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

Three years after their split, Kayla Nicole revealed the challenges of dating a professional athlete and how the experience shaped her.

The sports journalist and the Chiefs tight end first made their romance public in 2017, just months after Kelce ended his relationship with model Maya Benberry.

Their relationship quickly gained attention when Nicole, after sending Kelce a direct message on Instagram, accompanied him to Jeremy Maclin’s wedding. The following year, the couple continued making public appearances, walking the red carpet together at the ESPY Awards and attending the Kids’ Choice Sports Awards.

However, their relationship was not without its challenges. In 2020, they briefly split amid rumors of infidelity, which Kelce later denied. Despite reuniting, the couple ultimately called it quits for good in May 2022, marking the end of their five-year, on-again, off-again romance.

Since their breakup, Kelce has moved on with global superstar Taylor Swift, a high-profile romance that has brought Nicole unexpected waves of online criticism.

In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Nicole opened up about how dating an athlete affected her identity and career.

While celebrating her victory on “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” she shared that winning the intense reality competition was particularly meaningful because she achieved it through her “own grit and grind.”

“My success has been attributed to people that I was in close proximity to,” Nicole explained. “That’s something that happens to women all the time, especially in entertainment and public fields.”

Nicole also made it clear that she never embraced the common term for partners of professional athletes: “I never referred to myself as a W.A.G. [Wives and Girlfriends],” she stated. “Doctors’ wives don’t call themselves D.A.G.s … I don’t know why that even became a thing aside from the TV show, but I get it.”

Nicole also detailed the challenges that come with being in a relationship with a pro athlete, from demanding schedules to frequent travel.

“I think dating an athlete is a choice and can be a challenge for any woman because their schedules require a lot,” she explained. “Especially if it’s long distance, and you find yourself putting your own goals and dreams on the back burner to support theirs.”

She admitted that finding that balance was a struggle that ultimately shaped her perspective moving forward.

While Nicole has faced public scrutiny in the wake of Kelce’s new romance, she continues to carve out her own path, focusing on her career and personal growth rather than being defined by her past relationship.

Critics have accused Nicole of seeking validation, with one user writing, “Why do you seek so much validation from posting yourself like this?” Another added, “Not all men want to see skin on social media in their future wife.”

Despite the relentless commentary, Nicole has not shied away from responding. In one instance, she fired back at a particularly harsh troll on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, retweeting a sarcastic remark about her appearance with the caption, “YOU WILL NEVER MAKE ME HATE ME. Hang it upppppppp bookie.”

In October 2023, Nicole addressed the ongoing backlash in an open letter, acknowledging the “embarrassment” and scrutiny she has faced since Kelce moved on with Swift. “Preserve your heart even when they try to quantify your character and test your boundaries,” she wrote. “You do not have to respond. Because there is power in your silence.”

One year later, in October 2024, the sports commentator appeared on “Unapologetically Angel,” a podcast hosted by WNBA star Angel Reese, where she spoke about the overwhelming negativity she continues to endure.

“I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and just, like, online chaos didn’t impact me. It does. Even to this day,” Nicole admitted. “You can go to my most recent post, and it will be people debating each other why I am worthless, and I’ll never be a talented person, and I have no career.”

Later that month, Nicole became emotional while discussing the backlash she faced after appearing on Reese’s podcast. During an episode of I Am Athlete, she reflected on how her words were interpreted and the reaction that followed.

“I thought that I handled things with grace,” she said, holding back tears. “I answered the questions to the best of my ability.” However, Nicole acknowledged that the public had “their interpretation of things,” which only intensified the criticism directed at her.