The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have long been hailed as America’s Sweethearts as they parade their stars on the football field in the heart of Texas.
From early September to late January, football players take to AT&T Stadium, located in Arlington, Texas, and showcase their athleticism as devoted fans scream and clap for the players donning the silver and blue and branded as “America’s Team.”
However, the athletes aren’t the only stars with something to prove on the football field. Loud roars can be heard from the stands as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders step out in their barely-there uniforms, donning white shorts, matching boots and blue tops.
The elite team has long been envied by people around the world who rave about their stunning looks, taunting figures and impeccable dancing skills.
But behind the glitz and glamour, the cheerleaders face a different attitude as they spend their days dealing with career-ending injuries, weight problems and fending off obsessive stalkers who go so far as to monitor their every move.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have long been hailed as America’s Sweethearts as they parade their stars on the football field in the heart of Texas
Behind the glitz and glamour, the cheerleaders face a different attitude as they spend their days dealing with career-ending injuries, weight problems and fending off obsessive stalkers.
Now, a new docuseries coming to streaming giant Netflix on June 20 will expose the dark underbelly of the iconic uniforms
Now, a new docuseries coming to streaming giant Netflix on June 20 will expose the dark underbelly of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and the personalities behind the iconic uniforms.
The show, titled America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, will follow the squad through their rigorous audition process, football season and in their personal lives when they’re not donning the silver and blue.
In a newly released trailer for the show, watch the cheerleaders face an overwhelming number of obstacles as they try to overcome the grueling pressure that comes with being part of one of the most beloved cheer teams.
The teaser begins with the dancers preparing for a performance on game day.
Then you hear an unknown woman motivating the team: ‘Here we go, DCC! All of you, hold your heads up. It’s time. Let’s concentrate.’
As the camera zooms in on the cheerleader’s face, one of them adds, “Beautiful, stylish, feminine.” Everything would be perfect if I were that woman. It’s a lot of pressure every night.
“Our job is to make it look easy.”
As the girls put on their glamor in the locker room, one of them said, “Ever since I was little, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, that’s what I wanted to do.”
The show, titled America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, will follow the squad through their rigorous audition process and into their personal lives.
In a recently released trailer for the show, you can see how the cheerleaders face an overwhelming number of obstacles
The teaser begins with the dancers preparing for a performance on game day
DCC coach Kelli Finglass then discusses the rigorous audition and training process.
“This is what training camp is for: some thrive, some crumble under pressure, some disappoint,” Kelli added.
Next, the Dallas women show off their best moves during the audition process as they fight for a spot on the 36-person team.
And the audition process takes its toll on the hopeful cheerleaders as they shed tears – showing they often become “angry and emotional.”
“There are a lot of expectations based on how we behave,” said one cheerleader, while another admitted she was “concerned” about her “weight.”
And dancing isn’t the only thing on the stars’ minds, as they confessed to fearing for their safety in the past due to stalkers.
‘There was an AirTag on my car. “I was so scared,” one cheerleader said.
Kelli noted that she is “worried” about the girls’ safety.
However, the dancing icons revealed that they are grateful to have each other to rely on during the difficult process.
“When one person hurts, we all hurt. I think the jump splits are taking their toll,” one dancer added.
Next, the Dallas women show off their best moves during the audition process as they fight for a spot on the 36-member team.
And dancing isn’t the only thing on the stars’ minds, as they confessed that they have feared for their safety in the past due to stalkers
On the field, cheerleaders often deal with a painful amount of injuries.
We saw a cheerleader sitting at home with a broken leg as she explained, “This year has been really hard. My feet are broken, my hip is broken, and now it’s like I’m not really sure what’s next.”
And they often have difficulty getting past the various obstacles.
“After you work so hard all your life, you’re so happy to have your uniform, but then there’s always the other side,” said one cheerleader.
Another admitted that she often gets “overwhelmed,” but she remembers joining the team to show off her dancing skills.
At the end of the clip, a cheerleader noted that it was almost impossible not to let your time as one of America’s Sweethearts define you.
She said: ‘Everyone says DCC shouldn’t determine who you are. But in a way I mean, right?’
And the audition process takes its toll on the hopeful cheerleaders as they shed tears as they reveal they often get ‘angry and emotional’.
On the field, the cheerleaders often deal with a painful amount of injuries
Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President/Chief Brand Officer and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders President, spoke about the production in a statement shared with NBCDFW.
She told the outlet, “Storytelling through this open access will captivate viewers episode after episode and Netflix’s global stage is the perfect platform to showcase this.”
“We assumed that the opportunity to transparently share the journey of our season, and the emotions, challenges and joys we experience along the way, would be exactly what our fans and viewers would want.
“It’s also part of the reason the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have earned their place as ‘oft imitated, but never equaled’ for decades.”
Greg Whiteley, the man behind the shows Cheer and Last Chance U, is one of the executive producers of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders series.
At the end of the clip, a cheerleader noted that it was almost impossible not to let your time as one of America’s Sweethearts define you.
Greg Whiteley, the man behind the show Cheer and Last Chance U, is one of the executive producers of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders series
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders premieres June 20
The producer said The Hollywood Reporter: ‘The kind of access and creative freedom we need to make the kind of work we want to make isn’t easy to come by, especially when we’re dealing with a brand as big as the Dallas Cowboys.
“To their great credit, the Cowboys provided unfettered access during the year we filmed the DCC and left us alone. The result is an authentic portrait of one of the most legendary and beloved institutions in American pop culture.”
The show arrives two and a half years after the long-running Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team ended after sixteen seasons on CMT.
The Dallas Cowboys team is owned by Jerry Jones and boasts five NFL championships spanning 1996, 1994, 1993, 1978 and 1972. They are also said to be the most followed football team on social media, with a whopping 8, 2 million devoted fans. according to Statistical.
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders premieres June 20.