Latest news with #KelliFinglass
Cosmopolitan
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
The cast of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders now: Six months after filming, here's what they've been up to
Season 2 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is now streaming on Netflix, offering fans an inside look as DCC Senior Director Kelli Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell assemble another elite team of talented athletes. The episodes picked up just before the final round of auditions for the 2024–2025 squad and followed the chosen candidates through training camp, emotional cuts, the official team reveal, and into the heart of the NFL season. The NFL season wrapped up in January 2025, meaning some time has passed since filming ended. From DCC Senior Director Kelli Finglass to the veterans, rookies and some of our fave alums, here's what the squad are up to now. Kelli Finglass, a former DCC from 1984 to 1989, became director in 1991 and transformed the squad into a global brand. Known for her high standards and no-nonsense leadership, Finglass expected nothing less than excellence from every cheerleader this season. Since filming ended for the second season, Kelli has been spending time with family. She posted a picture from her son Ryan's 31 mile marathon run, writing: "A regular marathon wasn't enough… first Ultra Marathon in the books! ✅ Proud of @ryan_finglass #31Miles #LegsOfSteel." She also appeared on Beavers Wealth Management podcast alongside Ryan for a Mother's Day special episode, and responded to rumours she'd had a face lift in a video posted to her Instagram. Judy Trammell, a DCC alum from 1980 to 1984, became head choreographer in 1991 and has led the squad's iconic routines for over four decades. In March, she announced she's expecting her fifth grandchild sharing a picture of her son and his partner at their baby gender reveal. A month later, she celebrated her first born's birthday, sharing a throw back snap on her grid. Before joining the DCC in 2022, Amanda danced for the Golden State Warriors and overcame a training camp cut with determination and grit. Since filming, Amanda has been travelling the world with her husband Ralph. They've been everywhere from Switzerland to Lake Como and have been sharing lots of scenic photos on their Instagram accounts. In May, she attended Dallas Cowboys 2020-2024 cheerleader Jessica Bowman's (now Lanham) wedding. Alongside a picture of her and Ralph, she wrote: "The best night celebrating the @jbo97 and @lanham5 🥹 isn't the bride just perfection? Wow!" Once known as Caroline's little sister, Anna Kate stepped into her own as a seasoned DCC member after a strong rookie year. She turned 25 in June and was surprised with a party from her boyfriend Michael Snyder. As well as turning a year older, Anna has been travelling and doing press for the show, recently travelling to New York along with the rest of the squad. Armani has been booked and busy since filming, working with several brands including Vaseline and Shea Moisture. She's also been doing a bit of travelling, and attended Jessica Bowman's hen weekend in Cabo, Mexico. She moved home in May and shared the process to her 67,000 followers. The longest running veteran to try out for the year, Chandi has been keeping busy since season two ended. She recently had a little hair makeover, dying her dark locks honey brown. She attended the baby shower of Dallas Cowboys 2020-2024 cheerleader Mckenzie in February. After making the team last year, Reece returned as a veteran for season two, now happily married to her college sweetheart and first ever boyfriend, Will. She celebrated her one-year anniversary in April, sharing a picture from her wedding day with a sweet message. "I'm so thankful God placed you in my life and to have been a part of an incredible vendor team to document your beginnings as husband and wife" she wrote."It's been such an honor to watch your journey and all the amazing things God is doing through you both." The same month, she sat down with Will to talk to Valley View Baptist Church youth. A fan-favorite rookie candidate last season, Charly was the 2023-2024 squad's very last cut. Since filming, she's been doing a bit of travelling, as well as spending time with fellow rookies Ariel and Ava. One of the breakout stars of season one, Kelcey spent five seasons with the squad from 2019-2024. Following her retirement from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in 2024, Kelcey shifted her focus to her full-time career as a pediatric nurse. She also got engaged - and later married - to Nate Crnkovich. Although she's stepped away from the spotlight of professional cheerleading, she continues to stay involved in the dance and wellness world and she's still very close to the team, recently attending Jessica's wedding. Kalina joined the DCC in 2019 and became a four‑year veteran. After taking a break, Victoria relocated to New York to chase her dream of joining the Rockettes, and now shares her life through fitness, dance, and mental‑health advocacy. She regularly posts videos of her choreography on Instagram and recently shared a video of her last dance for DCC to promote the second season. America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheeleaders season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.
