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'
Series two of Netflix 's hit reality TV series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hit screens this week, after its debut run won over legions of fans.
However, things were not always plain-sailing for the cheerleaders during their 2024 season and tensions rose during a group trip to the Bahamas.
Though it was meant to be a team-building opportunity, scenes showed six-year veteran and group leader Chandi step back from the squad following the trip.
It emerged that she had violated a major team rule and had invited someone to their hotel, despite their policy stating they aren't allowed to disclose their whereabouts while abroad due to safety.
Following the tense scenes, some of the dancers broke their silence after the 'unfortunate' on-screen fallout, revealing where they currently stand with Chandi now.
'I think we did our best as a team to handle it professionally while still being supportive of her,' fellow group leader Jada McLean told PEOPLE.
She insisted that they remain 'sisters' despite the tension and are still on good terms with Chandi - who retired after returning for the last dance of the season.
'We're not going to turn our back on her,' newly-retired Jada insisted, adding that they don't let anything divide them as a team.
Meanwhile, team director Kelli Finglass told Bustle: 'She's a sweet soul, and of course, we will stay in touch with her.'
Chandi started struggling with her mental health at the end of the series due to the pressures of leading as well as a break-up with her long-term boyfriend, Ryan.
Earlier in the series, she also opened up about how she was allegedly stalked by another ex-boyfriend, which put strain on her everyday life and relationship with Ryan.
After the difficult time, Chandi met someone during the team Bahamas trip who had been through similar things as her and she invited them to the hotel to confide in them about her struggles.
She insisted nothing romantic happened between them after rumours began to swirl, but she broke a team rule by bringing the stranger to their hotel, causing tension in the group.
'It was the first time I feel like I mental dumped everything, and everything that was happening, and everything I've gone through, and everything that was making me feel and think certain things,' Chandi shared on the show.
'It helped me in the moment. And I get it, it was probably the wrong place and time to do that. But selfishly, I had to do it for me. Because I feel like I was just, I was losing it.'
After taking some time away for her mental health, with tensions obvious amongst the dancers, Chandi returned for the last dance of the season without the pressures of leading.
However, the situation led to a further fallout as team member KayDianna MacKenzie left the squad after being suspended for taking about the situation on a TikTok Live.
Kelli insisted it was KayDianna's decision to leave the squad and she didn't return for the end of season celebrations, sharing her upset to camera about her exit.
Season two also followed the cheerleaders as they attempted to get a pay rise following the success of the first Netflix series.
Jada, Amanda Howard, Megan McElaney and Armani Latimer were among those who spoke to lawyers and spearheaded a campaign for the cheerleaders to be paid more.
After the release of series one last year, their low salaries stirred controversy and left viewers shocked, with season two following their attempts to get a pay rise.
After initially being rejected, the dancers revealed at the end of the series that they had finally secured a massive 400 per cent pay increase.
'Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise,' four-year veteran Megan said on the show. 'And we ended up getting a 400 percent increase, which is like, life-changing.'
The cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years with the latest coming in 2019, when the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader.
The franchise settlement led to the squad doubling the per-game pay, from $200 to $400. The latest raise is four times that amount.
However, veterans Jada, Armani and Amanda will not see the benefits of the action as they all retired at the end of season two - leaving their successors to relish in the win.
While it's understood that not all Dallas cheerleaders make the same salary, one ex-Cowboys cheerleader who exclusively spoke to the Daily Mail said she made between $15,000 and $22,000 per year while part of the DCC.
Cheerleaders can also add to their pay by doing special appearances, with those rates understood to be based on tenure.
Other reports, such as one from NBC Sports Boston in 2022, said that Cowboys cheerleaders earn between $15-20 per hour or $500 per game - which the publication calculated out to a healthier $75,000 yearly salary.
An ESPN report from 2017 added that the average leaguewide game-rate for cheerleaders was between $75 and $150.
The franchise's chief brand officer - and daughter of owner Jerry Jones - Charlotte Jones has previously admitted cheerleaders are underpaid.
'There's a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders — as it should be. They're not paid a lot,' she said in the first season of the documentary, which shows the dedication it takes to be a Cowboys cheerleader.
'But the facts are, they actually don't come here for the money. They come here for something that's actually bigger than that to them.
'They have a passion for dance. There are not a lot of opportunities in the field of dance to get to perform at an elite level. It is about being a part of something bigger than themselves,' Jones continued.
'It is about a sisterhood that they are able to form, about relationships that they have for the rest of their life. They have a chance to feel like they are valued, they are special, and they are making a difference. When the women come here, they find their passion and they find their purpose.'
As seen on Netflix, many of the team's members have to hold second jobs to pursue their goals in dance, and spend 30 to 40 hours of their week practicing.
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