Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Victoria Kalina, who was one of the breakout stars of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts, revealed just how difficult it was for her to watch to hit show.
The 24-year-old even admitted that she walked out during a screening of the docuseries, which highlighted the the cheerleaders’ pitiful pay and harsh working conditions.
‘It had a very hard effect on me,’ she told The Times in an interview published Friday.
Kalina, whose mother was on the squad in the 80s, said she left an early presentation of the show after watching a scene where her stamina was derided by the squad’s notoriously ruthless coaches.
Her mom, Tina, has refused to watch the series altogether.
Ex-Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Victoria Kalina said it was difficult to watch the Netflix show
She was among the breakout stars of America’s Sweethearts, which dropped last month
‘[It’s] obviously hard for her to see as a mother: her baby hurting and being treated that way. So I think she’s going to need to just process through all of that, before she can watch the show,’ Kalina said.
She also likened her tenure on the team to an abusive relationship, adding, ‘I think I did lose some of my love of dance … if you’re giving, giving, giving so much and it’s not being reciprocated — what’s the point?’
It comes a few weeks after Mail Sport spoke exclusively to one ex-DCC member, who lifted the lid on the ‘dark side’ of the ‘toxic’ environment, in which the dancers are treated poorly and viewed as ‘expendable’.
‘You get hooked on the sisterhood of it all,’ the former cheerleader told us.
‘You really fall in love with the girls, they’re your best friends. But we all joke that we’re trauma bonded because of the things we’ve been through.’
Despite being the wealthiest sports franchise in the world, valued at around $5billion, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders earn a salary comparable to that of a fast food worker.
The Netflix series, ‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ spotlights the group
One ex-DCC member revealed there was a ‘dark side’ to the ‘toxic’ environment at the team
Most DCC members earn about the same amount as a full-time Chick-Fil-A employee
Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer and daughter of billionaire owner Jerry Jones, claimed the dancers aren’t motivated by money when they join the DCC.
‘They actually don’t come here for the money. They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them,’ she said in the first episode of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts.
The lowest paid Cowboys player makes $795,000, while quarterback Dak Prescott has a contract valued at $160million.
By contrast, the cheerleader we spoke to earned between $15,000 and $22,000 per year while part of the DCC.
‘It’s very insulting to see someone in such a high position talk about the fact we’re in it for something bigger than ourselves,’ the ex-cheerleader said in response to Charlotte’s comments.
‘We love the job of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. However, I believe if you want elite dancers, you have to give elite compensation.
‘We’re all athletes, we’re all incredible performers … the problem is that they will have women lining up every single year willing to do it for less.’