In a growing wave of frustration and protest, the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders have come forward with serious allegations regarding pay disparities, poor working conditions, and a lack of adequate support from the organization. These grievances have sparked outrage among current and former squad members, as well as fans, leading to mounting calls for change in the way professional cheerleaders are treated by major sports teams.
One of the primary issues driving the discontent among the Dolphins cheerleaders is what they claim is a significant pay gap between their roles and those of other team personnel. According to multiple sources within the squad, the cheerleaders receive far less compensation than other staff members who perform comparable duties in terms of time commitment, effort, and visibility.
While the Dolphins cheerleaders perform at every home game and take part in promotional events, community outreach, and media appearances, they are reportedly paid a fraction of what their male counterparts on the football team receive, even though their work often generates significant fan engagement and social media buzz.
Several cheerleaders have revealed that they receive a flat fee per game, with additional payments for special appearances or promotional events. However, many say that this pay structure fails to account for the hours of practice, travel, and preparation required outside of game day. On top of that, many cheerleaders report being expected to maintain strict physical appearances, sometimes under challenging circumstances, without adequate compensation for the emotional or physical toll that comes with the job.
In a statement, one former cheerleader spoke on condition of anonymity, explaining: “We do so much more than what people see on the field. The pressure to stay in shape year-round, the hours of rehearsal, and the constant public scrutiny — it’s exhausting. And to be paid so little for all of that… it just doesn’t feel right.”
In addition to concerns about pay, several cheerleaders have voiced complaints about the working conditions within the organization. Some have described feeling undervalued, ignored, or even mistreated by team management.
“We’re often treated as second-class citizens compared to the players,” one current cheerleader said. “There are times when we aren’t even given proper access to team facilities or the same level of respect. Our needs are often overlooked in favor of the players’ comfort.”
Another issue raised is the apparent lack of adequate healthcare or support for the cheerleaders, despite the physically demanding nature of their job. Unlike many professional athletes, cheerleaders are not always offered comprehensive health insurance or access to physical therapy for injuries sustained while performing. Some squad members have claimed to have suffered injuries that were ignored or downplayed by management, leading to feelings of neglect and frustration.
“At the end of the day, we’re athletes too,” said one former cheerleader. “We have to jump, dance, and perform in front of thousands of fans, and when something goes wrong, it feels like we’re left to fend for ourselves.”
As the expectations on professional cheerleaders continue to grow, many feel that the Dolphins organization has failed to match those demands with adequate resources, compensation, and support. The squad’s commitments extend far beyond game day, often requiring cheerleaders to attend community events, conduct charity work, and appear in media campaigns — all while balancing personal lives, school, or other jobs.
In recent years, the pressure on cheerleaders to maintain a social media presence has also intensified, with many squads now encouraging or even requiring their members to post regularly on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. This added demand often comes with little to no additional pay or recognition, adding to the overall burden on these women.
“There’s a lot of pressure to be perfect — not just in how we perform, but in how we look and act online,” one cheerleader noted. “It’s exhausting trying to keep up with that while still managing everything else in my life.”
The lack of adequate compensation for these additional expectations has led to increased frustration among the squad, with some even questioning whether the Dolphins organization truly values the cheerleaders’ contributions. The lack of transparency regarding how the team allocates resources for the cheerleading squad compared to other areas of the organization has also fueled these concerns.
As the situation grows more intense, cheerleaders from across the NFL have rallied together to push for better working conditions, fairer pay, and more respect from team management. The Dolphins cheerleaders have joined a broader movement in professional cheerleading, which has been gaining momentum in recent years as more attention is brought to issues of equity and fairness within the industry.
In recent weeks, several former cheerleaders have spoken publicly about their experiences, calling for changes to how NFL teams treat their cheerleading squads. Some have even suggested that the time has come for cheerleaders to be treated as full-time employees, with benefits, fair wages, and job security.
“We deserve to be treated with the same respect as any other employee in the organization,” one former cheerleader said. “We put in the work, we represent the team, and we deserve to be fairly compensated for all that we do.”
For the Dolphins, these protests come at a time of increased public scrutiny of the NFL’s treatment of cheerleaders. The league has faced mounting criticism over how it compensates and supports cheerleaders, leading to some teams reevaluating their policies. In fact, some NFL teams have made strides in improving pay, benefits, and conditions for cheerleaders in recent years, but for many, the battle is far from over.
Fans of the Dolphins and the NFL at large are increasingly vocal in their support for the cheerleaders, with many expressing disappointment that such an iconic part of the game has been left to struggle in the shadows of professional sports.
For the cheerleaders, the fight is not just about money, but about respect and dignity within the workplace. As they push for change, they are demanding that their voices be heard — and that their hard work be valued just as much as the players they cheer for. Whether the Dolphins will listen to their calls remains to be seen, but for now, the cheerleaders are standing united, determined to rewrite the playbook for professional cheerleaders everywhere.