The third season of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders premiered on Netflix on Tuesday, June 16 welcoming both rookies and returning athletes to the squad.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, also known as the DCC, debuted in 1961 and have since become a worldwide phenomenon, but the athletes not only have to perform in front of thousands, they have to follow strict rules to ensure their squad's success.
11 years after their debut, the DCC guidelines were established and have only grown since then. In the 1990s, the rule book for the cheerleaders was hundreds of pages long. These days, many of those rules, like which fork to use at dinner, still exist.
But what are the seven most shocking rules that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have to follow? Keep reading to find out!
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© Getty ImagesDCC members must maintain a certain body shape
It's no surprise that the DCC squad requires a certain athletic ability. But the rule book requires cheerleaders to "look well-proportioned in dance wear." In the past, cheerleaders were weighed, with former leader Suzanne Mitchell reportedly circling cheerleaders' body parts in photos to show where they needed to trim down, per The New York Times.
The cheerleaders are only sized for their iconic blue and white uniform once in their careers. "You don't get a new uniform. Once you're fitted for that uniform, that size is the size that you get. You don't get to go up. If you go up, they're like, 'Why does this not fit you?'" a veteran cheerleader said during the Netflix series.
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© Getty ImagesCheerleaders should wear neutral makeup
You won't find smokey eyes on Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. It's a requirement for their makeup to be neutral and natural. For the audition process, dancers are expected to "wear shades that complement [their] natural beauty.”
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© Getty ImagesThey must wear their hair down
The DCC is known for its "hairography." For nearly all of its history, cheerleaders were required to wear their hair down. "We not only have our hair styled and down the entire game, but our dances almost always have some form of 'hairography,'" a third-year veteran told People in 2016.
But, in season three, fans watched rookie Faith slick her hair up into a pony instead of the traditional loose waves. "It's crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks. I've broken that stereotype," she told ABC Perth.
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© Getty ImagesCheerleaders don't get to keep their uniforms
The uniform for the DCCs is iconic — a blue, long-sleeved top tied at their bust, with a white fringe vest, mini white shorts, and white cowboy boots. But the cheerleaders must return their uniforms before the final auditions of the following season.
This rule was created in the 1980s after a DCC hopeful posed for Playboy in a branded T-shirt.
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© InstagramNo internal dating allowed
While some may think that becoming a DCC is the perfect way to meet the love of their life, cheerleaders are not allowed to fraternize with the players, coaches, staff, or journalists.
"Cowboys cheerleaders were off limits, and I think that only added to the aura of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which separated them from a lot of other cheerleader groups around the country," retired TV sports reporter Dale Hansen said on the America's Girls podcast.
In the '70s and '80s, if cheerleaders were caught dating players, they were allegedly kicked off the team.
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© Getty ImagesCheerleaders must mind their social media
After the wild success of America's Sweethearts, many cheerleaders have become major influencers. And while they can take brand deals and leverage their fame online, they must be mindful about what they post.
The former leader, Suzanne, wanted the DCCs to keep a clean image. "On Sundays, we were supposed to be the sexy cheerleaders on the sideline. The rest of the time, we were supposed to be perceived as squeaky clean," '80s cheerleader Presley Killmer said. "High heels, pantyhose, business suit, makeup and hair done, mannerly, good etiquette."
In the '80s, this applied to life off the field, and now, it applies to social media.
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© Getty ImagesThey are paid on a strict schedule
The DCC website says that for the cheerleaders, there is "a pay schedule for rehearsals, home football games, promo appearances & shows.”
And while the DCCs are some of the most famous cheerleaders and dancers in the world, until 2024, they were reportedly only paid $12 an hour and $400 on game day. But after season two of the Netflix series, veteran cheerleaders advocated for hire pay.
They ended up winning a "life-changing" 400% pay increase for the 2025-26 season!
