What Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Learned from Dating a Famous Athlete

Kayla Nicole, the former girlfriend of Travis Kelce, recently discussed some of the significant lessons she has gained from being in a relationship with someone who is in the limelight.

On her new podcast, “The Pre-Game with Kayla Nicole,” the social media influencer shared insights about dating, relationships, and when she plans to share more about her romantic life with her followers.

Nicole, aged 33, and Kelce, aged 35, initially started their relationship in 2017 after exchanging flirty messages on Instagram over several months. They had an on-again, off-again relationship before officially breaking up in 2022.

Sometime after their breakup, Kelce began his relationship with popstar Taylor Swift, which certainly brought a ton of unwanted attention to Nicole, who is currently working as a content creator and on-air sports media personality.

After a fan asked Nicole a question about dating men in the public eye, the podcaster likened herself to the WWE superstar John Cena.

“You don’t see me. You don’t see me with a man, and you will never see me with a man until I’m married with kids. Scout’s honor,” she said.

Nicole, who has admitted to receiving much hate since Swift and Kelce went public, acknowledged that hiding her partner from the outside world could seem shady. However, she explained her reasoning and said it was to keep them out of harm’s way.

“I’m protecting me, and I’m protecting you,” she explained. “I don’t think I ever want to publicly date another man until I am absolutely sure that they are my long-term person just because I want to protect the things that mean the most to me.”

While appearing on the latest season of Fox’s “Special Forces,” Nicole told her co-stars how “overwhelming” her breakup from Kelce was for her.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” she said before saying she gets “a lot of, like, sh-t, because [Kelce] is dating such a mega-superstar.”

Later, Nicole, who also dealt with infidelity rumors during her relationship with Kelce, explained another reason why she doesn’t plan on letting the public into her bedroom again, saying being “too open” can create entitlement issues.

“People want answers, people think that you owe them an explanation about every single thing in your relationship, every up and down and happy or sad moment,” she said. “I just want to be able to love without the pressure.”

Nicole didn’t reveal whether she’s dating anyone exclusively; however, she teased that she was “out here … dating and hiding.”

“I’m the queen of a private room and a back room and a corner closet, and I have no shame in it,” she expressed. “And honestly, to each his own. But for me, I feel like it’s working right now. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

During a previous interview, Nicole reflected on her victory during “Special Forces,” a demanding training exercise led by directing staff agents and an elite team of ex-Special Forces operatives. According to her, she won through her “own grit and grind,” which she didn’t want to go unnoticed.

“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.”

She also detailed the specific challenges that come from dating athletes, especially one as talented as Kelce, who’s won three Super Bowl championships.

“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.”

On Angel Reese’s podcast, “Unapologetically Angel,” Nicole opened up to the WNBA star about how the hate she gets from social media users impacts her well-being.

“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,” she said in October 2024.

“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.”