Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the Pompom Debate
Netflix’s documentary series America’s Sweethearts catapulted the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders into the national spotlight.
First, their stunningly low salaries became television fodder and the squad landed a 400% pay raise for the 2025 season. Now, it’s that most ubiquitous cheerleading symbol at the center of debate: pompoms.
The Pompom Fluffing Process
Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Abby Summers, a rookie from Ohio, posted a TikTok video this week demonstrating how she fluffs her pompoms.
“Tonight starts pompom fluffing time,” Summers says in the video. “As I fluff, I’m going to catch up on the rest of my Love Island episode.”
The video shows Summers chatting about the reality show Love Island while tying pieces of blue, white and silver material together. “You just keep repeating the process of tying in different directions until it gets fluffy,” she says.
Reactions to the Pompom Fluffing Video
The video has been watched more than 3 million times and drew a swift response. Many were surprised the cheerleaders are responsible for fluffing their own pompoms. Others said they had no idea pompoms even needed fluffing.
“Imagine if the football players had to blow up the footballs themselves and make their costumes,” one commenter wrote.
Another said, “DCC is literally so embarrassing what do you mean you have to make your own pom-poms and wash your own uniform that you don’t even get to keep when you retire?!?!?!?! It’s a multi billion dollar organisation.”
Pay and Compensation for Cowboys Cheerleaders
Summers did not immediately respond to a message Thursday from The Dallas Morning News sent through TikTok. A spokesperson for the Dallas Cowboys declined to comment.
Cowboys cheerleaders, who get paid two hours a season to fluff their pompoms, are apparently not the only ones responsible for their own fluffing. In 2023, Miami Dolphins cheerleader Bella Denton posted a TikTok video about things you might not know about NFL cheerleaders.
“We fluff our own poms and fluffing one pom takes me like two and a half hours,” Denton says in the video. “It takes so long to fluff, but once it’s done, it’s so rewarding because they look so pretty and new.”
Criticism Around Dancers’ Compensation
The second season of Netflix’s hit series America’s Sweethearts follows the squad’s 2024-25 team, from auditions and training camp through the NFL season. The seven-episode series debuted in June.
Pay emerged as one of the biggest issues in the show. Asked by a producer in the first season how much a Cowboys cheerleader makes, 2022 cheerleader Kat Puryear replied, “I would say I’m making like … a substitute teacher. I would say I’m making … like a Chick-fil-A worker who works full-time.”
Criticism around the dancers’ compensation is not new, and many of the cheerleaders worked second or even third jobs. In 2018, Cowboys cheerleader Erica Wilkins alleged in federal court that she earned less than half of what the team’s mascot, Rowdy, made. She said the organization failed to pay her minimum wage and overtime costs. The case was settled in 2019.
Response from the Dallas Cowboys Organization
Charlotte Jones, executive vice president of the Cowboys and chief brand officer, acknowledged the low pay in the documentary but said the cheerleaders are not drawn by financial success.
“There’s a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders, as there should be. They’re not paid a lot,” she said. “But the facts are that they actually don’t come here for the money. They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them.”
Conclusion
The debate around the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and their pompoms has sparked a larger conversation about compensation and working conditions for NFL cheerleaders. While the squad has received a pay raise, many are still calling for fairer treatment and more respect for the hard work and dedication that these athletes bring to their roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders get paid to fluff their pompoms?
A: Cowboys cheerleaders get paid two hours a season to fluff their pompoms.
Q: Do all NFL cheerleaders have to fluff their own pompoms?
A: Yes, according to Miami Dolphins cheerleader Bella Denton, many NFL cheerleaders are responsible for fluffing their own pompoms.
Q: How long does it take to fluff a pompom?
A: According to Bella Denton, fluffing one pompom can take around two and a half hours.
Q: What is the average salary of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
A: The average salary of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader is not publicly disclosed, but according to 2022 cheerleader Kat Puryear, it is comparable to that of a substitute teacher or a full-time Chick-fil-A worker.
