The Real Reason Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Fought for Better Pay

America’s most famous cheerleaders just pulled off a win that had nothing to do with touchdowns. 

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, long seen as icons of beauty, athleticism and tradition, closed out Season 2 of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts with a surprising reveal: they secured a 400% pay raise after years of being severely underpaid, Time reported.

The announcement came from Megan, a four-year veteran, in the final moments of the season, and it hit like a game-winning field goal. 

But what viewers might not have realized was the uphill battle behind the scenes. Throughout the season, the show gave fans a front-row seat to the relentless training, emotional strain, and financial pressure these women faced. While performing for a $10 billion franchise, many were juggling second and third jobs just to make rent.

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Jada McLean, a five-year veteran, helped lead the push for change. At one point, McLean was nearly evicted from her home. She credits the Netflix series for giving the cheerleaders the leverage they needed. 

"People started speaking up for us," McLean told Time. "That motivated us to speak up more for ourselves."

Negotiations began quietly, with cheerleaders consulting legal experts and meeting with Cowboys HR. Though a walkout was discussed, the women ultimately stayed committed to their fans and the team. However, they continued to apply pressure internally.

Back in 2018, former cheerleader Erica Wilkins filed a lawsuit that helped raise hourly wages from $8 to $12. But even with that boost, many were still earning around $500 per game. 

That left veterans like Kleine working four other jobs just to make ends meet. Megan summed it up best during the show: "I've got student loans. I've got car payments. That doesn't get covered by a spray tan."

Though exact figures remain undisclosed, this new pay structure is being hailed as a major victory, and not just for the Cowboys Cheerleaders. 

McLean hopes it inspires other women in high-profile, low-paying roles to demand more. "We're not just pretty faces shaking pom-poms," she said. "We're true athletes."

And now, finally, they’re being paid like it.

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