Once again, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is taking the streaming world by storm! The second installment of Greg Whiteley’s hit Netflix docuseries followed the women from auditions to training camp and through the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024-2025 season. Led by DCC Senior Director Kelli Finglass and DCC Head Choreographer Judy Trammell, the squad celebrated highs (performing with Kacey Musgraves) and lows (the Dallas Cowboys’ so-so performance), but they always remained united.
Group leaders Jada Mclean and Armani Latimer knew they wanted to make an impact before they retired. Together with Megan McElaney, they advocated for higher wages for the squad. Because of their hard work, the team will receive an almost a 400% pay raise for the 2025-2026 season and beyond. While Latimer and Mclean won’t get to enjoy the fruits of their labor themselves, they were overjoyed to help the teammates they love so much. “Knowing the struggles that we’ve had while being on the team, we wanted to leave this organization with some kind of good,” explained Mclean. “Wanting to see one another succeed was something that really drove us to take a stand and speak up.” Latimer agreed, adding “I can’t wait to cheer on the girls who are re-auditioning for this year.”
Two cheerleaders that benefited from Mclean’s and Latimer’s determined campaign are Charly Barby and Kelly Villares. “They did all of this and they’re not even getting the benefit of it,” said Barby. “That just speaks volumes about who they are as leaders.” Both Barby and Villares were cut from the team during the 2023-2024 tryouts but moved to Texas anyways to train and prove their dedication. After a year of preparation, Barby suffered a pulmonary embolism and was barely able to submit her initial audition video for consideration. “I did put my body through pretty much hell and back for that tape, but it was worth it because it led me here.” It helped to have the support of Villares, who was by her side the entire time. “I was there when she thought it was just a fever,” shared Villares. “We were in this together from the beginning.”
Barby, Latimer, Mclean, and Villares spoke to DECIDER during a virtual press to chat about the season, the drama surrounding Chandi Dayle, and more.
DECIDER: Jada, I first want to congratulate you and Armani for standing up for yourselves and fighting for the pay increase the squad deserved, even though you didn’t benefit in your final season. What drove you to continue to speak out, even when the odds were against you?
JADA MCLEAN: It’s the love we have for our teammates. Truthfully, we say the word “sisterhood” all the time, but I don’t think people know what that really means to us. These people are our family. We love these women. Knowing the struggles that we endured while being on the team, we wanted to leave this organization with some kind of good. For us, it was fighting for their future finances as cheerleaders. Wanting to see one another succeed was something that really drove us to take a stand and speak up.
Charly, what was it like to watch these two vets go to bat for the rookies and generations of dancers to come?
CHARLY BARBY: They’re so inspiring. I feel like I’m constantly saying this, but they are an amazing example of what it is to be a leader. We’re very lucky to have been in their little pod of rookies. After fighting to make the team, it was scary to hear things like we might do a walkout, but we always trusted them. We knew that they had our best interests at heart. Clearly, they’re the most selfless people ever [laughs]. They did all of this and they’re not even getting the benefit of it. That just speaks volumes of who they are as leaders. I know every girl on the team looks up to them.
Armani, thank you for opening up about your experience with Alopecia. It was so wonderful to watch the wig fitting process with you and Rosemary. How do you feel about sharing your journey with the world?
ARMANI LATIMER: Honestly, I feel incredible. My entire goal was to just impact one person, but my story has already impacted so many people just by my stepping out on a field and being 100% vulnerable. I am so grateful for the opportunity. It’s big for the Alopecia community. It’s big for people to feel seen when they’ve felt that no one else understands what they’re going through. I was honored to use this platform. What other way to do it than to just jump right in?
Charly, I’m so glad you’re here and healthy. How did that health setback change things for you? It must have been harrowing to get that audition tape in at the last minute.
CB: Oh my gosh, it was a rollercoaster. I truly did not think that I was going to audition because I could not function. I couldn’t walk. My mom was my caretaker for two weeks. I really don’t know how I was able to send in my initial audition. It was mind over body. I prayed so hard. I did put my body through pretty much hell and back for that video, but it was worth it because it led me here. This is what I’ve always wanted—to be a part of this team. I’m great now. It was a long journey and a lot of blood thinners, but we’re all good.
Kelly, I loved that part in the docuseries at the Omni hotel when you check in to make sure Charly is taking her blood thinners.
KELLY VILLARES: I witnessed her health crisis firsthand. I was there when she thought she just had a fever. We were in this together from the beginning.
CB: She took me to urgent care.
KV: I did. We thought she had a cold, the fever, the flu, or COVID at first. Yeah, I was there through it all.
I loved seeing how your friendship grew after your initial rookie tryout and how you trained together to be ready for the next year.
KV: She was my right hand through this entire process. I pushed her every step of the way, just like she pushed me. I said, “we’re gonna get through this together.”
Kelly, your dad crying when you told him you made the team made me cry. What does it mean to your family that you achieved your dream?
KV: It became their collective dream. It was like they were going through this journey with me. They saw me go from my best to my worst, and they wanted me to make the team just as badly as I wanted it. My dad was like, “we did it.” He’s living through me and it was the sweetest thing. They’re my biggest supporters, and I thank them every day for it.
Speaking of support, I want to talk about Chandi. Jada, you are obviously very close with her. How were you there for her when she was going through her issues this season? How is she doing today?
JM: Honestly, I’ve been through a lot in life and I’ve learned to forgive people for their mistakes. She’s a human being and she deserves the grace that we all merit. I just always checked in with her. I would send her texts, saying “text me, call me, we can talk about it.” I wanted to make sure she knew she was still an important person on this team. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are 36 women, not 35, and there was no way that we were just going to kick her to the curb and let her be on her own. She was and still is an important member of this organization.
I think she felt comfortable reaching out to me. We did get to the point where we could laugh about. It was a serious situation, but you have to move on and continue with life. That’s the best way to handle things. She’s doing better now, and she’s retiring as well. She’s excited for what’s next in her life, and we’re excited for her too. This was an important chapter of her life, but I think there’s more out there for her.
Armani and Jada, how is life after DCC? Is there life after DCC? Can you give us an update on how you’re doing?
JM: [Laughs] We hope there is life after DCC! This is such a special part of the lives of everyone who wears the uniform. At some point, it does have to come to an end. That’s the bittersweet part of it all. However, we can say we did it, and then we get to live another chapter of life and see what comes after it. We still have big goals for ourselves and things we both want to achieve. I’m looking forward giving those things more time.
AL: I agree. I also can’t wait to cheer on the girls who are re-auditioning for this year. We have a lot of friends on the team. I can’t want to support them. It’s a rewarding process, watching all of the incoming rookies who will one day put on the boots themselves.
Last question, in honor of the Omni girls, what are your Taco Bell orders?
KV: I love a Crunchwrap Supreme.
CB: A Crunchwrap Supreme or just like a basic taco and a Baja Blast.
JM: Cheesy bean and rice burrito. I do love Taco Bell.
AL: I like the new chicken bowl, the Cantina Chicken Bowl.
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.