Sampaio proudly noted the performance is the first NFL halftime show headlined by two openly LGBTQ+ men. “The intensity of the crowd in Brazil when it comes to sports and music…it’s explosive,” Martin added. “Listen, I love Germany, I love Australia, I love everybody, everything’s beautiful. But I’m sorry, this is going to be the best. I’m unapologetic about that!”
To choreograph the show, Sampaio enlisted Parris Goebel, whose credits include Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna, as well as artistic direction for Vogue World: Paris in 2024. In her first collaboration with a Brazilian artist, Goebel blended the DCC’s crisp formations with funk, samba, hip-hop, twerking, and the voguing of Brazil’s ballroom scene.
On game day, the cheerleaders arrived five hours early for a full run-through of their routines. In Dallas, they perform on artificial turf in a climate-controlled stadium. In Rio, they’d need to shift their weight to their toes to dance on grass. The hot, humid, occasionally windy weather called for beauty adjustments, too. “Less lip gloss!” Charly said, while Kylie layered extra liquid foundation over her usual combination of liquid and powder.
Their rotating spots along the sidelines also give the cheerleaders a front-row view of game-day fashion, and they’re always watching for new trends. In Rio, they even spotted homemade DCC uniforms, Madie said.
For her first NFL game, influencer and entrepreneur Virginia Fonseca—who has more than 55 million followers on Instagram—wore a custom corset made from deconstructed Nike soccer cleats, with oversized jeans, a pink Hermès Kelly, mirrored wraparound sunglasses, and bracelets by Cartier and Jacob & Co. “I love seeing people move beyond simply following what’s popular and start developing their own identity,” she said of game-day style.
Watching their teammate Jenna Waller provide sign language interpretation for the U.S. national anthem, was another highlight for the DCC squad. By the time the lights dimmed for the halftime show, Sampaio and Martin made good on their promise. Their six-minute megamix included “Sequência Feiticeira,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and the debut of their new duet, “Pikito Pikito.” Sampaio, sporting a glossy green jacket, even piloted a human jet ski assembled from his dancers as the beats of “JETSKI” rang out.