The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have long been hailed as America's Sweethearts as they strut their stars on the football field in the heart of Texas.
From the beginning of September to the end of January, footballers head to the AT&T Stadium, located in Arlington, Texas, and showcase their athleticism as dedicated fans scream and clap for the players donning silver and blue who have been branded 'America's Team.'
However, the athletes aren't the only stars who have something to prove on the football field. Loud roars can be heard from the bleachers when the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders step out in their barely-there uniforms, which sees them donning white shorts, matching boots, and blue tops.
The elite squad has long been envied by people around the globe who gush over their stunning looks, taunt figures, and flawless dancing skills.
But, behind the glitz and the glam, the cheerleaders are met with a different attitude as they spend their days facing career-ending injuries, weight struggles, and fending off obsessive stalkers who go as far as tracking their every move.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have long been hailed as America's Sweethearts as they strut their stars on the football field in the heart of Texas
Behind the glitz and the glam, the cheerleaders are met with a different attitude as they spend their days facing career-ending injuries, weight struggles, and fending off obsessive stalkers
Now, a new docuseries coming to streaming giant Netflix on June 20 is set to lay bare the dark underbelly of the iconic uniforms
Now, a new docuseries coming to streaming giant Netflix on June 20 is set to lay bare the dark underbelly of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and the personalities behind the iconic uniforms.
The show, entitled, America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, will follow the squad through their rigorous audition process, football season, and into their personal lives when they aren't donning silver and blue.
In a recently released trailer for the show, the cheerleaders can be seen facing an overwhelming amount of obstacles as they attempt to overcome the grueling pressures of being a member of one of the most-loved cheer teams.
The teaser begins with the dancers prepping to perform on game day.
An unknown woman is then heard motivating the team, 'Here we go, DCC! Y'all, heads up. It's time. Let's focus.'
As the camera zooms into the cheerleader's face, one of them adds: 'Beautiful, classy, feminine. Everything would be perfect if I were that woman. It's a lot of pressure every single night.
'Our job is to make it look easy.'
Meanwhile, as the girls got their glam on in the dressing room, one of them said: 'Since I was little, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, that's what I wanted to do.'
The show, entitled, 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, the cheerleaders can be seen facing an overwhelming amount of obstacles
The teaser begins with the dancers prepping to perform on game day
DCC coach, Kelli Finglass, then is seen discussing the rigorous audition and training process.
'This is what training camp is for, some thrive, some buckle under pressure, some kind of disappoint,' Kelli added.
The Dallas women are then seen showcasing their best moves throughout the audition process as they fight for a spot on the 36-member team.
And, the audition process takes its toll on the hopeful cheerleaders as they are seen shedding tears - revealing that they often become 'angry and emotional.'
'There are a lot of expectations based on how we carry ourselves,' said one cheerleader, while another admitted she was 'worried' about her 'weight.'
And dancing isn't the only thing on the stars' minds as they confessed they have feared for their safety in the past due to stalkers.
'There was an AirTag put on my car. I was so scared,' said one cheerleader.
Kelli noted that she 'worries' about the safety of the girls.
However, the dancing icons revealed that they are thankful they have each other to rely on throughout the difficult process.
'When one person hurts, we all hurt. I think the jump splits take their toll,' added one dancer.
The Dallas women are then seen showcasing their best moves through 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 they have feared for their safety in the past due to stalkers
On the field, the cheerleaders tend to face an agonizing amount of injuries.
One cheerleader was seen 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 struggle to get past the various obstacles.
'After working so hard your whole life, you're just so happy to have your uniform, but then there always comes the other side,' said one cheerleader.
Another admitted that she often gets 'overwhelmed', but she remembers that she joined the team to show off her dancing skills.
At the end of the clip, one cheerleader noted that it was nearly impossible to not let your time as one of America's Sweethearts define you.
She said: 'Everyone says not to let DCC define who you are. But in a sense, I mean, doesn't it?'
And, the audition process takes its toll on the hopeful cheerleaders as they are seen shedding tears as they reveal that they often become 'angry and emotional'
On the field, the cheerleaders tend to face an agonizing amount of injuries
Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president/chief brand officer and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders president gushed about the production in a statement shared with NBC DFW.
She told the outlet: 'The storytelling through this open access will captivate viewers episode after episode and Netflix’s global stage is the perfect platform to showcase it.
'We went into this understanding that the opportunity to transparently share the journey of our season, and the emotions, challenges and joy experienced along the way, is exactly what our fans and viewers would want.
'It’s also part of the reason that, for decades, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have earned their place as being "often imitated, but never equaled."'
Greg Whiteley, the man behind the show Cheer and Last Chance U, is one of the executive producers of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders series.
At the end of the clip, one cheerleader noted that it was nearly impossible to not 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 is set to premiere on June 20
The producer told The Hollywood Reporter: 'The kind of access and creative freedom we need to make the kind of work we want to make is not easy to come by — especially when dealing with a brand as large as the Dallas Cowboys.
'To their infinite credit, the Cowboys offered unfettered access for the year we filmed the DCC and left us alone. The result is an authentic portrait of one of the most storied and beloved institutions we have in American pop culture.'
The show is coming out two-and-a-half years after the long-running Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team ended on CMT following 16 seasons.
The Dallas Cowboys team is owned by Jerry Jones and boasts five NFL championships, spanning across 1996, 1994, 1993, 1978 and 1972. They are also said to be the most followed football team across social media, with a whopping 8.2 million dedicated fans, according to Statista.
America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is set to premiere on June 20.
