Raiderette Staci signs her calendar photo. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
The Raiderettes held their 2012 Raiderette Calendar Release Party, sponsored by Bud Light, this past Sunday prior to the Raiders preseason game versus the New Orleans Saints. Football's Fabulous Females, along with friends, family, sponsors and the media, had the opportunity to view the photos chosen for each month of the calendar for the first time. Raiderette Director Jeanette Thompson also revealed the front and back covers of the calendar to the guests.
Raiderette veteran Tiphanie and rookies Meredith and Nicole are the 2012 calendar cover girls. "Tiphanie and I were standing in the back so I really couldn't see it until it was completely revealed, but I'm absolutely shocked," said Meredith. "I've never been on a calendar, let alone the Raiderette calendar, so it's really amazing."
"I was just completely shocked," said Nicole. "I never thought that, with it being my first season, I would ever be on the cover. It's a gorgeous picture of all of us and I'm just so excited."
Not only were the three Raiderettes thrilled with the cover, they were excited about the entire calendar. "I love the calendar," said Tiphanie. "I absolutely think this is the best calendar we've had in a really long time. It's so elegant and beautiful and it really shows how diverse and wonderful our team is. It's really exciting just to have the opportunity to be a part of it, let alone be in the cover."
Raiderette veteran Natalie, who will be featured on Bud Light's billboards, was overwhelmed when she found out her photo was on the back cover. "This is my fourth year, fourth calendar, and I think it's the most beautiful one yet," said Natalie. "Everyone just looks beautiful and I can't wait for Raider fans to see it. I'm very excited [to be on the back cover] and to find out with all of my best friends, my sisters, my teammates, and my family and my directors is more exciting. I'm very happy and thrilled."
Rookie Raiderette Susie could hardly control her emotions as she looked at her calendar photo. "I'm completely overwhelmed right now," said Susie. "It's an amazing event. Lots of friends and family are out at this event right now. The calendar looks absolutely beautiful. Every single one of us looks stunningly gorgeous. They just revealed the front and back of the cover and it's amazing. It's truly an amazing experience and in the background they had the videos of us making the team and the whole audition process and it's kind of like making the team all over again."
"I think our fans are really going to love it," said Meredith. "I think they're really going to have a great time showing everyone, all the rest of the NFL, what the Raiderettes can really do."
The 2012 Raiderette Calendar is available for purchase online at Raiders.com and at the Raider Image retail stores.
