Long before Travis Kelce proposed to Taylor Swift, the NFL star spent five years in a relationship with sports broadcaster and media personality Kayla Nicole. While Kelce has since entered a new chapter in his personal life, Nicole is reflecting on her own experiences with love and relationships.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Pre-Game with Kayla Nicole host shared why she no longer believes in the idea of a “perfect love story”, explaining that lasting relationships are built on choice rather than fantasy.
Love is a Choice, Not a Fairytale
Nicole made the comments during an interview with Spiritual Word at the 2026 BET Awards, where she spoke candidly about how her outlook on relationships has changed over the years, explaining that she no longer believes in the idea of “a perfect love story” and now values real over perfection.
“Well, I don’t know if I believe in a perfect love story. I’m grown now, Nicole said. The media personality explained that lasting relationships require commitment rather than perfection.
“Love is hard. Love is a choice every day, choosing the same person”, she shared. “I don’t even know that I need perfection; I just need real”, she added.
Kayla Nicole Hasn’t Given Up on Romance
Although Nicole admits her perspective has become more realistic, she insists she hasn’t given up on romance. During a May episode of iHeartRadio’s Two Personal podcast, the 34-year-old described herself as “such a romantic girly”, while admitting that modern dating has become increasingly difficult.
“People lack intention. People are not creative”, she said, joking that “Romance is quite literally dead”. Nicole explained that one of her biggest frustrations is meeting people who don’t match the same level of effort she puts into relationships.
“I’m very intentional. I’m very considerate. I’ll go above and beyond for someone that I’m literally just dating”, she said.
Why She’s More Careful About Dating
Nicole also revealed that past experiences have changed the way she approaches new relationships. Speaking on an April episode of her Pre-Game podcast, she admitted that infidelity has shaped her expectations.
“In my experience, I don’t have successful, monogamous relationships without any element of cheating”, she said. She added that those experiences have made it difficult to enter new relationships without fearing history could repeat itself.
As a result, Nicole says emotional intelligence has become one of the qualities she values most in a partner.“I need to feel safe in our relationship”, she explained.
Keeping Her Love Life Private
Nicole has also decided to keep future relationships away from the public eye. During the April 3 episode of her Pre-Game, she joked that she’s become “like John Cena” when it comes to dating.
“You don’t see me. You don’t see me with a man. And you won’t ever see me with a man ever again until I’m married with kids”, she said.
According to Nicole, the decision isn’t about secrecy but about protecting both herself and any future partner from unnecessary public attention. “I don’t think that I ever want to date another man publicly. I am sure that they are my long-term person”, she explained.
Travis Kelce Has Since Moved On
Nicole’s comments come as Travis Kelce continues his highly publicized relationship with Taylor Swift. After dating Nicole for five years, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end began dating the Grammy-winning singer in 2023. Since then, fans have watched their relationship play out publicly, from their hard launch to their recent wedding.
