselves and really push themselves where they feel they can't go. Believe in yourself and if you do, someone else will see the drive in you, too. Tryouts are the first week in April.

Will you be trying out in April?

I'll have to wait and see. I love what I'm doing now as a Bucs cheerleader, but I don't know what I will be doing in April. I'm concentrating on living this moment.

Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656 or ccabrera@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT