Glamazon women?

Reality TV has not had a good summer. Married at First Sight has been in the media for all the wrong reasons. Despite this, Netflix has brought us the third season of its megahit America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

The show follows the iconic cheerleading squad as potential members navigate auditions, training camp, and then the ups and downs of the (American) football season. Series One was a breakout hit in 2024, Series Two showed us the women fighting to unionise, despite their highly controlled environment, in an attempt to secure better pay (spoiler: they succeeded!) Series Three holds up a mirror to the new-found fame the team have – now they are globally famous Netflix stars, with all the scrutiny and social-media horrors that this brings. It’s a damning portrayal of how social media can provide an ugly forum for the harsh judgement of others, encouraging us to see commodity over humanity.

The media itself can be pretty scathing about this show and these women. “Vacuous” is one adjective used. On Mumsnet it is called a “guilty pleasure”. After all, this is a world where pom-pom placement matters, where a ponytail is a topic of international debate (literally, its owner hails from New Zealand). But actually watching the show itself, not just clicking on clips or criticisms, it is hard not to be impressed by the sheer industriousness of the women depicted. The amount of effort put in to look effortless is staggering. The athleticism is incredible, the fitness required impressive, the attention to detail in the way they have to present themselves… They must look hyper-feminine at all times, a contrast to the football players bulky masculinity. Every single rehearsal in a Dallas summer so hot it makes our heatwaves look nominal still requires them to do full hair and make-up.