The return of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC)for its third season on Netflix has once again put the iconic squad in the spotlight, bringing recognition and challenges for the Cowboys cheerleaders.

Along with a growing fan base and worldwide recognition, the DCC is also navigating through the unexpected pressures that come with newfound fame. In a recent interview with BBC Newsbeat, two of the breakout stars from the show, Kleine Powell and Megan McElaney, shared how their lives have changed after the popularity of the show.

"It has been actually really insane," Powell said, per Mollie Perella and Naomi de Souza of BBC Newsbeat. "I think it's had a really positive impact on not only the dance and athlete world, but just on the world in general with how we kind of integrate our lives into this dance and cheerleading show."

The theme of America's Sweethearts Season 3 revolves around the personal lives of cheerleaders and how their global fame impacts their day-to-day lives.

Season 1 showcased the rigorous training and selection process for becoming a football cheerleader, while Season 2 had the cheerleaders raise questions regarding their salary and fight for better pay.

With increased social media attention, it automatically invites the opinions and scrutiny of the fans and the general public, as each performance is posted online.

"Already being on the team, there is a little bit of an anxiety factor," McElaney said in the same BBC Newsbeat interview. "We're all perfectionists, and we want to put our best foot forward in every single performance."

With sponsorship deals and influencer contracts being one of the primary goals for individuals signing up for the program, Powell set the priorities straight by emphasizing that the DCC team should always come first.

"That means people who want to be a friend and team-mate first, versus going in and doing all these selfish things," Powell said, per BBC Newsbeat. "We want people who can be friends and a sister and someone you can call on a bad day to help lift your spirits."

As the spotlight on the Cowboys cheerleaders continues to grow, Powell and McElaney believe that staying true to the team's sisterhood and culture will be as important as taking up the opportunities that come with global fame.

As excitement builds for the new season, one popular figure will not be part of it.

Fan-favorite Reece Weaver says goodbye to DCC

In her exclusive interview with E! News, fan-favorite cheerleader Reece Walker revealed the reason for retiring within three years of being on the DCC squad.

“A lot of people are always scared to stay in their box and be like, ‘Well, this is it. There’s no other step.’ I just want to encourage people to be bold enough to take that leap," Weaver said, per Brahmjot Kaur & Adelline Sassani of E! News.

She emphasized that her decision was solely made by her, as she wanted to explore different opportunities in dancing other than cheerleading.

After becoming one of the DCC's most followed cheerleaders on social media, Weaver is now turning her focus towards Broadway shows while continuing to refine her skills in ballet and theatre-style performance.

What are your expectations for the new season of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar