6 behind-the-scenes facts that will change the way you watch Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Season 2 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders lifts the curtain on another year inside the world's most famous cheerleading squad.

This season, the drama ramps up as both seasoned veterans and fresh-faced rookies compete for a coveted spot on the 2024–2025 team.

In many ways, the new season is much darker with subjects like bullying, domestic violence and sexism taking centre stage.

Watch the trailer. Post continues below.

The squad's standouts were veterans Armani Latimer, Chandi Dayle, and Jada Mclean who returned for their final year, each facing their own set of personal challenges while taking a stand for a higher wage for the DCC dancers.

Then there were rookies — Charly Barby, Madeline Salter and Kelly Villares — who each brought their own unique stories to Season 2 as they finally made it into the team.

But it's not just about the high kicks and pom poms; Season 2 dives deep into the emotional toll of the audition process, how the pressure to perform impacts the women's mental health and the team's united push for pay equity, culminating in a historic 400 per cent wage increase.

It's a season that was a lot to digest — especially if you binged it in a weekend — so until a potential (and likely) Season 3 drops, we're going through some behind-the-scenes about making the show.

Every season is filmed over many months.

The filming schedule for America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders typically spans six to eight months, capturing the full arc of the cheerleading season.

The docuseries begins filming well before the NFL season officially kicks off, often starting during the audition process in late spring or early summer. Cameras follow the hopefuls and returning veterans through auditions, training camp and team selections.

Jada was a team leader this season. Image: Netflix.

Filming continues throughout the Dallas Cowboys' regular NFL season, which runs from September to early January. This allows the production team to capture game-day performances, rehearsals and team meetings, along with the dancers living out their regular lives.

If the Cowboys make it to the playoffs, filming may extend through January. The series often wraps up after the team's final game and the end-of-season banquet.

Those DCC jump splits have serious consequences.

Chandi Dayle was left injured at the end of the season due to a hip issue that required surgery. Before she decided to retire, she was seen on crutches and wearing a brace.

The chronic injury was sustained after years of performing high-impact dance moves as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, particularly the signature jump splits and demanding routines required by the squad.

Chandi retired at the end of the season. Image: Netflix.

These repetitive, strenuous movements put significant strain on her joints, leading to a hip injury.

Chandi's experience mirrors that of other DCC veterans, who have also reported needing hip surgery because of the physical toll the role takes on their bodies.

On the first season of the Netflix docuseries, American Sweethearts, Caroline Sundvold spoke about her ailing health since retiring.

A doctor told Caroline she needed surgery following four seasons of jump-splitting, which had left her joints permanently damaged.

Armani wanted her alopecia to be front and centre of her story.

Armani Latimer was a Season 2 standout, as the veteran opened up about her alopecia diagnosis and the moment she started to go bald during her rookie season with DCC.

In the most emotional moment of the season, Armani performed at one of the games without her wig to raise awareness for alopecia.

Armani didn't leave a dry eye in sight. Image: Netflix.

She told People that she was keen to open up about her alopecia on screen in the second season of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

She had 'no hesitation whatsoever' about her condition becoming a major storyline on the show. "Once I made the decision, I just knew I wanted to help and affect change in some type of way… I think I did that."

Several veterans quit after Season 2.

Several veteran cheerleaders announced their retirements at the end of Season 2, each sharing their reasons for stepping away.

After six years with the DCC and a tumultuous final season marked by a Bahamas trip controversy, Chandi decided to retire.

Armani Latimer, a fifth-year veteran, said it was time for "a new chapter" and wanted to be part of things "happening on the outside."

Jada Mclean, also a fifth-year veteran, hung up her cowboy boots. "I'm very happy with how the last five years have gone, and I'm at a place where I need to see what's next in life," she said.

The vibe was a little more tense during Amanda Howard's departure. The third-year veteran pointedly announced she was leaving because of "the way some things were handled throughout the year," referencing her disappointment over the pay situation and being excluded from paid opportunities.

Amanda's exit was dramatic. Image: Netflix.

"It broke my heart because I just want to feel worth and value. I feel like I don't feel that here, unfortunately, and so it's time for the next chapter," she said in the final episode.

KayDianna has shared whether she was fired from DCC.

Then there was KayDianna's exit in Season 2, which was abrupt and mysterious.

After stepping in for Chandi following the Bahamas incident, KayDianna described feeling isolated and undervalued. She told Netflix producers, "I definitely didn't feel supported. I felt like I was just a body. It was as if Chandi got the perks of being a First Leader and I got the responsibility part of it."

KayDianna was suspended from the team after being accused of bullying and harassment, stemming from comments she made on TikTok about the Bahamas trip.

KayDianna left the team in a blaze of controversy. Image: Netflix.

She clarified that she never mentioned Chandi by name but was still placed under investigation by DCC staff. "I got a call from staff. They said that I was under investigation for being a bully and harassing. I was officially suspended at that point," she recalled.

"I just told myself that I needed to take myself out of the organisation and that I needed to respect myself."

KayDianna has since posted on Instagram about her decision to ultimately leave DCC.

"After prayerful consideration, I have made the decision to step away from my role with the Dallas Cowboys organisation. While this was not the ending I had envisioned, it is one I felt led to make for myself, in full faith and peace," she wrote.

"Though this door has closed, I trust fully in God's plan and the new doors he is preparing to open. I do not view this as a setback, but as a divine setup for what's next."

The cheerleaders have to adhere to a strict code of conduct.

Season 2 of the Netflix docuseries made it clear just how strict — and often controversial — the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' rulebook remains.

DCC members are strictly forbidden from posting 'provocative pictures' on Instagram or other platforms. This includes anything that could be seen as suggestive or not in line with the DCC's wholesome image.

A major rule is that cheerleaders cannot bring strangers or unapproved guests into group trips with shared accommodation.

This came to a head on the Bahamas team vacation, when veteran Chandi Dayle broke protocol by inviting a man she had just met back to a shared hotel room.

As mentioned, cheerleader KayDianna Davis was suspended for vaguely referencing Chandi's Bahamas incident on TikTok Live. Even though she didn't mention names, the act of discussing DCC internal matters publicly was enough to trigger disciplinary action.

Feature image: Netflix.