Long before the second season of America’s Sweethearts premiered on Netflix this week, I already knew what I wanted to say about it. Back in November, I spent a game day with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as the Cowboys faced the Texans—though “day” isn’t quite accurate. The squad worked nonstop for over 12 hours, starting early Monday morning and ending in the early hours of Tuesday.

Sure, some of that time was spent on buses traveling to and from the Star, the Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco, Texas, and some was devoted to hair and makeup. (The cheerleaders handle their own professional-level glam, which requires a lot of powder and time with a Dyson hairdryer.) But most of those hours were spent dancing—their pre-kickoff routine, Thunderstruck, includes a 50-yard sprint in under eight seconds (in cowboy boots!) and synchronized jump splits. By the end of the night, the entire team was drenched in sweat, covered in blisters, and their pantyhose were torn from high kicks. Many needed trainers to treat muscle strains or wrap their ankles. The locker room floor was littered with ice packs, foam rollers, and empty Gatorade bottles.

But there was no time to rest—they had practice the next day, and the day after that. They had football games, corporate events, press appearances, and the Cowboys Christmas Spectacular. They performed with Kacey Musgraves, at the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix, and at Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul in Las Vegas. Netflix cameras followed them everywhere, as did our team from Vogue.

Everyone profited from their glamorous image—everyone, that is, except the cheerleaders themselves. They earned about $15 an hour and $500 per appearance. Most had to take on other jobs to make ends meet. They didn’t even have health insurance.

At one time, that might have made sense. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as we know them today emerged in the 1970s as a part-time gig—a few weekly practices and performances at Sunday games. But now, between Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, Pro Bowls, and countless other events, the DCC works 30 to 40 hours a week for much of the year. Meanwhile, the Cowboys franchise is worth $11 billion—$3 billion more than any other NFL team. Their branding as “America’s Team,” complete with a bold stars-and-stripes, yeehaw aesthetic, makes their image endlessly marketable. No matter where you go in the world, people know the Dallas Cowboys—whether they’re winning or not. (In 2024, their record was 7-10.)

This brings me back to my original point. Before America’s Sweethearts returned for its new season, I wanted to write about how the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders—with their hit Netflix show, high-profile gigs, and growing sponsorships—deserved much higher pay. They were athletes, incredibly talented ones at that, putting in grueling hours. Surely, they brought in a lot of money for the franchise. Why were they paid so little?

But as it turned out, the cheerleaders didn’t need my article—they were already fighting for themselves. The second season of America’s Sweethearts follows several DCC members, led by Jada McLean, as they push for better pay as a team. They consult lawyers, demand meetings with Cowboys leadership, and at one point, refuse to sign their contracts. By the final episode, we learn their efforts paid off. The New York Times reports that moving forward, cheerleaders will earn about $75 an hour—a 400% raise.

I won’t say I’m glad the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders got what they wanted. Instead, I’ll say they got what they deserved. As McLean puts it in the series: “We—“Be damn good cheerleaders.”