TRAVIS Kelce hooked up with his ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole in 2017 after ‘Insta-stalking’ her.
Following the NFL tight end and Taylor Swift getting engaged, fans are keen to know more about Nicole and what she’s up to these days.
Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole dated on and off for five years[/caption]
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announced their engagement in an Instagram post[/caption]
Travis Kelce got down on one knee to propose to the biggest pop star in the world, photos posted to Taylor Swift’s Instagram on August 26 showed.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift wrote in a caption accompanying the sweet snaps.
She said yes after the Kansas City Chiefs superstar popped the big question, sending Swifties and football fans alike into a frenzy.
Kelce has since opened up about his excitement ahead of tying the knot with his true love.
He said on the New Heights Show: “I appreciate everybody who reached out.
“All the excitement going on has been really fun, telling everybody who I’m going to be spending the rest of my life with.”
So with the next chapter of his life truly underway, here’s everything you need to know about Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole.
Who is Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole?
Kayla Nicole was born on November 2, 1991, and has a background in sports media.
After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism from Pepperdine University in 2013, Nicole immediately jumped into work.
She has worked for publications such as the NBA, BET, Global Grind, HotNewHipHop, All Def Digital and Ballislife.
She has also worked as an on-camera host and regularly shared clips from past event coverage of games that involved the Los Angeles Lakers.
Additionally, Nicole has her own YouTube channel, as well as almost 850,000 followers on her Instagram, @iamkaylanicole, as of September 15, 2025.
She has also worked as a model and competed in beauty pageants in the past.
Nicole has worked as a brand ambassador for the Savage X Fenty brand by Rihanna.
How long did Travis and Kayla date?
The pair dated for about five years.
Nicole began dating NFL tight end Kelce on and off in 2017.
The couple first went public in May 2017 after attending former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin’s wedding.
At the 2020 Super Bowl, Nicole wore denim jeans and Kansas City Chiefs attire as she backed her boyfriend in the Chiefs’ games against the San Francisco 49ers.
Kayla and Travis pictured at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards in 2018[/caption]
In March 2022, Nicole participated in an Instagram Q&A and revealed how the pair first crossed paths.
“He had been following me and insta-flirting for a few months. All double taps and no DM,” Nicole shared.
“Soooo after a little liquid courage… I DM’d him on New Year’s.”
Kelce said about his then-girlfriend: “She’s the rock to my roll, the passion to my fruit, even the peanut butter to my JELLYTIME… she’s my errrrthang!”
However, the pair broke up around May 2022.
According to Fox, a rumor circulated that Kelce was a cheap boyfriend.
The NFL player and model both denied a rumor that Kelce made Nicole “pay for half of everything.”
When speaking about the rumor in a January 2023 episode of The Pivot podcast, Kelce said: “How crazy is that? Don’t buy into that s***.”
He continued: “I would never say that I was supporting her. She had a very financially stable life and what she was doing in her career.
“You’ve got to be crazy if you think I’d never helped or gave her a couple of dollars to grab some food or she gave me some money.
He added: “We were in a relationship for five years. A hundred dollars here and a hundred dollars there wasn’t even thought about, which is ridiculous.”
During their time together, Nicole became friends with Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Nicole was the bridesmaid for Patrick and Brittany’s wedding in 2022.
However, it appears this friendship has come to an end, as fans spotted that Nicole had unfollowed Brittany on Instagram after Brittany was spotted spending time with Taylor Swift – Kelce’s new girlfriend.
What is Kayla Nicole doing now?
Kayla Nicole seems to be focusing on bettering herself since the breakup.
In October 2023, Nicole shared she has been working out as a form of therapy.
Nicole captioned the video: “Back in my happy place. Another day, another therapy session.”
She has also since switched up her look as she brought in the new year. In a series of photos, Nicole sported a new blonde hairstyle.
The post was captioned: “Brought in the new year blonde – filled with laughter, caviar bumps and champagne. 2024, you cute already.”
As of 2025, the media personality works as a production assistant at CBS Radio and also started the Strong Is Sexy brand for health and wellness.
As for her dating life, Nicole spoke on the Behind the Likes podcast to reveal she’s done with dating athletes.
“I’ll never say never, but I fully, wholeheartedly believe that I am out of the athlete stage,” Nicole said.
Ahead of the release of Taylor Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, Nicole appeared to slam Swifties on X.
On April 18, 2024, Nicole tweeted: “I’m unproblematic. Mind my business. Never respond to the constant vitriol. Solid as they come & don’t expect a pat on the back for it either.
“Just know everyone has a breaking point & would love for ‘yall’ (because you know exactly who you are) to leave me alone.”
Kayla shared the message just hours before the album dropped on April 19.
