Netflix's hit sports documentary America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is set to return for its third season. The hugely popular series follows the journeys of veteran and rookie cheerleaders who join forces to support the most iconic team in NFL history.
Under the guidance of senior director Kelli Finglass and head choreographer Judy Trammell, the women of DCC endure punishing training regimes, interpersonal drama, mental health struggles and relentless scrutiny from supporters and the media. While for the majority of them it is entirely worthwhile to deliver a thrilling performance throughout the NFL season, a number of veterans have chosen to call it quits due to the demands of training or even controversies.
Let's examine the most significant DCC departures featured in the second season and what each of them are doing now.
Chandi Dayle
Six-year veteran Chandi took a mental health break from her leadership position following a contentious team trip to the Bahamas. After violating protocol by inviting an unidentified man back to her hotel room, Chandi was placed on a leave of absence. While she did make a brief return to the squad, it wasn't in a leadership capacity and she subsequently announced her decision not to return to DCC at the conclusion of season two.
Now going by Chandi McCright (Dayle is her middle name), she has returned to her alma mater of the University of Arizona to work as an assistant coach for the Arizona Pomline dance team, according to her Instagram page. She was originally a captain and four-year member of the team before joining the Dallas Cowboys squad.
KayDianna Garza
Another firm fan favourite was KayDianna, who spent four years at DCC before hanging up her boots. She was also caught up in Chandi's scandal during series two, stepping up as Group 1's First Leader while Chandi was on leave. However, after making veiled comments regarding Chandi's exit on TikTok Live, DCC staff launched an investigation into her for bullying and harassment, ultimately choosing to suspend her. She subsequently announced her permanent departure in an Instagram post in April 2025.
Away from DCC, KayDianna runs her own dance mentorship venture, KayDianna MacKenzie - Coaching & Choreography, as well as hosting her own podcast, KayDianna's Korner, which launched in May last year.
Armani Latimer
One of the most powerful moments in America's Sweethearts series two came courtesy of Armani's farewell performance, after the five-year veteran opened up candidly about her health struggles. Having been diagnosed with alopecia, she courageously chose to share her condition with the world by dancing without a wig. She also played a pivotal role in the DCC squad's battle for equal pay throughout series two.
She hung up her boots at the close of the 2024-25 season to chase new ventures, including enrolling in law school. Armani also took to the stage as a speaker at the 40th annual National Alopecia Areata Foundation conference in Chicago. As of June 2025, she remains committed to sitting the LSAT exam and pursuing a career in law, but revealed to Bustle she is still "holding opportunities for anything else that comes".
Jada Mclean
Another seasoned member who chose to call it a day is Jada, a much-loved figure within the squad for five years. She also played a pivotal role in DCC's push for fair pay, but disclosed to her Instagram followers that retiring after five years had always been part of her plan. "It's time to take off those boots and hand those poms over to someone else," Jada told fans on TikTok. Nevertheless, she has kept the door ajar for a potential comeback to DCC as an All-Star performer.
As for life after DCC, Jada has been making the most of her newfound freedom, enjoying holidays, attending a friend's wedding, and celebrating a special wedding anniversary party for her parents last month. She has also set her sights on a career in modelling and has been leveraging her sizeable social media following to secure paid partnerships as an influencer.
Amanda Howard
Three-year veteran Amanda unfortunately didn't part ways with DCC on as positive a note as Jada, having experienced significant clashes with directors Kelli and Judy. Opening up about her time as a "rotating rookie" in an Instagram post in 2025, she disclosed she was crowned Rookie of the Year following what proved to be the "most stressful year" of her career.
Her subsequent two seasons with DCC were riddled with further obstacles, and during season two of the Netflix series she confided in Kelli to question whether she was being purposefully passed over. Kelli reassured her this wasn't the situation, but fans were left shocked when Amanda eventually decided to retire her uniform. She now works full-time as a social media influencer, concentrating on fashion and lifestyle alongside Christianity and fitness.
America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders season 3 releases Tuesday, 16th June on Netflix.
