Meet Kayla Nicole, the former girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The power couple dated for five years, kicking off their relationship in 2017. During that time Kelce made a name for himself with Kansas City in the NFL, while Nicole followed her passion as a TV personality.
The couple’s split in May of 2022 sparked rumors about the pair’s final straw, including financial troubles that Kelce has vehemently denied.
Kelce has since taken the media by storm after debuting his relationship with mega popstar Taylor Swift.
Despite being linked to Kelce, Nicole demonstrates her talents from her social media presence, pursuing a career in broadcasting and being a mental health advocate.
She’s an influencer
With almost 750,000 followers on Instagram, Nicole posts content for all audiences, yet remains authentic to the brand voice she’s built.
Amid Kelce’s new relationship with Taylor Swift, Nicole got the brunt of the backlash from online trolls.
Nicole shared a open letter to Black girls, saying she aims to use her platform to unite and elevate women of color.
She also uses her platform to promote body positivity and wellness through her fitness brand, Tribe Therepē. Through the launch of the brand she has been able to continue her advocacy for the benefits of mental health.
She cited her breakup with Kelce as one of the main reasons for starting the brand, recalling her sudden weight loss and failing to take care of herself properly.
In addition to using her platform for her own brands, she shares her modeling experiences and is an ambassador for several fashion brands, including Revolve, Crocs and Savage X Fenty.
She’s been an on-air talent
Nicole has had her hand in several different hosting and reporting roles.
In the sports world she’s worked for Lakers TV, Barstool Sports and ESPN. Additionally, she worked at CBS Radio / 92.3 NOW New York.
She had the opportunity to interview Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler and Jason Mantzoukas for Global Grind during their 2017 press tour for “The House.” She also interviewed Sterling K. Brown during his 2019 press tour for “Angry Bird 2.”
She started dating Travis in 2017
Her seemingly on-and-off again relationship with Travis Kelce first kindled when the record-breaking tight end was “insta-flirting” with the model for several months.
Nicole made the first move — virtually.
After months of double taps and story responses, she DM’d Kelce on New Years Eve with the help of some liquid courage and her friends, according to TMZ.
In August of 2020, fans speculated a breakup between the pair as Nicole deleted all the photos of the athlete off of her Instagram.
Kelce then confirmed the pair had gone their separate ways, but denied any cheating rumors.
Several months later Kelce laid the “girlfriend” status back onto Nicole during an Instagram live.
In May of 2022 the couple broke up for good.
A report from Barstool Sports claimed that Nicole broke up with Kelce because “he was cheap” and made Nicole “pay for half of everything.” However, Kelce debunked the claim during an interview with “The Pivot” Podcast in January 2023.
Nicole also unfollowed Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany on Instagram.
Although Nicole publicly cut ties with the pair she said that Brittany Mahomes knows she “still has love for her.”
Pepperdine University grad
Nicole graduated from Pepperdine University in 2013— and isn’t afraid to remind her followers.
“Friendly reminder I have a bachelors degree in broadcast journalism,” she captioned an Instagram post in 2018.
With a love for sports and entertainment before dating the eight-time Pro Bowler, she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism.
She often shares her journalistic accomplishments to social media.
“Hosting is where my heart is” she wrote to Instagram.