What ‘Real’ Jobs Do The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Have? | ELLE

After binge-watching every episode of America’s Sweethearts, we’re suddenly equipped with far more Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders knowledge than we ever thought possible.

But amongst stringent schedules and strict uniforms, one of the most surprising things we learned from the docuseries was just how little the members of the prestigious DCC squad are actually paid.

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ salaries have been a point of contention for years. And though the women are paid more now than they ever have been before (they were hired on a completely volunteer basis in the early years), the considerably low pay means that most DCC members must maintain a full-time job in addition to their stacked cheerleading schedule.

So what do the stars of America’s Sweethearts do off the field? Below, find out exactly how these athletes earn a living.

Reece Weaver

While Reece moved to Dallas immediately after graduating from University to pursue her cheerleading dreams, that didn’t stop her finding a job. In America’s Sweethearts, we see her go to work most days at a local florist.

Victoria Kalina  

Victoria Kalina lived at home throughout her four-year DCC career, and didn’t appear to work an extra job. However since hanging up her boots, she’s attempting to go full-time with her dancing, and moving to New York City to try out for the Radio City Rockettes.

“When you’re a dancer, you’re always wanting to be a Rockette,” she told Glamour.

“I feel like since I went straight from high school to the Cowboys, this is my time that I’m finally going away for college, but for life now. It’s definitely going to be different, but I seriously cannot wait.”

Kelcey Wetterberg

Paediatric nurse and DCC Veteran Kelcey Wetterberg had one of the most gruelling work schedules on America’s Sweethearts.

“DCC is more of a part-time job—as a nurse, I work 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., then go to practice and get home at midnight, sometimes 1:00 a.m,” she told the cameras.

Since retiring from DCC, she’s said goodbye to these 18-hour days, and is now focusing on nursing.

Anisha Kula

While she was heartbreakingly cut during training camp, if Anisha had made the team, she would be splitting her time between the field and her work as a full-time orthodontist. 

Just how tricky this would be was well-documented in America’s Sweethearts, when she was frequently shown practising her new routines between seeing patients.

Anna Kate Sundvold 

On top of managing the workload of being a DCC Rookie, Anna Kate Sundvold works as a Financial Planner for Bluecrest Financial Alliance. She took on this role shortly after making the DCC team, and soon after graduating from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Madeline Salter

By day, Veteran Madelina Salter works as a digital strategist at The Red Flag Image Company, which specialises in social media, marketing reputation management, and branding services.

Kally Bathea

DCC Veteran Kally Bathea hustles behind the scenes. In addition to her busy cheerleading schedule, she’s also a preschool teacher and a fitness instructor.

Kirsty Thatcher

Writer

Kirsty is a digital writer at ELLE and Marie Claire.

Having completed a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne (English Literature/Sociology), Kirsty set her sights on a career in the Australian media industry. After relocating to Sydney, she spent time working in print at JONES Magazine, before turning her focus to the digital landscape.

When she’s not dissecting the latest fashion and culture trends, you can usually find her ticking off restaurants on her ever-growing bucket list, or on the hunt for Sydney’s best beach.