America’s Sweethearts — Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Went for the ladies, stayed for their amazing stories!
Binged watched the series (that’s 7 episodes of approximately 50 minutes each) from last night and finished it this afternoon! (That was two days ago.) What a series about the life of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Once again, this ain’t fiction and so the reality hits you real hard and it has beauty, romance, frustrations, gruelling hard work, thrilling moments of triumph and moments that will bring tears to your eyes. The scenes that deal with the rejections are truly heart-breaking. Out of sheer curiosity I had to check with the list for 2024 and it was so nice to know that some of the highly prospective candidates that were rejected are back on this team this time. There was an Indian too, Anisha who lost it out in the final minutes. She should have tried it out this year too and may have got selected because the judges really liked her. Selection is such a strain for the selectors too who have their own share of distress when they let go of someone whom they would have loved to have in the team. These selectors (Kelly Finglass and her partner) ensure that the team is in top notch condition from selection to the end of the season. The result — you get a flawless team performing impeccably, performance after performance.
I have lived in Cypress, Texas many years ago. Been to Houston too where a good friend still lives with his family but never did I investigate about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders until now though I have had some knowledge about them. This documentary was truly an insight into the recruitment process and how they are trained and looked after. I didn’t know that the cheerleaders were forbidden to talk, meet or pass their information to any of the players or the audience. Even while taking photographs they aren’t to be touched. There is one such instance where a cheerleader is touched inappropriately and the situations around this incident were really interesting to watch. No contact information of the cheerleaders are to be made public though the cheerleaders have their Instagram accounts where I commented on the posts of two of the cheerleaders, Reese, a rookie in 2023and Kelsey a 5 yr. veteran and a true mentor for the rest of the girls.
There is a beautiful marriage proposal in the series and several other lovely moments and stories in this real life documentary. My only complaint was the over coverage of one of the cheerleaders named Victoria (a 4'th year veteran) and another named Caroline whose sister Anna Kate becomes a cheerleader for 2023. There was one couple that stuck together so that their daughter would become a DC cheerleader. The only sad thing about the lives of these ladies is that they earn a pittance for their efforts.
Highly recommended, streaming on Netflix currently. Go for it!