The Review Geek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 Review
Season 1 Season 2 Episode Guide Promise Yourself Part 1 Promise Yourself Part 2 Someone's Daughter At What Cost The Happiest Girl In The Whole USA Refresh and Reboot Saturn Returns America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders immediately captivated audiences when it dropped on Netflix last year. Raw, intimate and unflinching in its portrayal of cheerleaders; DCC picked up the baton left behind by Cheer (Netflix's other flagship cheerleading series) and absolutely run with it. The series looked into the toxic nature of cheerleading, the unenviable work ethic and grit needed to make it into the big-time, and the disparity in pay and limited lifespan in the limelight. The show worked well, exposing the cut-throat world of show business in a way that few other shows on the platform have in quite so unflinching ways. Season 2 then basically takes what worked in season 1 and repeats the process. Here, DCC are rebuilding their new team. With many veterans leaving for greener pastures, there are 13 open slots and around 500 candidates to choose from. Kelli Finglass is in the driver's seat as Senior Director once more, with Judy Trammel working as Head Choreographer. These two are eventually joined by a larger panel of judges, intent on finding the right fit for the team as things start to get intense. The first 5 episodes essentially work as the auditioning process, with judges scrutinizing every routine – both solo and group performances – before settling on their chosen cheerleaders. It's not all sunshine and rainbows of course, with some pretty heart-wrenching moments as people are cut. Episodes 3 and 4 have the most brutal moments in that respect, while episode 5 finally sees the team formed and the bonding start. This is where the football season begins too, and there are little scandals thrown in along the way. In episode 7 for example, an issue involving one of the girls, Chandi, looks set to destroy the equilibrium of the group. Balancing that though are moments of genuine beauty and fearlessness. Seeing Armani embrace herself and step out into the limelight in the way she does (I'm being careful not to reveal spoilers!) works really well and it's topped off by some returning faces from the past too. One point to note though comes from the fiscal responsibility that DC have to pay these girls what they're worth. I will say that the show finally addresses this elephant in the room, with multiple episodes discussing how the girls feel about their pay-cheques. Toward the end of the show we do get some clarity around this that should help settle the debate a bit, but I can't help but feel this is more of a knee-jerk reaction to public outrage rather than a genuine proactive move. Or maybe I'm just being cynical, I'll let you guys be the judge of that! Regardless of what you think about cheerleaders or the cheerleading profession, these girls work damn hard – and deserve to be paid accordingly. Their grit, determination and tenacity are admirable, and Netflix's series once again does a great job of capturing all of this in its rawest form.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders get 400% pay raise, Netflix show reveals
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders received a 400% raise last season, according to members of the team in the newest season of "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders." In episode seven, season two of the Netlflix show, four-year veteran Megan McElaney said a meeting was called by the team's director, Kelli Finglass, to discuss their pay. Five-year veteran Jada McLean said they thanked her, McElaney and fellow veteran Armani Latimer for their hard work and for being open and honest about wanting the raises. "We ended up getting a 400% raise, which is life-changing," McElaney said. Specific pay rates weren't, nor have they been, discussed in the show. "Finally, we were done fighting," McLean said. In 2018, a former DCC claimed in a lawsuit that she made $8 per hour with no overtime pay. She also said the cheerleaders pictured in the popular calendars get no royalties from the sales and must purchase their own copies of the calendar for family and friends. The lawsuit also said the Cowboys male mascot, Rowdy, earned $25 an hour, more than three times the cheerleaders' wage. "I love the fact that I made change for the girls coming up behind me, even if I don't get the chance to benefit," said five-year veteran Latimer.
UPI
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Cheerleaders face audition stress in 'America's Sweethearts' Season 2
Season 2 of "America's Sweethearts" arrives on Netflix June 18. Photo courtesy of Netflix June 4 (UPI) -- Netflix is previewing Season 2 of the docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which premieres on the streamer June 18. In the trailer released Wednesday, the cheerleaders anticipate the results of a competitive audition process. "You're like 'when we make this team, we're gonna make it together 'cause we're friends,'" a hopeful says as the girls laugh and eat pizza together. "But then it doesn't always end up like that." The sophomore season will give a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the cheerleading squad during the 2024-2025 NFL football season, beginning with tryouts. "DCC (Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders) is the pinnacle of professional cheerleading, and Kelli Finglass, the team director, and Judy Trammell, the head choreographer, have returned to find the 36 best dancers from this smiling army of hopefuls," the official synopsis reads. Greg Whitely (Cheer) directs Season 2, which arrives roughly a year after the docuseries premiered.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 'Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' Are Back! New Squad Faces Tears, More Pressure and Tougher Expectations in Season 2 Trailer
Netflix just dropped a new trailer for America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders season 2 The reality docuseries will chronicle the squad's 2024-2025 season as the team welcomes fresh faces among returning fan-favorites New episodes of America's Sweethearts premiere Wednesday, June 18Things are heating up for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders! In a new trailer released ahead of the season 2 premiere of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Wednesday, June 18, fans are getting their first extended look at what's to come for the squad in new episodes. As this season's team is put together, the tension mounts and new drama awaits. "We're excited that there's a lot of new girls," one returning cheerleader says. "Every year, the talent just gets better and better and better." Another prospective squad member adds: "We've always been told, there's a 100 more girls who would love to do this job." Even Kelli Finglass, DCC director, is affected by the grueling audition process. "It's hard when you have to put your heart aside," choreographer Judy Trammell says, to which a teary-eyed Finglass responds: "Yeah, but at what cost?" At another point in the process, Finglass elaborates on the competitive aspect of choosing a team. "The pressure doesn't go away, we just cut a good one," she says. The new season follows at least one cheerleader who had previously tried out, as well as another who is following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a member of the DCC decades ago. And another prospective squad member reveals that the girls "all do crazy things to be here." "I have three jobs, four if you count DCC," she says, alluding to the financial implications of making the team. According to Netflix, season 2 of director Greg Whiteley's hit sports reality series will "continue giving viewers unfiltered access into this iconic team and franchise." The new episodes will chronicle "the 2024-25 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish — kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, meanwhile, is part of the growing expanded Dallas Cowboys universe on Netflix. In addition to the new season, America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys will explore the history of the NFL team and its owner Jerry Jones. That series is expected to debut later this summer. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Season 2 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders premieres Wednesday, June 18. Read the original article on People
