Kayla Nicole is stepping into the spotlight in a whole new way, aiming to reveal her most authentic self to the world. The sports reporter and influencer, known for her high-profile relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce before his romance with Taylor Swift, is one of the celebrity recruits featured on the upcoming third season of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
In an exclusive interview with Page Six during a press day for the hit Fox series, Nicole reflected on how her public breakup with Kelce and the resulting backlash from online critics prepared her mentally for the grueling challenges ahead on the show.
“God, I think that put things in full perspective, that social media is literally just that—social media. Words on the internet,” Nicole explained. “Experiences like this put life into perspective. There are people in the real world who do this every day to save lives. So the little tweets and the headlines? They could mean nothing to me when you’re put in an environment like this.”
Moving On from a Public Breakup
Nicole and Kelce had a rollercoaster relationship, dating on and off for five years before officially parting ways in May 2022. Kelce began dating Taylor Swift in mid-2023, and their romance quickly became a media frenzy, thrusting Nicole back into the spotlight. Though she’s no longer romantically linked with Kelce, Nicole has continued to face online criticism from some fans of the NFL star and the pop icon.
Nicole has addressed her past relationship with Kelce in various interviews and on social media, offering glimpses into her life post-breakup. In a teaser clip for Special Forces, she briefly mentioned her former relationship, admitting in a voiceover, “Going through a public breakup, it’s been overwhelming.” She later name-dropped Kelce when asked by fellow recruits about her famous ex.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Nicole says she’s not intimidated by the thought of viewers witnessing her vulnerable moments on the show. In fact, she welcomes the opportunity.
“I’m the opposite of being afraid of what people are going to see,” she said. “I’m actually excited for people to see us stripped down, raw, vulnerable. I think the general public needs to be reminded that we’re all humans, right? We all have very real emotions. And I’m excited about that element—allowing us to be human.”
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Pushing Limits and Seeking Growth
For Nicole, participating in Special Forces has been a personal goal for some time. She revealed that she was inspired by watching previous seasons of the show, especially by JoJo Siwa’s journey in Season 2, where celebrities faced rigorous challenges modeled after actual Special Forces training.
“I actually watched the first season with my sisters,” Nicole recalled. “I turned it off and I looked at them, and I’m like, ‘So what do you guys think? Should I do this?’ They’re like, ‘First of all, this is insanity. But also, you’re the most insane person I know. And if anybody could do this, you could.’ They believed in me from the jump, which was really nice—but they thought it was insane.”
The timing of the opportunity aligned perfectly with Nicole’s desire to push herself out of her comfort zone. “Sometimes you get into a little bit of a cruise control mode in life and you need to shake things up,” she said. “This was definitely that. I wanted to prove to myself that when I’m tested, I can push myself to the furthest limit. I’m really, really a lot stronger than I even knew that I was.”
Embracing the Challenge
Nicole’s co-recruits include Brody Jenner, Denise Richards, Cam Newton, Carey Hart, and more. During the interview, Jenner also reflected on his decision to join the show, explaining that he didn’t want to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“You get the opportunity and you’re like, ‘If I say no to this, I’ll probably regret this for the rest of my life,’” Jenner said. “I have a lot of respect for the men and women of our armed forces. I was like, ‘They do this all the time. I gotta show up and do this.’”
Nicole shared similar sentiments about the physical and mental toll the training took, but she also highlighted the profound respect she gained for those who endure such challenges daily in the military. “This experience made me see everything differently,” she said. “The people who go through this for real, not for a TV show, are heroes. It puts your life and the things you complain about into perspective.”
Looking Ahead
Nicole has her sights set on more opportunities in television following her time on Special Forces. “This was definitely a bucket list item for me, but it also made me realize how much I enjoy taking on challenges like this,” she said. “I’d love to do more projects like this in the future.”
For now, fans will get to see Nicole’s journey unfold when Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test premieres on January 8 on Fox. The show promises to reveal a side of Nicole that many haven’t seen before—a raw, unfiltered version of the sports reporter and influencer who is determined to rise above criticism and prove her resilience.
With her eyes set on growth and self-discovery, Kayla Nicole continues to carve her path, embracing the challenges that come her way and showing the world her true strength. Whether it’s facing rigorous physical trials or navigating public scrutiny, Nicole remains unapologetically herself—ready to tackle whatever comes next.
