Kayla Nicole took to social media to celebrate the achievement of Chicago Sky‘s Angel Reese, who was named Defensive Player of the Year by Unrivaled, a professional women’s 3×3 basketball league.

By recognizing Reese‘s success, Nicole reinforced her commitment to supporting women in sports, further establishing herself as a strong advocate in the industry.

Nicole acknowledged Reese‘s accomplishment with a simple but powerful message on her Instagram story: “TOUGH.”

Nicole’s journey beyond the NFL spotlight

While Nicole first gained significant attention through her relationship with Travis Kelce, she has since stepped into the spotlight on her own. One of her most recent career highlights includes winning Season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, a brutal reality show that challenges celebrities through intense military-style training.

Nicole‘s victory on the show not only demonstrated her physical toughness but also her mental resilience-qualities that she continues to showcase in her personal and professional life. However, despite her efforts to move forward, her past relationship with Kelce has remained a topic of conversation, even in unexpected moments.

During an interview with Decider, Nicole recalled her surprise when the reality show unexpectedly referenced Kelce and his highly publicized romance with pop superstar Taylor Swift.

“Completely stunned, especially because before you go into things like this-I know a little better now, and my manager and I, we talk to production, and we’re like, ‘There’s not gonna be any mention of things.’ So when that was on the screen, I was completely floored, like, my mouth was literally like this,” she said, demonstrating a shocked reaction.

Despite the constant media speculation surrounding her past, Nicole remains focused on building her own brand. Her social media presence reflects her passion for fitness, empowerment and fashion, while her continued engagement in sports circles solidifies her status as more than just a celebrity influencer.