EXCLUSIVEMakeup artist for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders reveals the secrets to their flawless signature glam

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Even if you're not from Texas, you've definitely heard of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - especially now that they're the subject of a juicy new docuseries on Netflix, America's Sweethearts. 

The new seven-episode show documents the behind-the-scenes of the audition process and their 2023 season, giving a deeper look at what it really takes to become a member of the elite squad of 36. 

For decades, the DCC have been an iconic part of American football history, famous not only for their high-energy, show-stopping dance routines complete with a kick line, but also their stunning looks and signature Texas glam.

With their classic, shiny nude lip, bold eyelashes, and perfectly contoured faces, they always manage to look amazing while on the field and even off the field, too. 

Now, FEMAIL has lifted the lid on exactly how you can get the DCC look, with exclusive tips from one of the team's veteran makeup artists, Madeline Cope.

Madeline Cope has been doing many of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders makeup for years - and has now lifted the lid on just how she does it 

Cope, who has been doing makeup for over 10 years, first began working with The Dallas Cowboys organization nearly a decade ago after she was contacted by one of the cheerleaders

The Netflix series, 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' spotlights the group

The good news is that some of the secrets behind their dazzling beauty may be more affordable than you think. 

Cope, who has been doing makeup for over 10 years, first began working with The Dallas Cowboys organization nearly a decade ago after she was contacted by one of the cheerleaders. 

The cheerleader wanted Cope to do her makeup for what's called their cameo photo shoot, one of the biggest shoots of the year where they take publicity photos in their uniforms for any promos they have coming up, and for the organization's official website. 

It's how the public will identify them for the year to come.  

'They are a tight sisterhood,' Cope admitted. 'So when you're in with one of them, you're in with all of them.'

After a few years of doing the cheerleaders' makeup independently for cameo days and other media events, the organization finally signed her to a contract for their cameos in 2022. 

She was even there while they were filming the 2023 cameo days for the Netflix series.

Throughout the years, Cope has mastered exactly what it takes to make a DCC look perfect, but revealed that there are some certain guidelines they have to work with while shooting cameo photos.

'They are a tight sisterhood,' Cope admitted. 'So when you're in with one of them, you're in with all of them'

Cope was there while they were filming the 2023 cameo days for the Netflix series, which premiered last month

Cope even did the makeup for fan-favorite rookie Reece Weaver's cameo day last year, which was documented on the Netflix series

She's a big fan of the $18 loose matte powder by brand ONE/SIZE to make the girls' matte look, and recommends other products by that brand to the girls to wear during gamedays

'They want the skin to be very matte because they're going to be on camera,' Cope explained to DailyMail.com.

'So they don't really like the sheen, they don't like the highlighted look, or the glow-y, dewy skin,' she continued. 'So even though I love that as an artist, it's out of the question for cameos.'

For Cope, it's all about making sure she brings their cheeks to life with blush and bronzer, as well as creating that bold eye and brow to highlight and accentuate the girls' natural beauty. 

To build the face, Cope starts with a satin-finish foundation, a formula that she finds works super well for these shoots. She describes it as somewhere between a matte and glowing finish, a look that's pretty full-coverage without looking cake-y. 

And, instead of a contouring stick, the professional prefers to go with a contouring balm, like the $32 one by the brand Makeup by Mario - one of her favorites.

'I love to use those to bronze out the skin and even to sculpt the cheeks out, and then I also will use a cream blush, just to really add that pigment on the face that the camera typically is going to drown out,' Cope explained. 

'I always double layer everything,' she said. 'I double layer and then powder bronzer, cream blush, powder blush, but after I do the creams, I set it all down with a matte powder.'

She's a big fan of the $18 loose matte powder by brand ONE/SIZE, which you can find at Sephora, and also recommends the brand's $34 sweatproof primer and $32 waterproof setting spray for the girls on their game days. 

'They want the skin to be very matte because they're going to be on camera,' Cope explained to DailyMail.com

For Cope, seen here in the DCC locker room, it's all about making sure she brings their cheeks to life with blush and bronzer, as well as creating that bold eye and brow to highlight and accentuate the girls' natural beauty

To build the face, Cope starts with a satin-finish foundation, a formula that she finds works super well for these shoots

Surprisingly, the girls do their own hair and makeup for game days. 

Another secret that Cope has up her sleeve is to use a bronzer that has a bit of sheen in it to prevent their matte look from looking cake-y or flat.

'I've been loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palettes for that,' she said. 

'I feel like the bronzers make the skin look like skin, so we're not getting too dried down with that formula.'

But perhaps one of the most important parts of their look is the glossy, pinky-nude lip - so how do they get their pout to look so shiny? 

Cope shard that she uses three staple products for the lips - a lip liner, a lipstick, and then a gloss. 

'This is my top-secret lip,' she shared with DailyMail.com, explaining that most of the time in professional photos, girls are wearing this exact look. 

'It's Makeup Forever, Wherever Walnut lip liner, it's like a go to staple,' she said of the $24 product. 'I probably put it on over 1,000 people.'

In addition to doing the cheerleaders' makeup for cameos, Cope also works with them for other events, and has even done some of their weddings

Cope also shared the secret to the DCC's signature glossy lip - and all it takes is the Makeup Forever Wherever Walnut lip liner and MAC Cosmetics lipstick in the shade Honey Love

The makeup artist then tops off the lip with a lip gloss. One of her favorites right now is the $8 Lifter Gloss from Maybelline

Next comes the lipstick, where she typically chooses between two of her favorites, a $25 one by MAC Cosmetics in the shade Honey Love, which has been a staple in her makeup kit for over 10 years, or the $35 one by Charlotte Tilbury in the shade Kim K.W.

Finally, it's time to top it all off with a lip gloss. 

One of Cope's go-tos lately is the $8 Maybelline Lifter Gloss in the shade Gummy Bear, a sparkling pink color, which she used for fan-favorite Reece Weaver's cameo look last year.

However, things don't end once she's done making up the girls for cameo day - the look has to get past director Kelli Finglass and head choreographer Judy Trammell, and even special events manager Dina Donley.

'When you your girl gets called in for cameos, you're just holding your breath, just being like, I hope that Kelli doesn't stick her head out, or Dina, or someone else, to tell us to come in, but it's happened a couple times,' Cope revealed.

'Sometimes they'll pull me in and they'll just be like, "Hey, this look is not accentuating her, so bring her back in, we want to change the lip, we want a darker eye, maybe switch the lash out," and you kind of have 10 or 15 minutes to get it all together,' she continued. 

But when this has happened, Cope has taken it in stride with a smile on her face, listening to their feedback in order to get that thumbs-up from them again.

'They're so kind, they're always respectful,' Cope said of Kelli and Judy.

'So you just want to please them, because we're just thankful for the opportunity.'

The same goes for the rest of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleading team as well.     

'Truthfully, as sweet as they seem on camera, they are that way off camera,' Cope told DailyMail.com of the Texas team. 

'I've never had an experience with them at the DCC headquarters or at their homes, at their apartments, or having them come to me that they are just not so kind- hearted, appreciative, just thankful of my time and my craft.'