Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' Netflix Documentary

America’s Sweethearts Get a Sweet Pay Raise — After Decades of Pom-Poverty

For decades, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were paid in hugs, glitter, and the vague promise of exposure. But now, thanks to a Netflix documentary and a society that finally realized cheerleaders have knees too, they’ve secured a 400% raise.

Let that sink in: four hundred percent. It’s the financial equivalent of turning a Hot Pocket into a Michelin star meal. Or a Toyota Corolla into an emotional support yacht.

These women, revered as America’s Sweethearts, were paid less than the guy who sells peanuts in Row 37. And this isn’t just a case of underappreciation — this is a full-blown economic sitcom, starring the NFL, capitalism, and several gallons of industrial-strength body shimmer.

The Mascot Made More Than the Humans

For years, Dallas Cowboys mascot “Rowdy” — a man dressed as a cowboy with a fixed smile and an even more fixed income — was pulling in more money than the cheerleaders who could execute a triple backflip while smiling through a meniscus tear.

Let’s pause and reflect: a man in a felt head and polyester pants was earning more than highly trained athletes who could do the splits in cowboy boots. Rowdy doesn't even have to shave his legs.

According to one anonymous cheerleader: “I knew we were underpaid when I saw Rowdy driving a Tesla and I was still budgeting for eyelashes.”

Passion, Not Pay... Until Netflix Called

For years, the Cowboys organization leaned on the classic corporate gaslighting move: “They don’t do it for the money. They do it for the passion.”

Right. Passion, as in sprained ankles and backflips on concrete in 105-degree Texas weather while smiling at drunken fans yelling, “DO A CARTWHEEL, BECKY!”

But once Netflix’s cameras rolled, suddenly management remembered these women weren’t just decorative napkin holders for America’s pastime. One cheerleader was even upgraded to an indoor locker.

Said one executive: “Once we realized America cared more about these women than about our third-string quarterback, we panicked and gave them money.”

Minimum Wage Meets Million-Dollar Brand

Let’s be clear: the Cowboys Cheerleaders are not your average pep squad. They are a choreographed, hyper-disciplined, sequined militia of optimism. They’ve appeared on everything from Dancing with the Stars to USO tours, while being paid, until recently, the equivalent of a Starbucks barista who doesn’t know how to spell “Frappuccino.”

The brand is worth millions. They were pulling in more press than some NFL players who can’t even spell “concussion protocol.” And still — they were making about $15 an hour.

That’s right. $15/hour. In Texas. You can’t even buy a lunchable and a bottle of Advil on that.

One cheerleader said, “I once did the splits on ice at a New Year’s game. I got frostbite in my rhinestone. My paycheck was $132.”

Netflix Doc: Reality TV Is the New Union

The real hero here? Not a union. Not the Department of Labor. Not even Beyoncé. The hero was a Netflix docuseries titled America’s Sweethearts.

The documentary wasn’t investigative journalism. It was just footage of the cheerleaders’ lives: rehearsals, auditions, injuries, smiles. And it broke America’s heart.

According to data, 93% of viewers said, “Wait, they don’t get paid like athletes?” and the other 7% were asleep.

The next day, the Cowboys’ PR department went into DEFCON 2.

“If reality TV can guilt the NFL into fair pay, imagine what it could do for public school teachers,” said one retired PE instructor. “Someone call Hulu.”

Side Hustles & Spray Tans

Many cheerleaders had to work extra jobs — bartending, teaching dance, even driving for Uber — to afford the privilege of cheering for billionaires. One woman allegedly had a spray tan loyalty card punched more often than her time card.

“I once drove an Uber wearing my cheer uniform because I had to hustle straight from the stadium to a bachelorette party downtown,” one woman confessed. “I got tipped in Fireball.”

Another admitted, “I taught pilates to the same woman who screamed at me to ‘shake it harder’ during the Thanksgiving game.”

This is late-stage capitalism with sequins.

Part-Time Job, Full-Time Pain

The cheerleaders were technically “part-time employees,” which is rich considering they rehearsed more hours than an actual cowboy drives cattle.

