Latest news with #cheerleading
New York Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘America's Sweethearts' Is a Compelling Sports Series
Season 2 of the documentary series 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,' on Netflix, is a bit less rah-rah than Season 1 — still full of tears, high kicks and sisterhood but also more attuned to the pain of it all, the sorrow and struggle of cobbling together one's self-worth. One of this season's leads is Jada, a five-year veteran of the team and among its best dancers and most thoughtful leaders. She lays out the season's theme at the beginning: 'Everyone's going to say, 'Well, they're just cheerleaders,'' she says. 'Well, we're really good cheerleaders.' Her grin begins to spread. 'Show us that you appreciate us,' she adds. Are the members of the team appreciated? Not with money, they're not, and part of this season's most invigorating arc is the cheerleaders' quest for better pay. Season 1 brought additional fame and adulation to the team, and it also drew attention to the exploitation of the enterprise. As Kylie, another team veteran, explains: 'The world was kind of telling us, 'Girls, fight for more.' And we're like, 'OK!'' As the women practice the grueling signature routine, we hear the opening strains of the AC/DC song 'Thunderstruck,' over and over. But the true refrain of the season is the fretting about being in one's own head. It's the catchall term for all distress and self-recrimination, the explanation for any lack of confidence or lapse in perfection. Yes, performers can overthink things, especially in prolonged auditions, and rumination and anxiety are enemies to the wide smiles and sexy winks the Dallas cheerleaders' routines require. The job is to make it look easy. But there's an interesting tension. Your head is where the good ideas are, too — ideas like: 'Hey, a lot of people are making a lot of money off my work; why doesn't any of that go to me?' Or: 'Even people who I believe have my best interests at heart can disappoint and hurt me.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBC
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' 400% raise is a reminder of how little female athletes get paid
If you're among the millions who have been riveted by America's Sweethearts, Netflix's docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, then you already know that the 36 women who make the squad are nothing less than pro athletes. Most come from studio-trained dance backgrounds. They endure gruelling training programs and have to meet intense physical demands — their trademark kick-line and jump-split move is so punishing that some of them have torn their hips to the point of needing surgery. From July to the end of the Cowboys season, they rehearse three to four times per week for two to three hours at a time, and perform at all home games. Practices alone can be a 40-hour-per week commitment, notes People magazine, and that doesn't include their promotional appearances. And for all this, until recently, they were reportedly not paid enough to support themselves. As the cheerleaders on the show themselves have pointed out, many of them work second or even third jobs. Now, the second season of America's Sweethearts has dropped, alongside a significant announcement: a 400 per cent pay increase. "Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise," four-year veteran Megan McElaney said on the show, calling the increase "life-changing." The show didn't disclose what the cheerleaders had earned before the pay raise, or what their compensation would look like after it. But former cheerleader Jada McLean told the New York Times Wednesday she used to make $15 US per hour as a five-year veteran on the squad, and with the pay bump, it could be more like $75 US per hour. While many have been shocked to learn how little NFL cheerleaders are paid, it fits into the overall narrative of the gender pay gap in women's sport, said Cheri Bradish, the director of the Future of Sport Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. "There are inequities for women in sport in all kinds of roles, not just cheerleading," Bradish told CBC News. "Their journey is very similar to what we have seen with other leagues and teams who are struggling to get the respect of having broader and more respected pay in general." 'A volunteer position' Being a cheerleader is a significant commitment that demands a high level of athleticism, dedication and professionalism, said Raeanne Milovanovic, co-founder and vice-president of the Canadian Football Cheerleaders Alumni Organization. Compensation varies by team and has "historically been a topic of discussion," Milovanovic said. Stipends typically don't work out to minimum wage, she said, but there are other perks and promotional opportunities — and for many, it's more about the experience. "For many, it's a volunteer position," she said. CFL cheerleaders typically don't receive a regular fixed wage, but instead receive per-game payments of about $50 US to $100 US per game, according to the CFL News Hub. Salary discrepancies are gaining more attention as female sport experiences a massive rise in popularity. Superstars like the WNBA's Caitlin Clark, U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, rugby player Ilona Maher, and Canadian record-smashing swimmer Summer McIntosh have helped attract more eyeballs on events, as has the emergence of new female professional hockey and soccer leagues. Paycheques, however, have not kept pace. Paige Bueckers, for instance, the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick, is projected to earn just $78,831 US for her rookie year — about $109,480 Cdn, or less than the real median household income in the States. Players in the Professional Women's Hockey League can earn as little as $35,000 US per year. In March, a FIFA report on women's soccer found that the average salary for top-tier teams was $24,030 US globally, less than a living wage in many places. And despite 2024 seeing a surge of viral female athletes, not one woman made the top 100 list of highest-paid athletes worldwide last year. WATCH | The PWHL on its latest expansion: 'You have to see it to be it:' PWHL's executive VP says on latest expansion | Hanomansing Tonight 2 months ago Duration 5:48 The Professional Women's Hockey League will expand to Vancouver and begin play next season, the league announced on Wednesday. Jayna Hefford, OIympic gold medalist and executive vice president of hockey operations at PWHL, says Vancouver was 'a standout' opportunity to grow the league. The battle for pay The Dallas cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years, part of an overall NFL cheerleader battle for minimum wage. In 2017, a federal judge tossed out a lawsuit accusing the NFL and team owners of conspiring to suppress wages for cheerleaders. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader that led to the squad doubling the per-game pay, from $200 US to $400 US. The latest raise is four times that. "'Happy' isn't even the right word for it," former cheerleader Jada McLean said on the show. "I think I was just ... kind of felt, like, a relief, like everything had paid off. And it was, you know, finally, we were done fighting." Robyn Pineault, 42, cheered for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts in the early 2000s. On top of practices and public appearances, Pineault says she would dance the entire game on the sidelines, plus the halftime shows and shows between each quarter, all of which was physically demanding and time consuming. Pineault, who now lives in Ottawa, says she's proud of the Dallas cheerleaders for pushing for a pay raise. "They have the epitome of brand awareness in the industry. Every single cheerleader looks up to the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders," she said. "So to see them get a wage increase and actually be paid what they are worth, not just be given the opportunity to dance and have that career but also get fair pay, is a really great story for dancers everywhere."
