The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders fumbled the ball.
The disappointment after the 3rd episode that no one is talking about.
Hi Outlouders,
It’s Em Vernem here back in your inbox 🙋🏾♀️
Thank you for having me, it’s very cosy.
On Tuesday’s subscriber-only episode, Holly, Mia and Jessie discussed the number one Netflix show in Australia — America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC).
Personally, I couldn’t continue watching after the third episode.
No, it wasn’t because of the way they discussed the cheerleaders’ bodies, or how they barely get paid anything, or even how weird it was that this was the one thing these brilliant women wanted to be part of.
Although shocking, none of these things made me rage-quit the show.
It was when one of the rookie cheerleaders, Anisha was told that she wasn’t making the team…
Like myself, Anisha is of Indian descent and although we look nothing alike (she’s literally a Goddess), whenever I see someone with the same roots as me, being spotlighted in Western media… It does something to me.
Suddenly, I care so much about cheerleading. A tiny voice in my head goes “Wow, we actually can do it all.”
I remember getting the same feeling when I found out that Matilda’s star Sam Kerr also had Indian heritage or whenever I would watch re-runs of The Mindy Project.
Watching the world fall in love with someone who looks like me is one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced — And I know how sad that might sound. Growing up with harmful stereotypes that latched onto my culture has forced me to always make sure I’m doing the opposite of what is expected of me.
Not bringing curry for lunch because I’m afraid people will comment on how it smells, making sure not a single hair is visible on my upper lip or between my eyebrows, code-switching between my co-workers and my family… These are some of the many “quirks” I’ve adopted over time. Now, they feel like second nature, but they took years of mastering.
When people like Anisha are thrown into the spotlight and everyone loves her for it, it makes me feel like I can take a little break from this curated persona I’ve created for myself, because there is someone who looks like me and can now take the reigns on dispelling these stereotypes.
When that person leaves the spotlight, I can literally feel the work pile up on my lap again.
I do have good news though… Yesterday I brought in curry for lunch and guess what? No one commented on the smell.
I know what you’re thinking… “Of course they didn’t you weirdo.” Don’t worry, I’ll be talking about this with my therapist but thank you for allowing me to talk about it with you first. Little wins!
I wrote more about why I couldn’t continue watching America’s Sweethearts here.
Have a read and let me know what you think in the comments!
Em xx
OR, listen to the full episode about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders docuseries. Warning: Holly, Mia and Jessie do not hold back (grab the popcorn).
What you said 🏆
Sometimes I ask myself, “Am I the only one who cares about this?” I’m then swiftly proven wrong when I jump into the Outlouders group and stalk all of your thoughts. Here’s what some of you said about the DCC (that I lowkey wish I said first).
“As a dancer growing up into my early 20s, you've missed 1 very important reason why the girls do it. As a performer all you want is an opportunity to perform, they don't come very often and are for very few. It's a thrill you can't get from a class in the studio. Yes they should be paid more, but this is why everyone wants the job.” - Melanie.
“Parts of [the docoseries] were too weird for me. A strong religious undertone. The joyfulness at admitting these women don’t get paid and gloating at how many tvs are in that eyesore of a stadium/how much money the DCC bring in to the club. I did find myself ‘icking’ a lot through out.” - Bobbi.
“I watched it and really enjoyed it. Think it’s crazy how much time the cheerleaders give for so little, but they are choosing to do it knowing it’s not paid well. And if they walk away, there will always be another girl waiting to take the spot.” - Jodie.
Look out for my posts in the Facebook Group to have your say in the next newsletter.
From Jessie:
'Starting with the flight... Every mistake I made when I took my baby to Europe.'
There was a moment in a Dublin AirBnB at 1:30am in the morning or perhaps it was 3:45am — at that time of night who can know for sure — when my husband asked me "Are you alright?"
I was absolutely not alright. I hadn’t slept for more than a couple of hours at a time for maybe four days, and now our eleven-month-old seemed to have decided the day had begun despite me gesturing broadly at all the evidence to the contrary.
But that wasn’t why he was asking…
From Holly:
Why everyone is talking about Jill Biden. And most of them are furious with her.
A quiet hand on a sleeve.
A leaned-in whisper to a mottled ear.
