Kayla Nicole will openly confront her "public breakup" with Travis Kelce during her highly anticipated appearance on Season 3 of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. In a preview clip from the Fox show, the 32-year-old influencer stands alongside other star competitors, such as Denise Richards and Brody Jenner, ready to endure the season's arduous challenges. Nicole, seemingly battling back tears, shares in a voiceover, "Navigating a public breakup has been utterly overwhelming."
Later in the series, a fellow contestant inquires about Nicole's ex, and she softly confirms it's the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Kelce. In October 2024, Nicole, a sports commentator, spoke candidly on Angel Reese's Unapologetically Angel podcast about the vicious online backlash she faced after Kelce, 35, began dating Taylor Swift, 34.
"I'd be dishonest if I claimed that the hate and the online turmoil didn't affect me; it truly does, even now," Nicole confessed. "Scroll through my recent posts, and you'll see people arguing about why I'm unworthy, why I lack talent, and why I have no career," she lamented.
Reese asked Nicole why she believed she had attracted such vitriol despite handling the dissolution of their five-year, intermittent relationship with "grace." Nicole replied, "I'm not sure. I think the fame attracts people with twisted mindsets, and it's unfortunate because I've never done anything to deserve such a harsh response."
Nicole and Kelce's romance began in 2017, evolving into an on-and-off relationship spanning five years. Nicole once revealed that their initial connection was through Instagram, noting, "He had been following me and subtly flirting for months," in an Instagram Stories post that has since been deleted, as captured by TMZ.
Following breakup rumors in January 2023, including speculation over financial differences, Kelce clarified during an interview with The Pivot Podcast, "Don't believe that stuff." Since Kelce and Swift confirmed their relationship in September 2023, Nicole has strived to move forward, even unfollowing friends Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram.
Season 3 of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test premieres on Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
