Watching a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performance tends to leave fans feeling more than a bit thunderstruck.
Between the choreography dreamt up by longtime director Kelli Finglass, head choregrapher Judy Trammell and their team of dance pros, kicks that come dangerously close to the athletes’ noses and a jump split that even leaves onlookers wincing in pain, well, there’s a reason the 36-person squad—currently starring on the second season of America’s Sweethearts on Netflix—is often imitated, never equaled.
“It’s hard,” second-year vet Kennedy Hannan acknowledged to E! News, appearing at Netflix’s Tudum global fan event May 31 alongside teammates Kelee Norris, Madeline Salter and Megan McElaney. “It’s physically demanding, mentally tough and just knowing that you get to do it alongside incredible women that are doing the same exact thing, it really pushes you to the end.”
As does a sensible diet plan heavy on the healthy carbs and protein.
“I will say a misconception is we don’t fuel ourselves enough,” Megan acknowledged of the supposed pressure to fit into a fairly unforgiving star-spangled uniform. “But we really like to eat, so high-protein is our best friend. And some carbohydrates.”