A firm but kind soft word over a frothy cup of mid-morning coffee.
This is how, apparently, the Biden presidency should end. With his wife, Jill, telling Joe quietly what the internet is yelling at him loudly — that he's past it, senile, ancient, useless. Done.
"Joe, darling," she would say, presumably. "It's over."
And Joe Biden would simply hang his trembling chin in shame and embarrassment, and acquiesce. "Yes, darling, you're right, what have I been thinking? Pass me that modern portable phone computer thing.”
Weekly Reccos 📺 📖 🎧
Did we recommend something on the podcast that you said to yourself “Oooh, I’ll have to check that out,” only for you to forget exactly what that thing was? Don’t panic — I’ve got your back. Here is what Holly, Mia and Jessie recommended this week. Let us know in the Outlouders FB group what you think of these.
Jessie wants you to follow:
Gatekeepers of knowledge on Instagram. The account posts a weekly quiz every Friday afternoon that contains 15 questions and one discussion question that’s super engaging like “How would you prove that you’re not AI?” It’s such a fun little game to play if you’re hanging out with a group of people.
The best thing is that because it’s on Instagram, you can look back at previous posts if you can’t wait a full week for the next quiz.
Holly want you to listen to:
A podcast called ‘Who trolled Amber’ by Tortoise Media. It’s about the very public Amber Heard and Johnny Depp case that took place in 2022.
The podcast dives into whether or not the overwhelming social media coverage that came along and tore down Amber Heard during those trials were genuine or whether they were an organised campaign.
It investigates the question: Was this really about Amber Heard and Johnny Depp? Or was it a much bigger, sinister test case on what happens when a powerful entity wants to interfere with a public situation?
Mia wants you to partake in:
A clothes swap. We did this at Mamamia this week and Mia has also been doing it in her group chat with a few friends for a while now. It’s both sustainable and cheap. We didn’t just limit ourselves to clothes, we also swapped handbags, accessories and shoes.
For the clothes that didn’t end up being swapped, you can donate them! I personally got eight new outfits and I don’t care how egotistical this makes me sound… I’m a whole new woman.
For your “Yeehaw-ing” needs 🤠
The DCC is everywhere at the moment. Whether you’ve watched the show or just want to know all the juicy (read: messed up) details about what it takes to be a Cheerleader. Here are some more stories for you to get your eyes across:
'10 infuriating thoughts I had while watching America's Sweethearts.
Victoria is the breakout star of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. After filming, she quit the team.
'I got kicked in the face.' The reality of being a competitive cheerleader.
What do you mean you’re not a Mamamia subscriber yet? 🥺
If I’m falling behind on listening to the podcast (Mia if you’re reading this… soz not soz), I always end up listening to Tuesday’s and Thursday’s episodes first. It’s a bit more loose and casual while still discussing a topic that I either care about or become convinced to care about. This week we not only talked about the DCC but also discussed a listener dilemma… That “listener” being Jessie Stephens.
Subscribers not only get those two extra Out Loud episodes per week, but more exclusive Mamamia content as well. Get around it for $7.99 a month.
Shhh, don’t tell anyone that I’m showing you this 🤫
The making of a viral reel.
Do you follow Mamamia out loud on Instagram? If you don’t, well… I’m sorry to say, but you’re missing out on quality content like… this post.
Seriously though, I can’t stop watching the hosts (attempt to) high kick. I highly recommend you watch it at least three times so you can focus on a different person each re-watch. Luckily for all of us, I’ve managed to sneak in a little BTS video of the making of that masterpiece just for you. Happy cheering!
Mia tried to make shoe jewellery a thing 👠✨
This week, Mia’s shoes were very noisy in more ways than one.
Jessie recapped her day as a podcast host on her instagram and it’s safe to say that Mia’s shoes were definitely the main character.
I didn’t want to say this to her face, but I actually like the look of the shoe jewellery.
But wait, shoe-gate didn’t end there…
Please enjoy this gallery of Mia showing off her shoe jewellery, then forcing me to wear said shoe jewellery and as a last minute resort… Putting it on as a necklace.
After hearing some jingle-jangle during the podcast recording, our lovely producers have banned Mia from ever wearing any form of feet necklace ever again (it’s for the best).