Kayla Nicole is making a bold shift in her dating preferences, and she’s not shy about letting the world know. The media personality and influencer revealed on a recent podcast that she’s done dating professional athletes, adding that she’s now setting her sights higher by being open to dating sports team owners instead. Her candid comments quickly lit up social media, sparking widespread discussion.
The revelation has also renewed public interest in her high-profile relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce, whom she dated on and off for nearly five years before their final split in 2022. In the time since, Nicole has spoken more freely about her past experiences, the standards she now upholds, and the personal growth she’s embraced along the way.
Kayla Nicole Makes Her Dating Stance Crystal Clear On Viral Podcast Episode
Nicole shared her new outlook during her appearance on the Tap In With Harry Jowsey podcast on November 25, 2025. During the conversation, host Harry Jowsey mentioned that he is a part-owner of a professional rugby team in Los Angeles, which naturally steered the discussion toward dating preferences and relationship dynamics.
That’s when Nicole stated, “I keep saying I do not want to date any more athletes, but I am down to date the owners of the teams.” Jowsey jokingly pointed at himself and replied, “Here we go.”
Nicole smiled, nodded, and responded, “Yeah, okay.” The lighthearted moment went viral almost instantly, with many fans interpreting her comments as a significant shift in her dating priorities.
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Nicole explained that she’s no longer interested in rigid checklists or surface-level traits when it comes to dating. Instead, she now prioritizes emotional maturity, consistency, ambition, and genuine romantic effort. She noted that many of the rules she once held firmly, including career type and lifestyle expectations, no longer carry the same weight in determining whether someone is the right fit for her.
For the unversed, Nicole’s relationship with Travis Kelce ended in 2022 after several years of an on-and-off romance during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Since their split, Kelce has moved on publicly and is now engaged to Taylor Swift.
Earlier this year, Nicole found herself at the center of speculation after dressing as Toni Braxton from the He Was Not Man Enough music video for Halloween. Some fans interpreted the look as a subtle reference to her past relationship. Nicole, however, shut down the rumors, clarifying that the costume had nothing to do with her ex or his current partner and was not intended as shade toward anyone.
When Kayla Nicole Recreated Toni Braxton’s Iconic Look And Set Social Media On Fire
Back in October, Kayla Nicole became one of the most talked-about figures of Halloween after she recreated Toni Braxton’s look from the 2000 music video for ‘He Wasn’t Man Enough’. She shared photos and clips on social media wearing a sheer outfit that closely matched Braxton’s iconic R&B visual.
The lyric “He wasn’t man enough for me” sparked quick speculation, with many fans wondering whether her costume choice carried a deeper message beyond the fashion inspiration.
Speculation intensified after Swift released a song titled Opalite, which some listeners believed contained veiled references to a past partner’s relationship. Fans pointed to lyrics such as, “You couldn’t understand it, why you felt alone. You were in it for real, she was in her phone,” and connected them to an old clip of Kelce speaking to Nicole at a dinner table: “Oh my God. Get off your phone. You’re not even drinking your wine anymore, can we go?”
The parallels quickly fueled online conversations, with many interpreting the song as a subtle nod to the former couple’s dynamic.
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Nicole never addressed the theories directly and denied that her costume or styling choices were intended as a jab at either Kelce or Swift. According to sources close to her, she chose the look purely for its aesthetic appeal and nostalgic nod to Toni Braxton, not as a hidden message or commentary on her past relationship.
