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A Visual History Of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

See just how the squad (and that iconic uniform) has evolved.
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders line up near the field during Superbowl XII against the Denver Broncos at the Lousiana Superdome on January 15, 1978
Image: Focus On Sport / Getty

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are the NFL’s most iconic cheer squad.

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Not only are they representatives of the Texan team, but icons of Americana and beacons of pop culture as well. The troupe’s evolution, influence, successes and shortcomings are explored in a 2024 Netflix docuseries, America’s Sweethearts—the streamer’s series is by no means to thank for DCC’s fame.

The team’s popularity soared thanks to a single moment in 1976, when cheerleader Gwenda Swearingen looked directly into the camera during a game and winked. The frenzy never crashed, largely due to the Dallas Cowboys’ clever marketing strategies and, arguably, the rules enforced by choreographer Texie Waterman in 1972, director Suzanne Mitchell from 1976 to 1989, and current director Kelli Finglass.

A significant part of DCC’s branding is its iconic uniform, which has remained almost exactly the same since the 1950s. Scroll on to revisit the visual history of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (and their famous uniform) by way of striking vintage photos.

Image: Bettmann

c. 1950s

The Dallas Cowboys in their famous kick line some time during the 1950s.

Image: Getty

1974

Cheering from the side lines at a game in 1974, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders wear a skivvy and fringes skirt instead of their now-iconic uniform.

four dallas cowboys cheerleaders cheer for their team in the 1976 Super Bowl in Miami
Image: Bettmann / Getty

1976

Four women cheer on their team at the 1976 Super Bowl in Miami, the same year they rose to fame.

Micheling Austin, Connie Dolan, Denise Doran, Michele Vaughn, Shannon Baker promotional photo for the ABC Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders tv series 'The 36 Most Beautiful Girls in Texas
Image: Walt Disney Television Photo Archives

1978

Cheerleaders Micheling Austin, Connie Dolan, Denise Doran, Michele Vaughn, Shannon Baker pose for a promotional photo for the ABC Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders TV special, The 36 Most Beautiful Girls in Texas.

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: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Baltimore Colts at Dallas Cowboys, at Texas Stadium on the ABC Sports tv series 'Monday Night Football'.
Image: Walt Disney Television Photo Archives

1978

Cheering on the Cowboys during a game against the Baltimore Colts.

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders at Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints game.
Image: ABC Photo Archives / Getty

1984

The hair was certainly bigger back then but those iconic uniforms have mostly remained the same!

Image: ABC Photo Archives

1985

Before the pom poms got an injection of glitter!

The famnous jump splity at the The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform prior to Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17.
Image: Getty

1993

The cheerleaders demonstrate their famous jump split during a performance prior to Super Bowl XXVII in California in 1993. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17. 

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The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders perform on the tonight show with jay leno January 25, 1996
Image: NBC

1996

The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders perform on an episode of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

Image: Getty

2000

Even with the turn of the millennium, that uniform stayed the same!

Image: Getty

2004

The cheerleaders wait in the tunnel, preparing to take to the field before a game.

allas Cowboy Cheerleaders perform at a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Texas Stadium on August 9, 2007 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys won 23-10.
Image: Getty

2007

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform at a home game.

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Image: Icon Sports Wire

2010

Celebrating their team’s win against the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Wild-Card game.

Image: Getty

2015

Members of the squad backstage with Steven Tyler at the 50th Country Music Awards.

Victoria Kalina and kelcey wetterberg from the dallas cowboys cheerleaders in 2019
Image: Getty

2019

 Victoria Kalina and Kelcey Wetterberg (centre and right), who would later both appear in Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts, perform at a game in 2019.

a dallas cowboys cheerleader with a small afro wears a blue cropped short, white vest, white shorts and white boots; she holds silver and blue pom poms
Image: Getty

2024

The most recent version of the DCC uniform features extra diamantes and specially-made performance boots.

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