NEED TO KNOW

• Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was released on Netflix on June 18
• The new season followed some cheerleaders juggling their day jobs, and fighting for higher pay
• One cheerleader said there’s “no way” she’d be able to “survive off just DCC”

The grind doesn’t stop for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders when they step off the NFL field and change out of their uniforms.

Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which was released on Netflix on June 18, followed rookies and veterans alike as they took on the 2024-2025 season. But on top of rehearsals, NFL games and media appearances, several of them still clocked in for their 9-5 jobs.

During a January 2025 conversation with PEOPLE, DCC veteran Marissa Phillips, who works at an accounting firm and co-runs a fashion brand, opened up about the busy lives that she and several other fellow squad members lead as they juggle their day jobs.

“We’re all very determined and we’re all very aspirational … so we all load ourselves up a lot with work,” Phillips said. “You’ll see a lot of us that work corporate jobs but then also have side businesses like I do with the boutique.”

She added, “They’re busy days and they’re hard and they’re long, but I’m living the dream that I always hoped for so it’s always fun doing what I do.”

So, what do the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders do when they aren’t cheering? Here’s everything to know about the America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders stars’ day jobs.

What are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ day jobs?

Many of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders split their time between the squad and their individual career pursuits. While season 1 put the spotlight on DCC alum Kelcey Wetterberg, who spent her time off the field as a pediatric nurse, season 2 followed several other squad members’ day jobs.

Armani Latimer is busy as a group leader, but she is also the billing director at a law firm and is working toward applying to law school. When Brooklyn Davis isn’t at practice, she works as a sales manager for the National Medal of Honor Museum, per her LinkedIn and Instagram bio.

Meanwhile, Jada Mclean works as a cosmetic associate, assisting estheticians at a private practice, while Phillips is a full-time employee at an accounting firm and co-runs an online fashion brand, Joey Lynn Boutique, with her sister, Micaela.

As for Reece Weaver, she spent her time away from the field in season 1 working as a florist. In season 2, she shared that she no longer works there but now does “Floral Fridays” on her growing TikTok account.

Outside of cheer, Anna Kate Sundvold works in financial planning services at Bluecrest Financial Alliances, per her LinkedIn.

Six-year veteran Chandi Dayle has several jobs outside of being a group leader for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She works at a pilates studio in the morning, helps with her family’s drug packaging mail-order pharmacy (which she wants to do long-term), acts as a receptionist for one of the team’s sponsors and does social media for a pediatric dentistry.

Why do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders work multiple jobs?

While many of the cheerleaders are working jobs that they are passionate about, many of them have been open about needing additional sources of income, too.

Mclean explained that there’s “no way” she would be able to “survive off just DCC.”

“We’re all working so many hours outside of [DCC], just trying to compensate financially,” she continued. “It’s really hard to work two jobs, but also give your full commitment to DCC while you’re here.”

Veteran Megan McElaney echoed that the professional dance world is “not a sustainable lifestyle.”

“I’d say DCC is the most stable dance job that there is, but still, you’re gonna need two jobs as a dancer,” she said. “It’s just how it is.”

In 2022, NBC Sports Boston reported that NFL cheerleaders typically earn around $150 per game, with an average yearly salary of about $22,500. Per the outlet, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders had been earning $15 to $20 per hour or $500 per game, making their yearly salary approximately $75,000.

However, season 2 of the Netflix docuseries followed the team’s contract negotiations as they fought for higher pay.

After the 2024-25 season, Dallas Cowboys executives agreed to a pay increase, which resulted in a “life-changing” 400% pay increase for the upcoming 2025-26 season, McElaney shared in the docuseries.

“We pushed and we got back good results,” Latimer said. “I get emotional knowing that I was a part of that. I love the fact that I made change for the girls that are coming up behind me, even if I’m not getting a chance to benefit.”

How do the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have time for additional jobs?

During an August 2024 appearance on The Unplanned Podcast, Weaver explained that it’s more common for veteran cheerleaders to work 9-5 jobs as opposed to rookies.

During her rookie season, Weaver spent the mornings delivering flowers to bring in “a little bit more income,” but it also gave her plenty of time to prepare for practice.

“This was especially important during rookie season because I wanted to have something and then come back and do choreography, make sure I’m prepared and all of the things that you kind of have to do in your rookie season to be your best in practice,” she said.

New squad member Allison Khong spent her rookie season simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Texas Tech University, which she earned in May 2025, per her Instagram.

As for how the veterans with 9-5 jobs juggle their commitments, Latimer described her “busy life” as “very hard,” but emphasized the importance of “great time management.”

Often, that means going straight from the corporate office to the practice field.

Phillips clocks into her accounting job at 9 a.m. for an eight-hour shift before driving over to AT&T Stadium for practice.

“I’ll pack all of my stuff for practice with me in the car,” she told PEOPLE. “So I’m packing breakfast, I’m packing lunch, I’m packing dinner and then I have all my practice clothes with me.”

What have the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader executives said about members working multiple jobs?

Although Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader director Kelli Finglass wants the cheerleaders’ focus to be on the team, she’s also supportive of them following other passions and pursuing day jobs off the field.

“All of their degrees and their careers are actually what make them really impressive, that there are so many layers to them,” Finglass said in season 2. “They’re not just dancers. I think that makes them really interesting.”

Read the original article on People