Image: Chandi Dayle was removed from her rank as squad leader on this season of America's Sweethearts.
Chandi Dayle was removed from her rank as squad leader on this season of America's Sweethearts.
In the explosive first season of Netflix’s America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, viewers got a candid look inside the lives of the NFL’s most iconic cheer squad. While we were fascinated by what we saw, many of us were shocked by what we learned, so naturally, we couldn’t wait for another behind-the-scenes journey with the team.
One of the most polarizing discussions from the first season centered on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' (DCC) lack of a living wage. Though several numbers were vaguely thrown around, no exact salary was stated for the cheerleaders. An anonymous source told the Huffington Post last year that they had made only $12.50 per hour and $400 per game.
Equally shocking were the extreme conditions of training and practice enforced by DCC director Kelli Finglass and the Cowboys’ executive vice president and chief brand officer, Charlotte Jones.
Throughout the second season of America's Sweethearts, which premiered on Netflix earlier this month, we learn that some of the issues raised after season 1 have been resolved, but there’s still plenty of drama to keep us on the edge of our seats.
After the first season of the docuseries revealed that the DCC weren't making a living wage, viewers and fans took to social media to express their disappointment. Some even created petitions on Change.org calling upon Finglass and Jones to increase the squad’s pay. Viewers’ voices were heard, as we learned in the seventh episode from DCC veteran Megan McElaney that the squad got a "life-changing” raise of "400%.” McElaney didn't mention specific numbers, so we still don’t know precisely what the pay rate is with the increase, but the lesson here is that bullying those in power works.
Victoria Kalina Paid a Visit to the Squad
Victoria Kalina became an instant fan favorite in the first season of America’s Sweethearts. Viewers loved the pure joy she radiated throughout the show and her vibrant energy as a performer. They also admired how open she was about her struggles with body image and feeling that she didn’t fit in with the squad. This led Kalina to quit the DCC ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
Soon after, Kalina headed to New York City to try out for the Rockettes. Unfortunately, she revealed that she did not make the dance company during her first audition. However, she said she was still determined to accomplish this goal.
Chandi Dayle Broke a Major Rule and Lost Her Leadership Position
Throughout the second season of the docuseries, Dayle opened up about an abusive past relationship. In episode six, she revealed that her ex-partner was emotionally and mentally abusive on multiple occasions. “Things progressively got worse with him,” she told cameras. “We broke up, and at that time, I met my boyfriend now. I started getting random messages from many different fake numbers describing exactly what my [current] boyfriend was wearing. He was a stalker.”
While on a group trip to the Bahamas with the DCC, Dayle invited someone she had met on the beach into her room to talk. “When we took the trip to the Bahamas, I met someone and we shared similar things that have happened in our past,” Dayle explained in episode 7. “I was just like, kind of crumbling down, and I was like, ‘Dang, I feel like I have no one here to talk to, and so it’s nice to have someone to confide in.’”
Some of her fellow squadmates expressed disappointment, as Dayle violated a contract rule by disclosing the DCC’s location and putting them in potential danger. “A lot of people were worried for their safety because they didn’t know who this individual was,” fifth-year DCC veteran Jada McClean said in the episode. “If that was me, I probably wouldn’t want to be in a room with a stranger either.”
Though Dayle was not kicked off the DCC, she lost her first leader role, but she admitted this has made for a “really nice” change of pace.
KayDianna Stepped Up, Then Quit
After the Bahamas trip, Dayle took a leave of absence, and KayDianna (who is known mononymously by her first name) briefly replaced her as first leader. Shortly after, KayDianna quit the DCC, telling producers, "I definitely didn't feel supported, I felt like I was just a body. It was as if Chandi got the perks of being a first leader and I got the responsibility part of it. When all this went down, I was confused, my teammates were confused, we just didn't know what was gonna happen."
According to her Instagram page, she has since started a podcast called KayDianna’s Korner and has been judging college dance team auditions.
Hey, That Was Us
If you've already seen the new season, you might have caught a glimpse of this Observer article from last year about the DCC's viral "Thunderstruck" routine. We didn't know it was going to happen, but we're doing high kicks (in our heads, that is) over it.