In an Instagram video, Julissa Garcia breaks down the specific way she gets her DCC poms gameday-ready
Julissa Garcia
Julissa Garcia breaks down how she sets up her pom-poms for game days.
The members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders must follow a detailed process to prepare their pom-poms for games and practices
In an Instagram video posted to her account on June 19, Julissa Garcia, a second-year cheerleader, broke down how she fluffs her pom-poms to get them camera-ready
In addition to the prep that goes into things as seemingly minute as pom-poms, the women of the DCC must adhere to strict guidelines surrounding everything from their uniforms to their hair
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are known for looking effortless while they're out on the football field, and if America's Sweethearts, the Netflix show chronicling the audition process for DCC hopefuls, has shown viewers anything, it's that there's actually quite a lot of effort that goes into it.
From hand scrubbing white uniform bottoms to the rota of hair and nail treatments that the girls undergo to ensure they look flawless while dancing on the jumbotron, every aspect of the women's appearance is curated — including their pom-poms.
In a video posted to Instagram on June 19, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, second-year Julissa Garcia, broke down the specific way that she gets her pom-poms ready for game day and practices.
Julissa Garcia of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders attends the Delilah Dallas grand opening on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.
Julissa Garcia of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders attends the Delilah Dallas grand opening on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.
The cheerleaders' poms come in an almost stick-like format, featuring a center handle and two sides of colored streamers (usually blue and silver, though other non-gameday appearances may feature other colors of pom-poms).
"Let's fluff my palms together and take them from this to this," Garcia says, as she begins the process of explaining how she gets her poms ready. "I always forget to do this, but this year we started off with wrapping the center handle with a piece of tape and putting my name on it."
To start, Julissa tied off one end of the pom-pom, ensuring that the strands of streamers were out of the way so she could work on the other side. She sectioned out the silver streamers, collecting them into a hair tie, so that she could work on fluffing the blue parts first.
"I like to start by making a knot at the base," she said, tying two blue streamers together. "Then I take the next two strands and pull them in opposite directions. Then, take two more strands and also pull them in the opposite direction. Then the third time around, I like to tie them in a knot." She repeated the process with the silver strands and then later with the other side.
"I've officially finished my first full palm and the difference is really crazy," she said. "And I low-key didn't rip that many pieces."
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In addition to the extra effort that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders must put in to make sure that even their pom-poms are picture-perfect, the women must also adhere to some more stringent rules regarding their appearances.
Hair is extremely important to the DCC, who are often lauded for their "hairography," and the styling must emphasize movement. However, there are exceptions to the rules. For example, DCC Ava Lahey was allowed to wear her hair straight one year, despite previous unwritten mandates that all the women sport fresh blowouts. And, this year, DCC rookie Faith Ward was allowed to wear her hair up in a ponytail.
"It's crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks. I've broken that stereotype," Ward told ABC Perth during an interview in July 2025.
Additionally, the women's makeup must be very natural. For auditions, it's suggested that dancers "wear shades that complement your natural beauty.”
Matte eyeshadows are preferred — a little shimmer is okay, but nothing too glittery — as are vibrant yet neutral cheek and lip colors. Once on the squad, red lips and nails are not allowed, director Kelli Finglass told PEOPLE in 2016.
Season 3 of America's Sweethearts is out on Netflix now.