They were required to stay in peak physical shape year-round, maintain perfect grooming standards, and attend mandatory public events — all without health insurance.

“You know how hard it is to smile while dislocating a shoulder in front of 85,000 people?” asked one squad veteran. “I had to Venmo a chiropractor mid-halftime.”

Waterboys Had Health Insurance

Meanwhile, waterboys — actual teenagers with Gatorade backpacks — had access to dental. Mascots had vision coverage. The kicker’s dog had pet insurance.

A cheerleader once blew out her ACL in a fourth-quarter cartwheel and got handed an ice pack and a coupon for dry cleaning.

As one sports blogger put it: “We live in a world where a mascot costume gets more respect from Blue Cross than a living woman in spandex.”

Walkout? Walk All Over Them

There were whispers of a walkout years ago, but it never happened. Why?

“Because cheerleaders don’t walk out. They sashay, and that would just confuse management,” said one choreographer.

Another added, “We tried to stage a protest but it got absorbed into the halftime show.”

Apparently, three women silently holding signs saying “UNPAID BUT PEPPY” was mistaken for a new modern jazz routine.

400% Raise = Life-Changing (But Still... Not THAT Life-Changing)

Let’s not get carried away. Yes, a 400% raise sounds like a jackpot, but when you’re starting at $15/hour, that means they now make $75/hour. It’s progress. But not exactly yacht-money.

Still, many current and former cheerleaders called the raise “life-changing,” “affirming,” and “finally enough to afford a decent sports bra.”

One remarked, “Now I can quit my third job as a fitness influencer with six followers.”

A former squad member posted a celebratory TikTok where she burned her old pay stubs and danced in slow motion to Shania Twain.

Elite Athletes or Glamour Models?

The Cowboys always said the cheerleaders were the “best of the best,” yet treated them like they were interns in rhinestones.

“They made us attend etiquette class,” said one woman. “Meanwhile, our paychecks were so small I had to cut coupons for nail glue.”

Despite being elite-level performers who could out-run most linebackers in high heels, they were managed like pageant contestants with a uniform budget.

“Somehow we were expected to be sexy but wholesome, flexible but stoic, obedient but empowering,” said one ex-member. “And we had to pay for our own lashes.”

You Get a Botox! You Get a Spray Tan!

Appearance standards were strict. Spray tans, lashes, manicures, and very expensive teeth-whitening were “highly encouraged” but not reimbursed.

One squad member calculated that her annual beauty costs surpassed her total Cowboys earnings.

“I was literally paying to cheer,” she said. “That’s not a job — that’s a multi-level marketing scheme with pom-poms.”

Another said she skipped groceries to afford a brow lift before playoffs.

“Food is temporary. Forehead symmetry is forever.”

Netflix Is the New HR

Traditional HR failed. Labor laws shrugged. But Netflix? Netflix brought the heat.

One executive admitted, “We had no idea anyone cared about the cheerleaders until they were trending on TikTok for something other than uniform malfunctions.”

Apparently, HR emails were ignored, but public embarrassment via documentary? Immediate budget meeting.

If this model works, don’t be surprised when public school teachers start filming themselves crying over broken laminators to get raises.

Cheerleaders Without Insurance, Mascot Has Dental

This one still baffles economists. Rowdy the Mascot — a foam-headed dude whose greatest achievement is hugging drunk fans — had better insurance than the women flipping over benches in spandex.

“He’s got dental, vision, and a pension,” said one bitter veteran. “I got a pat on the back and a protein bar.”

In one staff photo, Rowdy’s smile cost more than the combined paychecks of the front row.

Feminist Fantasy Football

This saga has quickly become the feminist version of Moneyball — but instead of sabermetrics and on-base percentages, we have lipstick budgets and ice packs.

“This is historic,” said one labor economist. “A 400% raise is what happens when you mix athletic labor, public scrutiny, and one very weepy Netflix editor.”

Young girls across Texas are now inspired — not just to cheer, but to demand to get paid to cheer.

Rowdy Horse Outearns the Humans

Let us never forget: until recently, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders — a global brand, the gold standard of NFL cheer — were making less than the mascot.

