Biographie
A former member of the San Francisco Ballet during her childhood, Bonnie-Jill transformed her looks, training, and passion for sports into a career as a professional cheerleader. She began with the Golden State Warriors, where she earned the NBA Cheerleader of the Year award, then joined the San Francisco 49ers Goldrush Cheerleading squad, earning a Super Bowl ring. She later moved to Texas to study at the University of Texas, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism while dancing for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. There, she was also chosen to appear on the cover of their internationally acclaimed swimsuit calendar.
Relocating to Los Angeles to pursue broadcasting, she became a feature reporter for CBS sports stations, frequently covering the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. During this time, she worked with ESPN, NFL Network, SPIKE-TV, and others as a host, reporter, and commentator, demonstrating her comprehensive sports knowledge.
Her Lakers coverage caught the attention of owner Jerry Buss, who was so impressed by her insight that he appointed her as the first and only female NBA scout for the Lakers. Her scouting success was immediate, leading to expanded duties as Assistant General Manager for the Lakers' minor league team, the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Bonnie-Jill earned five NBA World Championship rings during her Lakers tenure.
Although her sports career thrived, Los Angeles embraced her talent and beauty, launching a highly successful modeling and acting career. She has appeared in FHM, Maxim, GQ, Esquire, and Sports Illustrated, among others. Her modeling success opened doors to recurring roles on shows like "Baywatch" and "Ally McBeal." Bonnie-Jill has featured in numerous commercials, ad campaigns, and six country music videos, including one with Dierks Bentley, which was named "Sexiest Video of the Year" by CMT. Both FXM and Maxim have recognized her on their "Sexiest Women" lists.
In addition, Laflin hosted Fantasy Football and Basketball shows on Sirius/XM Satellite and ESPN Austin, covering pre- and post-game shows for the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns. She has contributed many stories to ESPN.com and appears regularly as a contributor for Fox News. Giving back is essential to Bonnie-Jill; she is a devoted supporter of the troops and has traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries on 20 Goodwill and USO tours. She continues to visit veterans and wounded warriors at VA hospitals across the United States. Bonnie-Jill is also deeply involved in animal welfare, having participated in numerous national campaigns promoting compassion toward animals. Her commitment to military and animal causes inspired her to create the charity "Hounds and Heroes."
As of 2016, Bonnie-Jill Laflin works as a reporter for Fox Sports and BBC Sports.