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Say They're Getting a 400% Increase in Pay
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders say they are getting a serious increase in pay. One of the cheerleaders said during the second season of the Netflix series 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' that the members are getting a 400 percent boost in pay. The cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader that led to the squad doubling the per-game pay from $200 to $400. The latest raise is four times that. 'Our efforts were heard, and they wanted to give us a raise,' four-year veteran Megan McElaney said on the show. 'And we ended up getting a 400 percent increase, which is like life-changing.' According to ESPN, the Cowboys agreed to pay four cheerleaders a total of $2.4 million nine years ago to settle claims by the women that the team's longtime public relations chief, Rich Dalrymple, filmed them in the dressing room. Dalrymple denied the claims, and the club said its investigation found no wrongdoing by him. Dalrymple retired not long before the settlement became public in 2022. The Cowboys have been the most valuable pro sports team in the world for almost a decade, according to Forbes magazine. That number was $10.1 billion in rankings published late last year. 'Happy isn't even the right word for it,' former cheerleader Jada McLean said on the show. 'I think I was just … kind of felt like a relief, like everything had paid off. And it was, you know, finally we were done fighting.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
First pro cheerleading league set to launch next year offering dazzling prize incentives to star players
Varsity Brands, a prominent figure in the cheerleading world, is looking to bring in a new era for the sport with the announcement of its Pro Cheer League - which would be the 'world's first' pro cheerleading league. This initiative comes as the company aims to move past a series of legal battles, including antitrust settlements totaling at least $126 million in the last two years alone. The newly formed Pro Cheer League, a subsidiary of Varsity Spirit, is set to launch in 2026. This professional league is considered a huge leap forward, offering cheerleaders a 'long-overdue' pathway to extend their careers beyond their high school and college years. Initial teams will be established in four major cities: Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and San Diego. The inaugural season will feature five events held across various locations, including Indianapolis, Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim, and Nashville. Each of the four founding teams will have 30 athletes, all aged 18 or older. The selection process for these rosters will be highly competitive and is scheduled to take place this fall. Athletes chosen for the league can anticipate benefits, including 'elite training and part-time compensation,' which includes wages, travel and lodging expenses, uniforms, performance bonuses, and prize incentives. All staff and coaches will required to undergo extensive training as part of the league's strong emphasis on professional standards. The league has committed to making sure it's in full compliance with the guidelines set by USA Cheer, the sport's governing body in the United States. There are also plans for the league to expand its reach with more teams in the years to come. This positive development for professional cheerleading follows a challenging period for Varsity Brands. The company - which was acquired by leading investment firm KKR last year - has faced multiple lawsuits, most notably an antitrust class action in Tennessee that resulted in an $82.5 million settlement last year. This particular lawsuit, initiated by parents of cheerleaders, alleged that Varsity and its former private-equity backers, Bain Capital and Charlesbank Capital, maintained a monopoly over cheerleading events and inflated prices for apparel. Earlier in 2023, Varsity agreed to a $43.5 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by Fusion Elite All Stars, a California-based operator of cheerleading gyms, which highlighted similar antitrust allegations. Despite these settlements, Varsity Brands is still currently facing an ongoing antitrust lawsuit in Texas federal court, filed in 2023 by cheer competition producer Open Cheer. KKR acquired Varsity last summer in a deal valued at $4.75 billion, including debt. Founded in the early 1970s, Varsity Brands is still a big name in cheerleading, organizing over 600 regional and national competitions annually. Some of these competitions are even broadcast on major sports networks like ESPN and CBS Sports. The company also hosts summer camps attended by more than 350,000 people each year and provides extensive support to athletic programs and schools through apparel, training, and educational resources.
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.