Rowdy’s costume costs more to clean than a cheerleader earned per game.

As one ex-member put it, “Rowdy has a corporate card. I have a punch card for a tanning booth in a strip mall.”

But now, the pom-poms are shaking with pride, not poverty. And if Netflix can fix this? Let’s pitch a series about the janitors at SpaceX next.

Disclaimer: This satirical article is a human collaboration between a tenured professor in rhinestone sociology and a former philosophy major who once cheered for tips outside a Sonic Drive-In. All characters are exaggerated. All wage disparity is, sadly, not.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 

What The Funny People Are Saying...

“So the Cowboys cheerleaders just got a 400% raise. That’s what happens when capitalism sees glitter and guilt in HD.” — Jerry Seinfeld

“They were getting paid less than the mascot? Hell, I’d dress up like a horse too if it came with dental.” — Ron White

“You know it's bad when your side hustle has a side hustle, and all of them involve glitter.” — Ali Wong

“NFL executives said the cheerleaders didn’t do it for the money. That’s exactly what people who don’t want to pay you say.” — Trevor Noah

“The cheerleaders made $15 an hour. That’s almost enough to afford half a nacho at the stadium.” — Sarah Silverman

“If you do a backflip in heels and still can’t afford health insurance, maybe America’s broken.” — Chris Rock

“Mascots had better benefits than the cheerleaders. You know how much therapy you need after realizing you got out-earned by a foam head?” — Kevin Hart

“They said it was about passion, not money. Which is exactly what my ex said before taking the couch, the dog, and my dignity.” — Amy Schumer

“The documentary didn’t expose scandal, it exposed math — and suddenly the Cowboys found their checkbook.” — Ricky Gervais

“A 400% raise sounds huge until you realize they were making less than your cousin who sells knockoff perfume at the mall.” — Bill Burr

“You know who else got a 400% raise? My dog sitter. And she doesn’t even do the splits.” — Tig Notaro

“They filmed 8 episodes just to prove women deserve equal pay. Meanwhile, Rowdy the Mascot was watching from his hot tub.” — Dave Chappelle

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 

Paycheck Revolution—Cowboys Cheerleaders Quadruple Wages

In a stunning development, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have secured a 400% pay raise for the 2025–26 season, marking a dramatic shift in compensation for one of the NFL’s most iconic performance squads. According to the new Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts, veteran members previously earned around $15/hour and $500 per appearance—levels many called insufficient given the physical demands and prestige of their roles.

Four-year squad veteran Megan McElaney confirmed the update on-camera: “Our efforts were heard … we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is like, life-changing.” As a result, some seasoned cheerleaders now stand to earn approximately $75/hour and $2,000 per game.

Although the pay hike marks a significant win, it comes without a change in employment classification—cheerleaders remain "part-time," still lacking health insurance and full benefits. Nevertheless, this leap in compensation—especially from one of the wealthiest franchises valued at over $10 billion—sets an important benchmark for the NFL. Advocates suggest it could ignite broader wage equity efforts across the league’s cheerleading teams. 

Netflix Doc Ignites Pay Equity Movement in the NFL

A Netflix docuseries has transformed American football culture: America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is being credited with lighting a fire under Cowboys management—resulting in a 400% pay raise. The show, which premiered June 18, 2025, highlighted behind-the-scenes negotiations with veterans like Jada McLean and Armani Latimer pushing for wage reform.

Hollywood drama met Cold Hard Cash: the series portrayed the emotional toll of cheerleading, from demanding schedules to second jobs and strict beauty standards—all of which sparked public outrage. Within days, the team quadrupled wages—from $15/hour to $75/hour and from $500 to $2,000 per game.

However, despite the raise, the cheerleaders are still classified as part-time and do not receive benefits like health insurance. Labor advocates say this is progress, but far from justice.

“This shows the power of public storytelling,” said one media expert. “Netflix basically replaced the union.”

Whether other NFL cheer squads will follow suit remains uncertain—but with national attention now locked on the sidelines, change could be coming faster than a halftime quick-change.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders https://bohiney.com/dallas-cowboys-cheerleaders/