NFL cheerleaders reveal the best and worst parts of their job

After a deluge of negative headlines about the treatment of NFL cheerleaders, we wanted to hear from the women who have actually done the job. In 2014, the Oakland Raiders settled a class action lawsuit alleging wage theft for $1.25 million.  This year, the New York Times has released myriad reports of alleged harassment and discrimination among the NFL cheerleading ranks, including a alarming account from a group of Washington Redskins cheerleaders who described a trip to Costa Rica where they were allegedly ordered to be "personal escorts" for a group of V.I.P. sponsors and fans at a local nightclub. The women we talked to appear to have had overwhelmingly positive experiences during their time as cheerleaders, and they spoke candidly about the questions surrounding compensation, social media, and rules about interacting with players causing controversy throughout the league. If you have worked as an NFL cheerleader and you want to share your story, please email gflanagan@businessinsider.com