Yahoo News How Long Can You Actually Be A Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
When you think of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, a few things may come to mind: rhinestones, teased hair, and big smiles among them. But the squad isn’t all pom poms and hair whips: This squad is elite, and only the very best make it.
The challenging journey from audition to game day is documented in the new Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which is now streaming. And after watching veterans like Caroline Sundvold and Kelcey Wetterberg retire, you may be wondering if the ladies have to leave the squad after five years.
So, how long can you be a DCC? Here's what to know about their tenures.
How many years can you be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
There's no limit on how long someone can be a DCC, but they only secure one-year contracts. So everyone on the squad—no matter how long they’ve been there—has to audition every single year.
In the docuseries, viewers see the cheerleaders spend about three to five years with the DCC before retiring or getting injured.
One of those ladies was Caroline, who was on the team from 2018 to 2023, according to her LinkedIn. She ultimately had to retire due to foot and hip injuries, both of which required surgery. Her sister Anna Kate took her place on the team.
"We’ve had a few arguments, but for the most part it was a blessing for me that as I was leaving DCC she was coming in," she told cameras. "It sort of lightened the blow a bit, so I didn’t feel so isolated from everything I’d been around for the last five years."
Kelcey, on the other hand, planned her retirement after five years with the squad.
What is the longest someone has been a DCC?
Sisters VonCeil and Vanessa Baker hold the record for being the longest-tenured DCCs. The sisters cheered for the team in the '70s and were there for eight years each, per the team.
The Baker sisters were especially passionate about the squad, with Vanessa even receiving her Master of Science degree from Texas Women's University on the Cowboys field during a 1977 matchup against the Broncos.
"The Baker sisters’ legacy of dedication and love for the squad remains stronger than ever," the site writes. "Many cheerleaders who have graced the sidelines in the decades since the Baker sisters retired in the 1980s admit being authentically star-struck when meeting these inspiring sisters in person."
Does the DCC have an age limit?
You must be at least 18 years old to audition for the squad, but there is no age cut-off, according to the team. You can also be a mother and a DCC at the same time, they say.
So go forth, practice your version of "Thunderstruck," and maybe you can be a DCC, too!
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