America's Sweethearts: What all does it take to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

The new Netflix show, America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, follows the lives of the team members of the cheerleading group from the National Football League.

The way these cheerleaders carry themselves with perfect hair, makeup, and dance moves makes it hard to see the hard work and challenges behind their work. America's Sweethearts shows how tough it is to become part of one of America's most famous cheerleading teams.

The show has seven episodes, presenting tough auditions and rigorous training camps for the selected ones. This is a full-time job that the girls manage while keeping themselves healthy and fit to perform.

To remain part of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the girls must be dedicated to their practices. These practices sometimes lead to injuries and create physical and mental pressure on the team members.

Regarding their payroll, it was mentioned at the beginning of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders that the girls were not receiving sufficient amounts, but nothing further was shown on this issue. Neither was the payroll shared with the audience nor was anything mentioned about resolving this issue.

What it takes to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

The audition process

Becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader (DCC) begins with a rigorous audition process. More than 200 people apply online, including new candidates and experienced cheerleaders who must try out again every year to remain part of the team.

The auditions are managed by Kelli Finglass, who was a cheerleader in 1989 and is currently the longtime director of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, along with Judy Trammell, a 1983 cheerleader and the Head of Choreography at DCC. They judge the applicants based on their talent, aesthetics, and personalities.

In this first round, only 70 people were invited to Dallas for the next stage of the selection process. In the second round, the applicants perform a costumed solo dance, judged by Finnglass, Trammell, and a panel of judges.

Experts judge based on makeup, hair, costume, and dance. The experts include members of local media and someone from Lucchese, the company that makes the famous DCC cowboy boots.

The Training Camp

Out of the 70 applicants selected from the first round, only 45 were selected to attend the 10-week Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Training Camp. This camp pushes each participant to their physical and mental limits.

They need to quickly learn and perfectly perform all 50 DCC routines. The camp is very challenging, and participants are eliminated based on their performance and how well they fit with the team.

Getting the uniform right is a key part of the selection process. Candidates are evaluated on how they look in the traditional DCC uniform, which includes a royal blue long-sleeve shirt knotted just below the chest, white hot pants paired with a tasseled vest, and white cowboy boots.

The DCC website states that there are no specific height or weight rules, but cheerleaders must appear "well-proportioned in dancewear."

The Life of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

After the rigorous audition process for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders with three selection rounds, 36 cheerleaders were selected for the final team for a year. The real hard work begins after the selection.

Cheerleading usually involves working part-time, and many Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader members also have full-time jobs in areas like nursing, sales, and fitness. Former DCC cheerleader Katherine Puryear said that the cheerleading pay is similar to what a full-time worker at Chick-fil-A would earn. The DCC members make an average of $75,000 annually.

During their one-year contract, DCC members must attend two to five rehearsals each week before the football season starts. Once the season begins, they have a fixed schedule of evening rehearsals, plus extra weekend rehearsals for new members and special events.

As Caroline Sundvold, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader member featured on the show, said,

“You need to look like a supermodel but perform like an athlete.”

Physical and Mental Challenges

The demands of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader are both physically and mentally challenging. The well-known split jump, where cheerleaders jump into the air and land in a split position, often causes hip injuries that might need surgery.

Issues with the neck and back are also frequent. Despite these difficulties, DCC members are expected to perform their routines gracefully and effortlessly, making them seem easy.

Being mentally strong is just as important. Cheerleaders need to keep a positive attitude and a smile, no matter how they feel or how much they are hurt. Their role is to boost the crowd's energy and create a happy environment, which requires a lot of emotional power.

Even with these difficulties, the cheerleaders on the show describe being a part of DCC as one of the best experiences of their lives.

“There’s so much love. That’s what’s addicting about DCC. You love performing. You love putting on the uniform and feeling like a superhero. But you love your life,” said Sundvold.

She added

“It literally was the best job you could ever have.”

America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is streaming on Netflix. This series helps viewers better understand the hard work and dedication behind each amazing performance.

Edited by Gayatri Chivukula