Cheer on the fame, pressure and World Cup fever of the Dallas Cowboys

Five, six, seven, eight… America’s sweaters are back.

Season three of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) docs has dropped on Netflix and this time the stakes — and stakes — are higher than ever.

The program has turned the American football fans into celebrities in their own right, joining the groups in viral moments and dramas.

BBC Newsbeat caught up with stars who signed up, including Klein Powell and Megan McElanney, to find out what the spotlight means to them.

The latest shows America’s Sweethearts talking about their newfound fame after leaving the previous seasons with the troubled group.

“It was really crazy,” Powell said when Newsbeat asked about the show’s viral success.

“I think it’s had a positive impact, not just on the world of dance and athletics, but on the world at large in how we integrate our lives into this dance and joy show,” she said.

Early seasons of the show focused on a rigorous selection process to become a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys – a job that attracts young women from across America.

Viewers often see team director Kelly Fingles giving blunt, sometimes harsh comments to veterans and new recruits.

But, according to the coach, that hasn’t stopped hopefuls from applying and this year is the first year the team has been considered a tryout by those who have seen America’s Sweethearts.

It’s no secret that exposure on the show can benefit individuals, opening them up to influencer contracts and product deals.

But, Powell said, new cheerleaders must come for the right reasons.

“It means that people who want to be friends and teammates are the ones who come in first and do all these selfish things,” she says.

“We want people who can be friends and sisters and someone you can call on a bad day to help lift your spirits.”