Travis Kelce’s Ex, Kayla Nicole, Has Faced Some Tragedies – The List

March 16, 2025 admin No Comment 5 Views

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The following includes references to mental health issues.

Social media influencer and businesswoman Kayla Nicole hasn’t had it easy. Nicole has undergone a stunning transformation, but she’s also been very open about her life not being as picture-perfect as it may seem on screen. That includes getting candid about how difficult she found seeing her ex Travis Kelce, who Nicole dated on-and-off for five years after he noticed her on Instagram, moving on with a mega-rich, mega-talented global superstar.

Speaking on “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” in January 2025, Nicole explained of being tied to Kelce and Taylor Swift (via People), “[I was] reduced to a headline, to something so small as someone’s ex-girlfriend.” While most people can make a clean break from their ex, allowing them time and space to heal from the breakup, Nicole couldn’t escape being reminded of her former boyfriend, as his name constantly cropped up in her social media comments. “It’s pretty constant. Exhausting,” she said. “I could post about the sky being blue, and people will have a response about an ex and their new situation,” she continued. “It’s inadvertently affected me to the point where it makes me question, just like, my overall value as a person, as a partner,” she admitted.

But, sadly, that’s not the only tragedy she’s faced. Nicole has also dealt with the likes of relentless online bullying and heartbreaking mental health issues, which have had a detrimental effect on her happiness.

Kayla Nicole dealt with racially divisive remarks in her romance with Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole on the red carpet

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Kayla Nicole hinted that she has faced racially divisive remarks throughout her life. In a 2023 Instagram video, she explained she wanted to champion Black women while seemingly recounting her own experiences. “Dear Black girl, they may call you a traitor for falling in love. … They’ll say you’re too much, too provocative, too boisterous, too outspoken, and in the same breath, tell you that you’re not enough,” she said in part. Nicole also encouraged people of color to know their worth goes beyond how much money they have.

She has also shared a story of division at home. On “Relations**t With Kamie Crawford” in 2022, Nicole recalled pointing out Travis Kelce to her stepdad during a football game before she started dating the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. “I was just like, ‘What do you think about that guy? Number 87? The white boy. What do you think about him?’ … He looks at me, and he’s just like, ‘I mean, whatever, I’m not into it.’ And then he kind of picked up on it, but was basically like, ‘Don’t bring no white boy home. Don’t play with me.'” The fitness influencer continued, “Whether it’s a joke or not, and you have to think about the times they grew up in … That fear kind of trickles down to you too.”

Nicole spoke about the horrific social media comments she received when she posted photos with Kelce during their relationship too. She admitted a lot of the hateful comments were related to her race and came from Black men. “It was just comment after comment, Black man after Black man calling me [a racist term],” she said.

She was deeply impacted by the 2025 California wildfires

Kayla Nicole was brought to tears over the horrific wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in early 2025. Nicole, who’s spent a lot of time in the West Coast city, opened up about how deeply the tragedy impacted her on Instagram Stories, as she publicly broke down thinking about the devastation. “I just pulled over to get some food in this restaurant. Had to take my food to go because I started just crying uncontrollably, which is very on brand for me,” she said while sitting in her car. “I am an empath through and through. I feel things so deeply,” she revealed.

Nicole explained that the fires hit close to home. Literally. “The state of my city right now. I have family members that are displaced. I have people in my life whose homes are in danger. I know people directly whose homes have burned down,” she said. Nicole became visibly emotional thinking about the many people, including several celebrities, who tragically lost their homes. The star also shared a prayer for all those in harm’s way. Thankfully, she remained safe amid the tragedy, and, in a post on her Instagram grid amid the emergency, Nicole shared that she’d partnered with Women of Dena to collect donations and encouraged volunteers to help those affected.

Kayla Nicole experienced depression, stress, and anxiety

In a candid 2023 Instagram post, Kayla Nicole shared she’d taken some time away from regularly posting on social media due to depression, stress, and anxiety. A few months later, she spoke to People about her mental health, sharing, “I’m naturally an anxious person. I’ve had some bouts with depression, and honestly, my fitness world has saved my life on numerous occasions.” She revealed that a particularly tough period followed her split with Travis Kelce in 2022, and she shared how social media uploads showing her working out didn’t tell the full story of how she was feeling. “I’m posting content and people are like, ‘You look so good. Tell us your tricks. You look amazing.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m miserable. I’m miserable. I’m depressed,'” she said. “… I was sad, and I was having a hard time getting out of bed,” she added.

Thankfully, Nicole found an outlet in therapy, which helped her work through her feelings and taught her the importance of taking care of her mental health. “I … quickly realized, okay, it’s one thing to be physically fit, but it’s another thing to be mentally fit. You could be in the best shape of your life, but mentally, if you are not a healthy person, it’s not going to feel good,” she said.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

She was devastated by the sudden deaths of Kobe Bryant and Waraire Boswell

Kayla Nicole has also experienced some heartbreaking losses in her life, including the shocking death of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash. Nicole crossed paths with the basketball legend as a sports reporter and was also a big fan of the sporting legend. After his death in 2020, Nicole posted a photo of herself with Kobe and a shot of herself sporting his jersey on X, formerly known as Twitter. She shared the snaps alongside a touching quote from Bryant and added, “Rise legend. Rise.” A few months after his passing, she spoke on “Where Is The Buzz” about how deeply the loss affected her. “I could honestly cry right now, it breaks my heart,” she said. “I don’t think this is something that we’ll ever get over,” she continued, while sharing her empathy for the Bryant family. “It’s just one of those life-changing experiences, honestly. And it makes you want to just live your life just as full as he did,” the Pepperdine University graduate said.

The star was also left heartbroken in 2024 when she mourned the sudden passing of fashion designer Waraire Boswell. In a touching Instagram Stories post, she wrote (via Essentially Sports), “If you believe in the power of prayer, please take a moment to send one up for this legend of a man with the sweetest spirit. May your transition be easy and soul rest in peace, Boswell.” Nicole added, “Sending so much love to his family and friends who are undoubtedly deeply impacted by this tragic loss.”

Kayla Nicole has faced relentless trolling on social media

Like too many people in the public eye, Kayla Nicole has experienced bullying. “I would be lying if I said that level of hate and just online chaos didn’t impact me, it does,” she said on “Unapologetically Angel” in 2024. Asked by host Angel Reese if online abuse was something she still dealt with, Nicole replied, “Oh, yeah. 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.” She added, “I’ve never done anything to warrant that kind of backlash.”

The following year, she spoke about the tragic, relentless trolling on “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” explaining a lot of the hate started after she split with Travis Kelce and he moved on with Taylor Swift, as rumors swirled Nicole and Swift had bad blood. “Dealing with trolls or just hate online, I constantly feel like I’m in a state of vulnerability,” she said (via People). “I would love to be in a headspace where I’m just not affected at all.”

Sadly, it’s not just Nicole who is impacted by unwarranted nasty comments. During an emotional appearance on “I Am Athlete,” she shared that the bullying she’s subjected to also affects her mom. “She’s offended, she’s hurt by the way people are perceiving her daughter, she’s hurt with the negative headlines and the way that people are spinning it,” she said. Nicole revealed her mom was so upset that she encouraged her not to answer questions about trolling in interviews.

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