Kayla Nicole On ‘Struggles’ She Faced While Dating Travis Kelce

Three years after their break up, Kayla Nicole revealed the challenges of relationship knowledgeable athlete and the way the expertise formed her.

The sports activities journalist and the Chiefs tight finish first made their romance public in 2017, simply months after Kelce ended his relationship with mannequin Maya Benberry.

Their relationship shortly gained consideration when Nicole, after sending Kelce a direct message on Instagram, accompanied him to Jeremy Maclin’s wedding ceremony. The next 12 months, the couple continued making public appearances, strolling the crimson carpet collectively on the ESPY Awards and attending the Children’ Selection Sports activities Awards.

Nonetheless, their relationship was not with out its challenges. In 2020, they briefly break up amid rumors of infidelity, which Kelce later denied. Regardless of reuniting, the couple finally referred to as it quits for good in Could 2022, marking the tip of their five-year, on-again, off-again romance.

Since their breakup, Kelce has moved on with international famous person Taylor Swift, a high-profile romance that has introduced Nicole sudden waves of on-line criticism.

In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Nicole opened up about how relationship an athlete affected her identification and profession.

Whereas celebrating her victory on “Particular Forces: World’s Hardest Take a look at,” she shared that successful the extreme actuality competitors was notably significant as a result of she achieved it by means of her “personal grit and grind.”

“My success has been attributed to folks that I used to be in shut proximity to,” Nicole defined. “That is one thing that occurs to girls on a regular basis, particularly in leisure and public fields.”

Nicole additionally made it clear that she by no means embraced the frequent time period for companions {of professional} athletes: “I by no means referred to myself as a W.A.G. [Wives and Girlfriends],” she said. “Docs’ wives do not name themselves D.A.G.s … I do not know why that even turned a factor except for the TV present, however I get it.”

Nicole additionally detailed the challenges that include being in a relationship with a professional athlete, from demanding schedules to frequent journey.

“I believe relationship an athlete is a alternative and could be a problem for any lady as a result of their schedules require loads,” she defined. “Particularly if it is lengthy distance, and you end up placing your personal targets and desires on the again burner to assist theirs.”

She admitted that discovering that stability was a battle that finally formed her perspective transferring ahead.

Whereas Nicole has confronted public scrutiny within the wake of Kelce’s new romance, she continues to carve out her personal path, specializing in her profession and private development moderately than being outlined by her previous relationship.

Critics have accused Nicole of looking for validation, with one consumer writing, “Why do you search a lot validation from posting your self like this?” One other added, “Not all males wish to see pores and skin on social media of their future spouse.”

Regardless of the relentless commentary, Nicole has not shied away from responding. In a single occasion, she fired again at a very harsh troll on X, the social media platform previously often known as Twitter, retweeting a sarcastic comment about her look with the caption, “YOU WILL NEVER MAKE ME HATE ME. Cling it upppppppp bookie.”

In October 2023, Nicole addressed the continuing backlash in an open letter, acknowledging the “embarrassment” and scrutiny she has confronted since Kelce moved on with Swift. “Protect your coronary heart even once they attempt to quantify your character and check your boundaries,” she wrote. “You don’t have to reply. As a result of there’s energy in your silence.”

One 12 months later, in October 2024, the sports activities commentator appeared on “Unapologetically Angel,” a podcast hosted by WNBA star Angel Reese, the place she spoke in regards to the overwhelming negativity she continues to endure.

“I might be mendacity if I stated that that stage of hate and simply, like, on-line chaos did not affect me. It does. Even to today,” Nicole admitted. “You possibly can go to my most up-to-date submit, and will probably be individuals debating one another why I’m nugatory, and I will by no means be a gifted particular person, and I’ve no profession.”

Later that month, Nicole turned emotional whereas discussing the backlash she faced after showing on Reese’s podcast. Throughout an episode of I Am Athlete, she mirrored on how her phrases had been interpreted and the response that adopted.

“I assumed that I dealt with issues with grace,” she stated, holding again tears. “I answered the inquiries to the perfect of my capability.” Nonetheless, Nicole acknowledged that the general public had “their interpretation of issues,” which solely intensified the criticism directed at her.