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Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders stars break silence after Bahamas drama and Chandi’s shock ‘rule break’ in season two – as it’s revealed dancers will get a ‘400 per cent raise’

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After wrapping up the second season, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have finally spoken out regarding the surprising events depicting Chandi Dayle allegedly violating team rules.

In a fresh turn of events, the second season of the highly popular reality TV show on Netflix, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, made its appearance on our screens this week, following the tremendous success of its initial broadcast that captured the hearts of numerous viewers.

Nevertheless, the cheerleading team encountered challenges throughout their 2024 season, and feelings escalated during a vacation in the Bahamas, leading to tension among its members.

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Despite an otherwise successful year, the cheerleaders faced difficulties during their 2024 season, peaking during a group excursion to the Bahamas where tensions arose.

Despite being intended as a bonding experience, the outing resulted in six-year veteran and team leader, Chandi, distancing himself from the team post the excursion.

It was discovered that she broke a significant team rule by inviting someone to their hotel, which goes against the policy of not revealing their location when traveling overseas for safety reasons.

After the intense sequences of events unfolded, a few dancers finally spoke up following the unfortunate incident depicted on screen, sharing their current relationships with Chandi at this point in time.

According to fellow group leader Jada McLean, speaking with PEOPLE, she believes our team managed the situation in a professional manner and at the same time offered her support.

In my professional opinion as a lifestyle advisor, I’d say I strongly advocated for us to maintain our bond as ‘sisters,’ even amidst the strained moments we experienced. Fortunately, despite the tension, we’ve managed to stay on good terms with Chandi – a remarkable woman who graced us one last time on the dance floor before she retired after the final performance of the season.

In my commitment as a devoted team member, I firmly assert that we won’t abandon her. We stand united, ensuring that no obstacle comes between us as a team.

In the meantime, team leader Kelli Finglass said to Bustle, “She’s a lovely person, and naturally, we’ll keep in contact with her.

Toward the conclusion of the series, Chandi faced difficulties with her psychological wellbeing, primarily due to the stress of being in leadership and a separation from her longtime partner, Ryan.

Previously in the series, she disclosed that a former partner had reportedly stalked her, causing tension in her daily routines and affecting her bond with Ryan.

During our challenging period, I crossed paths with an individual on our Bahamas expedition who had experienced situations remarkably like mine. Moved by this connection, I extended an invitation to them to join me at the hotel, where I felt comfortable sharing my personal hardships with them.

She maintained that no romantic events transpired between her and the stranger following the emergence of gossip, however, her actions violated a team regulation by inviting this stranger to their hotel, which led to an increase in internal strife within the group.

On the program, Chandi expressed that it was the first occasion where she seemed to have unloaded all her thoughts and experiences, including everything that was happening, what she had been through, and what was influencing her emotions and thoughts.

In that instant, it proved beneficial for me. I understand now that perhaps it wasn’t the ideal location or timing for such action. Nevertheless, from a self-centered perspective, I found it necessary for my own wellbeing. It seemed as though I was on the verge of collapse.

Following a brief break to focus on her mental wellbeing, it was apparent that there were strains among the dancers. However, when the final performance of the season arrived, Chandi chose to come back without the burden of being in a leadership role.

Consequently, the circumstances resulted in additional complications when team member KayDianna MacKenzie chose to depart following her suspension due to discussing the matter on a live TikTok broadcast.

Kelli asserted that KayDianna chose to depart from the team and, as a result, did not attend the finale festivities at the end of the season; she expressed her disappointment about her departure on camera.

In the second season, the narrative continued by focusing on the cheerleaders’ efforts to secure an increase in their pay, inspired by the success of the initial Netflix show.

As a passionate advocate, I was one of the individuals who collaborated with legal professionals and led a movement aimed at securing fairer compensation for our cheerleading team, alongside Jada, Amanda Howard, Megan McElaney, and Armani Latimer.

Following the airing of season one last year, their comparatively low wages sparked debate and astonished viewers. Now, in season two, they are working towards securing a salary increase.

At the culmination of the series, it was disclosed that the dancers, who were initially turned down, had ultimately succeeded in negotiating a substantial 400% raise in their compensation.

Four-year employee Megan shared on the program that our endeavors were acknowledged, leading to an offer of a salary hike. In the end, we received a significant boost of over four times our original salary, which was nothing short of transformative.

For several years now, the cheerleading squad has been advocating for salary boosts, culminating in 2019 when the Dallas Cowboys resolved a lawsuit filed by a previous cheerleader regarding pay.

As a result of the franchise agreement, the team members’ per-game earnings were doubled from $200 to $400. The most recent increase, however, quadruples this initial boost in pay.

Consequently, veterans Jada, Armani, and Amanda won’t experience the advantages since they all retired after season two, allowing their replacements to enjoy the victory instead.

It’s clear that the salaries of Dallas cheerleaders may vary, but a former Cowboys cheerleader revealed to the Daily Mail that during her tenure with the DCC, she earned between $15,000 and $22,000 annually.

Cheerleaders can boost their earnings through special engagements, with the fees typically depending on their years of experience.

According to other sources, like one from NBC Sports Boston in 2022, it was stated that Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders make around $15-$20 an hour or $500 per game. This equates to a more substantial annual salary of approximately $75,000.

2017’s ESPN report indicated an average league-wide hourly rate for cheerleaders ranged from $75 to $150 per hour.

Previously, the head of branding for the franchise, who is also the daughter of the owner Jerry Jones, Charlotte Jones, has openly acknowledged that the cheerleaders are not compensated sufficiently.

In the initial season of the documentary, it was expressed that there is widespread skepticism about the compensation given to NFL cheerleaders, as such sentiment is warranted since they don’t earn significant wages. The film highlights the tremendous effort required to become a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

However, it’s important to note that they aren’t visiting primarily for financial reasons. For them, there’s something more substantial that draws them here.

Jones explained, “They deeply love dancing, but there aren’t many chances to showcase their talent at an advanced level within the dance industry. It’s more about becoming a piece of a larger, significant endeavor rather than just themselves.

‘This place fosters a sisterhood that lasts a lifetime, enabling them to forge meaningful relationships. It offers these women an opportunity to feel appreciated, unique, and impactful. Upon arriving, they discover their passions and their reasons for being.’

On Netflix, numerous individuals from the dance team are compelled to work additional jobs to finance their dancing aspirations, dedicating 30 to 40 hours weekly to rehearsals.

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2025-06-20 14:34

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